Art of the Skateboard Deck at Rotofugi

By Rachelle Bowden in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 11, 2005 4:19PM

Starting today, Chicagoist's favorite designer toy store, Rotofugi will be hosting a showing of 3" From the Street, a traveling art exhibition of customized skateboard decks. And this Friday, join them for an opening reception from 7pm-11pm.

The show includes 20 artists from Paris, Germany, Scotland, and all over the United States and features skateboard decks customized with graffiti, writing, stenciling, and oil painting. The event was created by Lawrenceville, VA-based artist Joshua Brown who got the idea because of his love for both skateboarding and its culture and the art which surrounds it. Said Brown, "I and those like me, come from this subculture, the culture influenced by this simple wooden toy. It influences dress, speech, music, life choices and of course, our art. As artists we feel a love for this culture and have found it strongly affects our lives. How could we, as artists, not want to pay homage to that which has been so dear to us?"

On a side-note, Chicagoist's stellar investigative team found these bulletin board posts from last year when the show was just coming together. Check it out.

3" From the Street will be on display at Rotofugi until February 19th. Friday's open reception and party features DJ Clayton Counts, a chance to meet Joshua Brown, and lots of free booze (wine & beer). Sounds like Chicagoist's kind of party!