This 1966 film is available for viewing online, legally at the National Film Board of Canada. Actually, they are showing the 1969 version, which is the English language version instead of the original French version. You can even buy a DVD copy if you want. If you haven’t seen it, you should definitely watch this gem.

– Thanks to Japakiva for the tip.

The Tony Hawk Foundation donated $30,000 to expand the building efforts of
Ride It Sculpture Park, located in the wild, wild Midwest of the urban Detroit wasteland. Powerhouse Productions started the original product. I’m sure my friends are sick of hearing me say this, but I swear if I didn’t have kids and a mortgage, I’d move to Detroit. A man could reinvent himself there.

[Source: Evergreen Skateparks]

“They did a great design, they changed only one thing from what we wanted,” O’Gara said, adding: “We’re really excited and ecstatic that this is happening.”

And yet no mention of who designed, or is involved with the construction of the soon to be largest (25,000 square feet) skatepark in LA. You’d think someone with a $2 million dollar construction and design budget would want to brag a little. It’s the Sun Valley neighborhood. (Isn’t all of California sun valley?) Any guesses?

[Source: Concrete Disciples]

Nothing to do with Bam Margera:

BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) is a multi-arts center located in Brooklyn, New York. For more than 150 years, BAM has been the home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas—engaging both global and local communities. With world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and much more, BAM showcases the work of emerging artists and innovative modern masters.

BAM is screening a film series on skateboarding including documentaries, straight up skate videos and hollywood dramatizations. These 19 films date from the 60’s to present day. There are the usual suspects, as well as a few I’ve never heard of. Skateboarding is Not a Crime started September, 6th and the last screening is on September, 23rd.

Social boy mens club visit to the Desert. To extend summer. Come join us. Details in the following transmission.

The left deck is an ‘Autex Sports’ complete. The graphic is a crazy mix of the Rob Roskopp 3 from ’85  (designed by Jim Phillips for Santa Cruz)  and Powell’s famous Ripper (by VCJ). It all looks pretty ridiculous: a violent Ripper seems to have eaten the monster and is almost strangling himself with a chain, acting all clumsy and the flames make no sense at all. The right ‘Alpha’ deck is clearly a counterfeit of Rodney Mullen’s Mutt deck from 1981, it even says ‘Mutt’.  The board was relisted on eBay, since it ‘only’ reached $200 in the first auction, but that wasn”t enough for the seller.

Thanks to christopha80  for the tip and Omar for the pictures.

Big O is officially “open” for skateboarding again, after a two year absence. What was going on for two years? A new soccer stadium was being built, and the spot was supposed to be demoed with the old stadium. The community saved it by raising the money to have it physically dug up and relocated. It sounds absurd, but it’s true. Check it out on Exposé.

– Thanks to Kevin for the tip.

Above Coping art show benefit at Commonwealth Skateboarding in Portland, OR on August 30th.

Vice magazine has an interview with sculptor C.J. Rench who was chosen by the Red Bull panel (including Torey Pudwill) to construct a skateable sculpture for permanent installation in Seattle. Sounds like a good plan, the city gets art, the skaters are allowed to skate on it, and a corporation gets to pay for it. Red Bull has a short video on the “skate space” that shows the other artist who made it to the finalist position, as well as examples of both of works. From the sculptures shown, I’d say the chose the wrong guy. Granted, I wasn’t on the board, but the other guy’s portfolio ( W. Scott Trimble ) had some pieces in it that already leaned towards an impression of being skateable. On the other hand, CJ’s work to date appears to be they type of stationary sculpture that is isolated in a presentation space and not part of a larger environment. In fact, looking at the scale model and rendering, the sculpture appears to be marginally skateable at best. There’s a telling clue in the Red Bull video, a big part of the decision appeared to be based on who could get it done on time for an unspecified and possibly arbitrary deadline. Let me simplify my position on this. I’m all for Red Bull paying for public art under the stipulation that it will also be accessible as a skate spot. It’s just that the (admittedly limited) representations of the final design don’t appear to have considered the actual skateboarding part of the requirement. Show me some alternate views and prove me wrong!

It’s been a while since we checked in on Gene’s My DIY backyard project. Looks like it’s done except for the decks. Additional coverage available at Confusion. Looks super fun.