Skateboard Project Part 1

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s Philly had an awesome scene for skating that revolved around Love Park and City Hall. It was dope to skate there because many of the pros that I idolized would mingle and talk to us youngsters. They’d warm up and casually attempt impossible tricks, making them look simple. I’d be there for ten hours bouncing off the marble tile and crashing around. Once it got dark I would trundle home covered in dirt and pigeon shit-but I loved it!

Memories like this have kept me inspired to stay involved with skateboarding for more than a decade. My directed study in printmaking was a perfect venue to experiment with new ways to approach skateboard design, something I had thought about doing for a while.





Last spring I was experimenting with woodblock printing (see previous post). The problem with block printing is that it generates a lot of refuse. I noticed that the rough grooves from the carvings acted like grip-tape on a skateboard. I purposefully converted the wood from the printing block to a skateboard as a way to extend the material’s life.

I’ve decided to name this project process "pre-adaptive reuse,” the method of designing an object with the intent that it will be reused (after serving its first purpose).





The woodblock was meticulously milled by hand in the shape of the skateboard. No CNC router in the Frick studio. Just a jig saw, palm sander, and TLC. ***Side Note: This wood was found in the garbage, so it further plays on the adaptive reuse theme.





Then I drew my design on the surface, and hand carved it with V and U-gouge tools. This photo shows the block after it had already been carved. For those who have never tried it, woodcarving is soooo tedious/difficult. Since its a reductive process there is no way of fixing a mistake. I have the utmost respect for master printers. Anyway, my block is now ready for printing.

Wood Cut

First attempt at 3-color woodblock. Note color theory fans that I used CMY in that order!