Ellerbe, Hames

Art in Society

02/08/17

The Art World of Portland Skateparks

 

Skateboarding is a fascinating subculture, closely related to counterculture, tightly intertwined with lifestyle, sports, and art. The subculture began humbly in Southern California and now spreads to enthusiasts in remote areas of the globe. Moreover, the geographical location heavily influences both the type of skateboarding and related art elements that occur and persist. Furthermore, a variety of participatory groups including those that do not necessarily engage in actual skateboarding, consequently augment the sport with complementary artistic aspects. Observing the various consistent art contributions and creative facets of the sport provides acknowledgement of skateboarding as an Art World.

Although the Art World of Skateboarding is expressively displayed through numerous means, performance of maneuvers is the defining facet. These maneuvers are particularly different due to location and individual style, just as maneuvers would be in a ballet. Through performance art, a moving canvas medium forms in the shape of a Skateboard Deck. Decks’ have been adored with artwork or graphics since the inception of the sport during the fifties. Specifically, not until the late seventies and early eighties did decks become a medium artists and skaters wanted to use to convey a message or expression. Consequently, countless works have adorned decks since the adolescence of modern skateboarding. Additionally, many of these works and decks can be found displayed on the walls of homes, museums, and in particular The Skateboard Museum (Skatelab) located in Simi Valley, CA. Progression drives documentation, leading to substantial photo and video documentation of skateboarding and the lifestyle that follows. Graffiti Artists, such as Basquiat and Justin Bua, began by following skateboarders to adorn decks with painting but also moving ahead to explore access and locales of their future canvases. During the progression, starting on the west coast of the United States, local governments began to construct parks for the participants to congregate. Particularly, these were created as deterrence from participation in the lifestyle on the streets and to give a home to the growing populous. Parks have changed since their inception, now designed by professional artists and skaters, becoming an Art World unto their own, presenting a canvas for skaters, artists, and documenters to pursue their work.

Since the late eighties skateboarding has seen a great resurgence from the dark ages of the mid eighties, and is embraced by communities across the world. Skateparks began appearing in California during the skateboarding reception of the seventies and early eighties. These parks were largely created from the influence of a group of pool skaters known as the Zephyr (Z-boys) Skate Team out of Venice, CA. Legendary Skater, businessman, and documentarian, Stacy Peralta, started and gained fame with the Z-boys. Peralta embraced his knowledge gained from his Z-boys experience to co-found Powell-Peralta Skateboards, which provided a platform to create the mythical Bones Brigade, the team for Powell-Peralta. In particular, the Bones Brigade shaped modern skateboarding, with members such as Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen, and lifestyle advertising, with the creative, albeit loose genius, of Craig Stecyk. They had permanent and lasting effect on skateboarding, but a massive influence on skateparks, popculture, and the surrounding communities, shaping the lifestyle and pop culture as we know it in the present. Additionally, this influence led to the resurgence of skateboarding and skateparks after the mid eighties destruction. The resurgence began after a time skateboarding took to reflect and create an identity. Moreover, with the resurgence, skateparks began to take a more fluid and modern form. As time has progressed some parks have stagnated, while others are constantly changing and morphing to keep pace with the progressing skate culture and the progression of the surrounding communities.

(https://skatefriendlypdx.wordpress.com/skateparks/)

Skateparks have become central in a variety of settings in communities across the world. The Art Worlds exist through a variety of neighborhoods, and geographical locations, with each location determining how the park is designed and built. With the birth of skateparks on the west coast, the Pacific Northwest quickly became a mecca for skateboarding and the creation of skateparks. Portland is an epicenter for both, being known as “the skate capitol of the world”(“Portland Skateparks”, n.d), with more skateparks per capita than any other city in the United States. In fact Portland made an exciting move, “in 2000, the City Council enacted City Code Section 16.70.410, making it legal to skateboard on most city streets” (“Your Guide”, ND). Portland exemplifies being a skatepark city by embracing the Art World shaping Burnside Skatepark. Burnside Skatepark resides under the eastside of the Burnside Bridge, and began as a “DIY” park created by local skaters. At present the park still exists to this capacity, but receives funding from the city and holds a Board of Directors. Burnside and its’ twenty-five year existence in Portland represent how the Pacific Northwest, and in particular Oregon, has embraced skate culture and the creation of skateparks in communities. Consequently, the embrace of skate culture throughout Portland has created an Art World in skateparks, which is unique, sustainable and fosters the various facets of skateboarding.

(https://www.pinterest.com/hammylonsdale/diy-skatepark/)

(http://www.museumofthecity.org/project/portland-skateparks/)

Portland currently has a master plan presented that will count for nineteen built and maintained City Parks and Recreation Skateparks. Of these nineteen, fourteen exist in the Portland Metro Area, and six are part of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Furthermore, the Art World of Skateparks can be found through a variety of transmedia mediums. In the exploration of this Art World, I will look at the variety of aspects that make up the Art World. Who are the participants at the parks? How do they vary at each park? Are the facets of skateboarding represented at each park? How do these tell the story of skateparks across multiple forms of transmedia? These questions are pertinent to displaying how skateparks in Portland are an Art World. I will explore these questions and how the Art World of Skateparks in Portland is conveyed through transmedia storytelling in a field guide.

 

Videos 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRnInCfarVU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0uL9jCdnHk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ro0JMhEq3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mXTdwZe6_4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyDRv0nuyvM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_ZN41fTyM

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/burnside_skatepark/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/commonwealthskate/

https://www.instagram.com/evergreenskateparks/

Websites

http://www.skateoregon.com/Portland/Portland.html

http://commonwealthskateboarding.com

http://www.skateportland.org

Skateparks

http://www.kimsmithmiller.com/adventures-in-film/burnside-skatepark/

‘Zine

https://issuu.com/travelportland/docs/fsbs__skate_guide_

 

References

Your Guide To Skateboarding In Portland. (ND) Retrieved from: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/551265

Portland Skateparks. (n.d.). Retrieved February 08, 2017, from http://www.museumofthecity.org/project/portland-skateparks/