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Skateboards As Art In The Wall Street Journal
Posted by Chris - February 27th, 2010 6:54 am
It seems strange that a publication such as the WSJ would be so behind the times. Skate decks have been recognized as fine art for years by some of the world’s most important museums. And yet, this story is written in such a way that it would seem that deck based art is a brand new idea and skateboarding as a culture is still caught in the pre-Z-Boyz 1950’s. We’re not sure where this reporter has been with lines like this:
“The lowly skateboard, toy and transport of adolescents and the adolescent-minded, has found a second calling as a platform for art.”
He goes on to speak to a variety of artists that know nothing about skateboarding past the idea of “painting on a pop-culture canvas”. Some one needs to screen Beautiful Losers for this reporter and them hand him a copy of The Disposable Skateboard Bible.
What a clown. At least he didn’t say “skaterboards”
The people reading WSJ need an article like this for an introduction to skate graphics as art, although, I do believe that there are people in the world who are genuinely intrigued by things they know nothing about. Think many different levels of understanding; they are just on a really really low level.
Thats funny, 1 step forward, 2 steps back.
This is a horrible article, reading Baldwin’s few lines were the only time my eyes weren’t squirting blood all over my keyboard.
I don’t think it’s asking too much to have the subject of art and skateboarding be treated with some sort of journalistic integrity and tenacity if the story’s going to be written in the first place. The WSJ reporter was simply lazy with this one… I say that because he glosses over the fact that there is a history of graphics on boards, but just a quick Google’ing of “skateboard art” (no quotes) brings up links to Disposable and even an ad for Jim Phillips’ book.
It was published on a Friday, which makes sense. I slack off at the office on Fridays, too.
Baldwin may have had a bad encounter with skaters in his past… or maybe his mom wouldn’t let him skate. Years later, his editor then assigns him this story so he just mopes back to his desk and scratches out this uninformed piece.
Just a theory.
apparently they’ve never heard of Jason Adams before.
or the creative minds behind alot of great graphics vernon courtland johnson, lucero, neil blender, lance mountain, jeff phillips, even pushead. and yes.. the desposable skateboard bible would have been a great place to have done research… skateboarding as a culture has suffered w/ all the hating that goes on now. i remember when skateboarder were instant friends because of it. now it’s all about being sponsored and who can do the most technical tricks. go figure… at least we’re getting more free parks!
Profound!
Wow. That was a joke.
I can’t help but think that the author is a lot like Michael Pukac. The exact type of person that Jason Baldwin was speaking to.
Appropriating other peoples’ cultures for their own marginal benefit. These are the true posers. They may not recognize it, but their actions are no better than those of circus-folk who would enslave natives from faraway lands in order to impress circus goers.
I say we defend our native lands with spears. No reason to let our culture be mocked and appropriated at the same time.
OH OH OH! Like me, all of you have Conor Dougherty dead wrong. He has been skating for 22 years. Go read his article again, and detect the tone of the second paragraph with a little more care.
Reads much better when he is on our side.
Specifically “lowly skateboard” is a rhetorical device, not a sincere estimation.
well this git represents the common public.
man, all you’re doing is forsaking one hard core culture for another. If a painter that truly understands his subculture tries to relate to or understand a much younger subculture, like skate culture, (i.e. caves of lasco vs. 1950’s rise of skateboarding), then mad props.
you’re complaining about exclusivity – which is exactly what skateboarders should be railing against. It’s not a cool kids club.