We headed up to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) for an event helping raise money towards Skateistan’s first skate school in Johannesburg, South Africa. Skateistan is an amazing program using skateboarding as a tool for empowering youth, to create new opportunities and the potential for change.
Artist – Paul McCarthy (we’re big fans here at NYSB) unveiled his special PROPO Collection of skateboards featuring images from his work ‘PROPO’.
“Between 1972 and 1983, I did a series of performances that involved masks, bottles, pans, uniforms, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. After the performances, these objects were either left behind or they were collected and stored in suitcases and trunks to be used in future performances. In 1983, the closed suitcases and trunks containing these performance objects were stacked on a table and exhibited as sculpture. In 1991, I opened the suitcases and trunks and photographed each item. The group of photographs in their entirety was titled PROPO.”
“If our boards pay for the park, well that’s a good reason to make a skateboard.” Mr. McCarthy also said he hopes that people skate on the boards, even though “the kids aren’t going to care if they’re art or not. I think it’d be great to see one that had been skated on a lot.”- Paul McCarthy
The collaboration was coordinated via The Skateroom who invites contemporary artists to interpret skate culture by creating art on skateboards. They produce, promote and sell limited edition skateboards. In doing so, they support non-profit projects that empower children through skateboarding and art. In this case each limited edition deck sold for several thousands of dollars bringing Skatistan closer to their $200k goal.