DALEK Gallery

New Deal 1990 Exhibition
*Artist Interview

When, where and why did you start skating?

I started skating in 1983.. A kid in my neighborhood had a Sims Dave Andrecht board.. And i rode it up and down the street a few times and knew i wanted to get into it a bit more.. Not long after i went on a school trip to ocean city MD.. where i went to Atlantic skates and bought my first board.. Zorlac big boys with indy 215’s and pink kryptos… then we went and skated a ramp near by.. I busted my ass pretty good those first few drop ins!!

When and why did you start making art? 

I always drew as a kid.. But didn’t really get into drawing more until high school.. And really got inspired by pushead.. The zorlac graphics… maxiumum rock and roll.. And his early album covers.. COC’s animosity was in heavy rotation in the walkman 

What are your first memories of New Deal Skateboards?

I think i remember seeing some of the vallely graphics.. But the siamese board i think was the first board i remember with that new style tail/nose reverse skate both ways look.. I think graphically i was drawn to the new deal stuff.. It was a little more edgy.. A little more artistically in my wheel house… that and the blind stuff.. Those were really what i was paying attention to. And lets not forget about big deals!! Those were my favorite pants for a minute!! Damn oversize pants phase was a hilarious one. 

How did art and skateboarding industry come together?

...for me.. Or in general.. 

For me art was always related to skating.. Just like punk.. I was driven to skating through the art and the attitude of it. Years later when i was working at duffs.. And got to be involved in the industry for a while and be around it.. I was able to start putting some of my own work into the universe…. So kind of cyclical.. But art and skateboarding have always been tied together for me.. Always will be.. I collected boards for years just because of graphics.. And then as tribute and history to the folks i had met along the way. 

Was there a defining moment in your art journey that drove you to make it your full time life/career? 

Yeah..i’m sure there were a few.. But duffs was key to introducing me to the people who sent me along my path… so i’d be nowhere along that path without people like nate lyons and lonny peoples who introduced me to people like kris markovich and greg caroll.. Thats how i met mike giant.. And on and on.. But it was all meeting people and getting feedback and support.. Mike nelson at duffs introduced my to shepard fairey.. Who helped me out with a lot of things early on.. Thats how i met rich jacobs.. Who set me up with new image art.. And its endless.. But its all part of it that started when i moved to SF in 96 and then down to SD later on that same year

Tell the story of your time with Takashi Murakami. 

I didnt work for him for long.. Maybe about 6 months.. I emailed the studio just asking if they needed assistants.. I knew i wanted to learn to paint really flat.. I knew it would suit what i wanted to do.. But i needed some learning/teaching.. It was a great experience and dude was very helpful.. But i learned everything i could really quickly.. And then i was eager to start applying it to my own work. 

What is your best art memory of all time?

Making these frat benches for nike.. And to be specific.. It was a specific type of bench symbolic to duke and unc.. And a part of the rivalry between them.. I got to make them to sit in the new coach K gym on the nike campus.. And then they sent me a photo of K and his family sitting on it.. I am a hardcore duke fan.. So to be able to make something with the duke logo on it.. For coach K.. and for nike was super huge and fun for me. 

What is your best skate memory of all time?

Probably the first time i ever landed an air on a ramp.. I loved to go frontside.. Backside freaked me out for a minute.. But its the best feeling.. I would get so geeked.. I’d just sit out on the ramp all day trying them over and over. 

What is your favorite medium and why? 

Acrylics.. Cuz thats the best. 

What is your favorite trick and why?

Boneless off a curb..i used to love doing those.. They just feel fun

Tell us about your life and family today

….oh man.. Non stop.. Thats what that is!!! I have the best wife ever.. And 5 teenage boys.. From 16 to 12.. Its a handful.. But in the best way.. They are all great. We hang at home all the time.. Very low key folks.

Tell us about your studio and daily practice? How do you balance art career and family life?

There is no daily practice… its sort of work when i can.. A little here and there. But its important to do all the family stuff.. The kids will be adults in no time.. So i’m not that pressed to be working away all the time and miss out on stuff… i take on the projects i can and that make sense to what i’m wanting to do.. And its all good.

How did you come to join the NEW DEAL 1990 artists and exhibition? 

You invited me Andy : ) 

Tell is about your piece for the exhibition

Painting, print, deck, etc?...well...this piece has been a journey for sure.. I’ve never done something like this.. And i get weird about doing things based on other things.. So. first thing i knew i wanted to do was use the Danny Sargent Monkey Bomber graphic.. Made the most sense to my style.  But i needed to change the position and do a lot of little things to make it fit.. Once i got it to a happy place.. I debated on what to do with it.. I drew it out.. Inked it and put it in illustrator first.. Then i colored it up and got a feel for it. But i didn’t want to paint it.. I have a problem painting images that i’ve already done in the computer.. I dont like recreating an image...so i decided to do a print of it.. And then some layered test prints.. Then i decided to rip up and layer those 2 prints .. once i got all that done i felt ok with it.. But hated that there wasn’t any original painted aspect to it… so i ripped out sections.. And tried adding an old geometric print just to see if i liked the combo.. I did.. It felt good.. So i painted the geo aspects in both pieces.. And ended up with what i got. 

New Deal 1990 Exhibition
*Artists