About
Skate This Art is a skateboard art organization dedicated to raising awareness of the skateboard as art form, while also raising funds for local non profit agencies that help the afflicted, via skateboard art exhibits that display and sell skateboard art made by folks from all walks of life.
HISTORY
Skate this Art productions was begun in 2007 by a local former skater and musician, who noticed that the San Francisco Police Department had a surplus of skateboards they had confiscated from local skateboarders. When he asked the SFPD to donate some of the ‘decks’ to a local charity where they would be used as motivational devices for clients of the charity to create art on, the SFPD refused. It turns out that the confiscated skateboards are sold on auction by a third-party vendor, with the proceeds going back to the city’s general fund. Then, in 2006, the SFPD commissioned local artist Paul Fresina to create an art piece using some of the confiscated ‘decks’. Sadly, his art piece now hangs in the back of the evidence room at the Hall of Justice, unseen by most.
MISSION & INTENT
Skate this Art is a skateboard art organization with an all-volunteer staff of artists whose mission is to promote the skateboard as art form and raise awareness of, and money for, local non-profit charities. Our skateboard art exhibits and events motivate people to have fun as they create art on skateboards and work together for a worthy cause. A good portion (often half) of the proceeds from the sales of the skateboard art in our exhibits are donated to local non-profit charities. For example we raised more than $5000 from our May 2009 “Skate this Art” exhibit to benefit Roaddawgz, a local non-profit drop-in center with a focus on the homeless youth of S.F. In 2010 the beneficiary of our April “Skate This Art” exhibit was North Beach Citizens (NBC), a non-profit outreach program begun by Francis Ford Coppola in 2001 that serves the homeless and disabled of North Beach. We raised about $7000 from this show for NBC and the artists made nearly $4000!! In the months prior to our April 2010 skateboard art exhibit, we conducted two free art workshops for people interested in making art on skateboards for our show but who may not have the materials or basic drawing and painting skills to do so.
Our skateboard art exhibits are month-long celebrations with auctions, raffles, prizes, videos, poetry readings, music, and more. We reach out to local businesses and organizations to get involved as artists, volunteers, donors or sponsors. The companies involved range from Starbucks and Trader Joes to local businesses such as Za’s Pizzeria, Fritz Frjtz, DLX Skateboards, and the Artist & Craftsman Supply. All participating businesses receive the proper tax forms to complete for charity purposes, as well as a lovely hand-calligraphy certificate of appreciation to display proudly as testament to community involvement. Our exhibits represent and serve diverse communities and involve skaters, non-skaters, and former skaters, artists and non-artists, and the young and the sage from all walks of life. We also help to promote the people, businesses and organizations that participate in our productions. We promote and encourage people who value art, skateboarding, volunteerism, and support of local non-profits in our communities.
