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In the heart of Paris, la Gaîté lyrique is an arts venue that’s more Jetsons than Louvre. In this article, Jenn Jackson explores the impressive digital culture

“Apart from the many familiar elements of a typical arts institution, there are details at la Gaîté lyrique that one discovers are unlike anything else. First off, the building boasts 700 individually controlled lights spread throughout the building. Sound is transported throughout 300 dispersed loudspeakers that are all adjustable, controlled and amplified separately. 70 microchip motion detectors…”

Some artists choose to specialize, while others opt for a broader depth in their discipline. Jai Tanju’s take on photography is a melting of the two. Start with his self-published book, With a Camera from Marc—a collection of photos taken with a camera gifted to him by Marc Johnson. Here, the world of skateboarding is melded with everyday moments and rendered in B&W But now, King Hamburger Eyes, an arm of the established and well-respected Burger World Media Group, has just released a ‘zine called Its History Now that shows a different side to Mr. Tanju’s work. Its History Now contains photos shot in 2010 that, unlike the Marc Johnson camera material, have a warm golden feel, like taking a walking tour of the underside of California. You might pass discarded people of the state’s social welfare system and mental institutions on one page and then a flea market full of the junk of life on another. The idea is to show us moments both familiar and alien. Skate scenes and other daily activities are given importance by their mere existence, captured with a simple honesty that only film can truly portray.

So much of what we see in the skateboarding media is success. Covers, enders, and the high def slow mo’ video of ‘touchdowns,’ all paint a picture that only shows the tip of the ‘boarding iceberg. Real skaters know that it’s a rare thing when a trick is landed first try, without pain, frustration or struggle. But what is real?

For those who make the switch to digital photography from film, there can come a time where interest peaks, plateaus, and even
sinks into valleys. Through no fault of the photographer’s own, or the medium even, a sense of wonder can be lost. Gone with the waiting
process that characterizes shooting on film. Because photography at its root is far from a simple click of the shutter. With long exposures,
you drag it out, while bringing in a little ambient light, and, arguably, you’re painting. This is precisely what Arkan Zakharov set out to do with a few assistants over a week’s span…

Different light effects are used to achieve this gallery of images with Converse Canada team.

A collection of some Club Mumble members favourite photos.

SAMPLE:
Realizing that he wasn’t the ultimate authority on skateboarding, Bob Kronbauer formed Club Mumble a couple years back. Inviting a long list of friends in high places from contemporary art and street culture, the club members share as Bob says it, “things they are working on, things that inspired them, [and] things that other people send their way”. clubmumble.com

Mike O’Meally’s photography has always kind of transcended the usual “fisheye at the bottom of the rail” style that we have all grown accustomed to. Any of his articles are rife with interesting atmosphere and superior lensmanship. Mike has been hard at work, hanging out in and around the grassroots L.A. boxing scene, the fruit of his labour featured here. Mike’s stunning documentation of inner city pugilism clarifies that his body of work will not be limited to kids flying through the air. His book, La Familia, is available through the intertubes and at finer booksellers everywhere.

There is a reason that we have been inundated with an endless barrage of limited edition shoes, decks, shirts, socks, etc. over the past few years. There is definitely a place for the classic white tee, or a nice pair of Chuck Taylors, but generally there is something extra appealing about anything that is available only for a finite period and then is gone. Nothing is as honest an example of this as the tour poster or t-shirt. Unless you were a stop on the tour, part of the art department, or had a spot in the van, it’s unlikely that anyone ever gets a chance to see them. We asked some of our friends to dig through the vaults and selected a few of our favorites from over the years to share with you.

A photographic history documenting New York City’s budding street skate culture in the mid 80s.

GALLERY

NYC History

“In most big cities in the mid 80s street skateboarding, and skate culture in general, was exploding at an exponential rate, and New York City was no exception. It was an exciting time for skateboarding. It broke out of the confines of the local skate parks, took itself a little less seriously and became as accessible as the local curb…”

THE POLAROID KIDD: Shootin’ For 2012

8 PAGES FROM THE ELUSIVE POLAROID KIDD

BOOGIE

wordsby chris glancy photosby boogie

I was first exposed to Boogie’s work when I started shooting for Mass Appeal magazine around the time Alife was serving as art director. His haunting images of life inside and around New York City’s low-income housing projects were so heavy and in your face with images of drugs and violence. They seemed like images only an insider could capture. His work became even more intense when I found out he was not only a white dude, but a foreigner. Born in Belgrade, Serbia in 1969, Boogie immigrated to the U.S. in 1998 with a degree in Electronics and Microprocessors after receiving a green card through the lottery. The ability to truly gain the trust of your subject and capture intimate moments seems effortless for Boogie. He documents various cultures from gypsies in the Balkans, gangs in NYC’s projects, and skinheads in Eastern Europe as if he is one of them…

FRAMED

wordsby nicholas brown photoby j. grant brittain

While the mainstream art world has recently reconnected with street photography and photojournalism, the value of ephemeral glimpses and spur-of-the-moment opportunities caught on film is nothing new to skateboarders. If there is one theme that unites the photographers in the Framed exhibition, organized and curated by San Francisco artist Isaac McKay Randozzi, it’s the privileged eye of the skateboarder. Such a perspective yields a variety of approaches, from the contemplative, sun-baked, high contrast visions of skateboard photog veteran J. Grant Brittain, to the street lurking, warm and optimistic candidness of brothers Ray and Dave Potes.

THE GOOD OL’ DAYS: LONG GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

words & photosby roger allen

Skating underground parking lots with curbs and manual pads was a must in the winter. I used to skate yellow curbs to death. I would spend weeks trying to learn every lip slide, in every conceivable manner, with every variation. Breaking something was an everyday occurrence. I remember breaking my arm trying switch tail slides; two months later I got the cast off and attempted to ollie into a bank…Snap! Same arm. Same place. The doctor said if I fall wrong again it means a metal rod through my entire arm. Despite this I was skating mini ramp two weeks later, three week later I took the cast off myself… not too smart.

FAESTHETIC

Faesthetic is in its 5th year, and the new issue is well under way (should be dropping in November). That being said, doing one issue a year leaves me with a lot of free time on my hands. Sometimes I curate art shows, sometimes I work on group projects… and this time I’ve put together a group of awesome dudes making work specifically for Color. Four of my current favorites representing five pages of different styles, and the first five years of Faesthetic, working with a loose theme of Color, Canada and whatever the hell else comes out of their brains.

[ o ] JENNINGS

GALLERY

introby sandro grison

Above began his work with in Paris, France, in January 2002 painting on walls, busses and everything in between. Since, he’s moved to Chico California while gaining a strong reputation as a leading force in street art. This past summer he had one goal set for himself and his arrow mobiles. It took over seven months from start to finish for the 348 Mobiles to be fabricated in their weatherproofed form. This past summer Above embarked on his 60 day “Road Trip” with the sole intention of hanging his arrow mobiles in as many major cities across North America as possible. Travelling to new cities with a rental van stacked to the roof with mobiles, his only passenger being his trusty fold-out periscope ladder he scored on ebay, Above traveled more than 5000 miles making headlines in 13 major cities ranging from Los Angeles to Toronto spreading his positive message to “Rise Above”.

MATT IRVING