We hit up Francois van Coke to talk about the Fokofpolisiekar x Verb colab series, Music Saved My »
VERB “MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE” SERIES
on March 28, 2012
MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE (MSML) is a project started by Verb as a way of connecting creative people who are excited about making their art and supporting a good cause at the same time. It makes sense that a brand like Verb would be inspired by music; the innate and shared passion that is found so strongly in so many people – not just musicians. Verb is, after all, about creativity, with skateboarding as a metaphor for that.
The MSML series pairs up (mostly local) talent – musicians, artists, designers and illustrators, to create a limited edition series of skateboards, t-shirts and tote-bags. A portion of the money raised from the sale of the products will be donated to the Sign Language Education and Development (SLED); the idea being, as Verb explain, “We can now use the music that we love so much to aid those who aren’t able to hear it.”
The MSML collaboration features the following:
Die Antwoord – Ninja
Fokofpolisiekar – Louis Minnaar
Zebra & Giraffe – Alice Edy
The King Blues – Wes van Eeden
Fuzigish – Merwe Marchand Le Roux
The Verb x Music Saved My Life series launches nationwide at TOFFIE POP 2012, 30 March – 1 April.
Purchase the series online at www.revolutiononline.co.za, More on Verb at www.weareverb.com and more on Toffie at www.toffie.co.za
PUBLIC DOMAINE ART EXHIBITION
on June 28, 2011
On the 18th of June, “Public Domaine” opened at the La Gaite Lyrique gallery in Paris, France. Read on to make you wish you were there right now…
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Public Domain (without the “e”) is the name of a Stacey Peralta video “which helped revolutionize the aesthetics and image of skateboarding towards the end of the 1980′s. Public Domaine, with an “e”, is the homage paid to an art form which has chosen a plank and four wheels as its medium of self-expression with which to reclaim the public domain and to reinterpret it with its twists and whorls on the asphalt. Because “skateboarding” is much more than just a sport, an activity, a hobby or a means of transport… Over the years, it has forged itself a rich, evolving aesthetic and transformed itself in the course of its encounters with artists – from designers to musicians – who have taken it as their traveling companion.” – La Gaite Lyrique
“The exhibition… attempts to cover as many aspects of skateboarding as possible, from the music to the fashion, to the countless creatives it has inspired” – Jack Lowe, HUH. Magazine
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
“With Public Domain – Skateboard culture, “skateboarding” expresses itself in full freedom through all of la Gaite lyrique’s spaces via the various artistic spheres that it influences: music, graphics, cinema, photography, fashion, video games… Public domain – Skateboard culture gives voice to those who have forged themselves uncommon lives after being touched by the skateboard.” – La Gaite Lyrique
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
The exhibition is being directed by Jérôme Delormas. “…the basement of the Gaîté lyrique has been redeveloped into a bunker of rebellion around two themes: a dip in the pulse of the underground skate culture and the provocative yet attracting board designs.” – Poolrider.blogspot.com
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Pierre-Andre Sénizergues skateable house. “It’s actually not a joke since Pierre-Andre has a secret place in the Malibu hills where the skateable house has been (or was) constructed… The PAS House was designed by Gil Le Bon Delapointe with the assistance of the architect Francois Perrin. The PAS House is accompanied by “Pool Tables” from Lance Mountain and a series of paintings by Benjamin Chasselon…” – Poolrider.blogspot.com
The exhibition features a selection of art by Sade Coy, Neck Face, Yogi Proctor, Adam Wallacavage, Donny Miller, Deanna Templeton, Cleon Peterson, Michael Burnett, Mike O’Meally and others. There is a video installation by Fred Mortagne, a collaboration between Benjamin Deberdt and Mark Gonzales, a selection of videos by Matthias Fennetaux William Strobeck, Ludovic Azémar, Ty Evans, Don Brown and Claude Jutra. There are also skateboard decks by Alyasha Moore, Andy Jenkins, Ben Horton, Ed Templeton, Eli Morgan Gesner, Fos, Marc McKee, Mike Hill, Moishe Brennan, Michael Sieben, Sean Cliver, Todd Francis, Winston Tseng Johnny “Mojo” Munnerlyn, Colin Price and Donny Miller.
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Other things that are going down: Music by Dinosaur Jr, Tommy Guerrero, Mix Master Mike, skateboarder/musician Ray Barbee, McRad, Lords of the Underground, Boys Noize, Antipop Consortium, Busy P, Bad Shit, The Goat (including Andrew Reynolds, Spanky and Brian Herman and others, lectures by Pascal Monfort, a skate demo by skate teams (Etnies, Girl, Nike SB to name two), 15 different-sized flat screens showing various artists’ views of skateboarding, not to mention a selection of video games and dedicated collection of books, films, multimedia resources and magazine.
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
Courtesy of SkateBoarder Magazine
The exhibition is running from 18 June to 7 August 2011.
Public Domaine : Skateboard Culture – Teaser
Public Domaine : Skateboard Culture – Teaser from La Gaîté Lyrique on Vimeo.
OUR LIVES OF DECKADENCE TONIGHT!
on June 17, 2011
Make sure you go check out Our Lives of Deckadence if you’re in Durban tonight!
WorkingClass’ first initiative, “Our Lives of Deckadence”, is a collection of work celebrating a love for skateboarding by some of South Africa’s biggest talents such as Gavin Scott, Darren Jacoby, Tyrone Bradley, Craig Scott , Sam Clark, Brett Shaw, Richard Hart, Skullboy, Tokyo-Go-Go, Christian Mugnai, Bruce Mackay, Bryce Louw, Gregory Davies, Warwick Kay, Alice Edy, Simon Berndt, Trevor Paul, Dustin Holmes, Dos, Graham Patterson, Matt Kay, Paul Senyol, David Chaston, Jean de Wet and other Verb artists.
The show opens on the 17th June, 18:30 at Gallery415
(415 Umgeni Road, Durban – above Spectrum Art Supplies)
R20 Entrance includes a free drink (stiff or sober) and entry into a raffle for a professional photography print from the exhibition (for opening night only).
All artworks will be on sale. There will be a cash bar. The show will run for 2 weeks during work hours.
Facebook event info HERE.
OUR LIVES OF DECKADENCE
on June 10, 2011
WorkingClass’ first initiative, “Our Lives of Deckadence”, is a collection of work celebrating a love for skateboarding by some of South Africa’s biggest talents such as Gavin Scott, Darren Jacoby, Tyrone Bradley, Craig Scott , Sam Clark, Brett Shaw, Richard Hart, Skullboy, Tokyo-Go-Go, Christian Mugnai, Bruce Mackay, Bryce Louw, Gregory Davies, Warwick Kay, Alice Edy, Simon Berndt, Trevor Paul, Dustin Holmes, Dos, Graham Patterson, Matt Kay, Paul Senyol, David Chaston, Jean de Wet and other Verb artists.
The show opens on the 17th June, 18:30 at Gallery415
(415 Umgeni Road, Durban – above Spectrum Art Supplies)
R20 Entrance includes a free drink (stiff or sober) and entry into a raffle for a professional photography print from the exhibition (for opening night only).
All artworks will be on sale. There will be a cash bar. The show will run for 2 weeks during work hours.
Facebook event info HERE.
THEORY ONE INTERVIEW
on June 9, 2011
Name: Dylan / Theory One
Hometown: Cape Town
Favourite colour: Black
What was your inspiration or the idea behind your Verb design?
I did a sketch a little while ago at work, which I quite liked. I developed it further at home on my light box and voila! You can read a lot of things into it if you want. It’s a basic message of rescue and salvation.
Could you briefly explain the process you went through in creating this work?
I draw the piece on paper and made sure I like it. It was quite rough so I filled in a lot as I went. I take that drawing into Illustrator and work over it and develop it until I think it’s done (it’s never done in my mind but i have to stop sometime.)
What music were you listening to while you were creating your graphics for the Verb range?
Jazz, soul and funk. Lots of Motown, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Nina Simone etc.
Did you have any formal art education, or are you self-taught?
I did art at school and at Frank Joubert art school and I went to AAA.
What sort of full-time work do you do currently? Are there any other projects you’re involved with at the moment?
I’m a freelance graphic designer at the moment. I do illustration in my spare time as a passion project.
What sorts of mediums do you work in and what do you enjoy about it?
I also work in pen and ink, but mostly Illustrator and Photoshop.
Do you do anything else for fun other than making art?
I collect art, hang out with my wife and kids and try to get away from the computer. I ilke to ride my
bicycle and skate to the DVD shop.
Who are some of the artist’s whose work you enjoy or take inspiration from?
Too many to mention. It changes weekly to be honest. I try not to focus on one artist too much,
I just like to try and appreciate as much good art as I can. So it ranges from graf writers to
fine artists. Those artists I really love to try to collect.
How do you feel about being an artist living and working in South African?
I feel great. The playing fields have been leveled by the Internet and I think a lot of our
work is world class. I think we have a unique headspace down here and have a lot to offer
the world of illustration.
Do you have any plans for 2011 such as art shows, travels or new styles to explore?
I’m not sure to be honest. I have two small daughters so I try to spend my time with them
and that means less time for drawing and illustration, but it’s a swop I’m only too happy to make.
I’ll see how the year progresses and take it form there, I don’t have plans to rule the world
but I would like to get my work to a wider audience.
Do you have any websites or blogs that people interested in your work should check out?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theory_one/
DORKS DESTROY ZINE #2 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
on May 31, 2011
Dorks Destroy Zine #2 – Skate Art Photo Issue Call for Submissions!
Obscure, vile, funny, sad, horrific, awesome… any skateboarding-related photo with a different/artistic perspective or one that embodies that great skateboarding spirit!
Send black and white, A5, high resolution photos to melissa@blackbirdworks.com by Monday 13 June, 2011.
LOVENSKATE
on May 27, 2011
BGUK VL1.4 – Lovenskate from Board Games on Vimeo.
Screenprinted skateboards / skateboard printshop… Stuart at Lovenskate is a champ!
CHRISTIAN MUGNAI INTERVIEW
on March 23, 2011
DESIGN A DECK CHALLENGE
on March 15, 2011

The Maloof Money Cup are running a competition for you to submit your design of the official Maloof Money Cup South Africa skateboard. If your design wins, it will get printed and you stand the chance of winning $250! Click HERE to enter.































