EMP's
Skate Punk
Event
EMP's Skate Punk Exhibits
Michael Cornelius and Steve Pingelton
EMP
is a multi-media imersion into music history and the creative process.
I'll keep the description short here because the best way to learn about
it is through their web site emplive.com.
August 17th to 19th EMP featured full days of skate punk discussion panels, slide shows, movie screenings, live music and of course the permanent exhibit in the "Milestones" area.
The Panel Discussions
Opening
night for the "Hey Punk!" skaterock exhibit was a panel discussion in the
JBL theater focusing on "Exploring How Skateboarding Media Spread
the Punk Rock Story". Speakers included, C.R. Stecyk III, Glen E. Freidman,
MoFo (via cell phone), Brian Brannon, Mike (Agent Orange), "O",
Chris Carnell (Heckler), and Wez Lundry (Pool Dust). Also Duane
Peters was contributing life from the second row.
C.R.
Stecyk III spoke first, appropriately, as he was one of the first to capture
images of the movement. Internationally acclaimed artist and director of
many skateboard movies, he spoke of classic "Sidewalk Surfing" songs and
movies of the sixties, and the emergence of Skateboarder magazine. An artist
in every sense, this man's radical influence on the history of skateboarding
media is impressive.
Quote:
"I think skate music started being different from surf music when Jan &
Dean, using a reel to reel in their driveway, recorded the first sounds
of skateboarding for a sample in their song "Sidewalk Surfing".
Glen
E. Friedman started out by paying respect to C.R. Stecyk III and the talent
in the Dogtown crew. "Craig saw that it (Punk) was more rebellious than
anything else, so he started slipping it into the mag, the gossip columns,
that was the origination of it all". Quotes ""It was just about the attitude,
the music came in later". "It was just all about being on the edge all
the time"..."It's about expressing yourself, in a way that makes you feel
good, and making others
feel
good also".
MoFo,
legendary photographer who is said to have coined the term "skaterock"
was there via Brian Brannon's cell phone. Thrasher photo Editor, and "Hard
Drinkin' Man". Wrote "Wild Riders of Boards" 'zine. Bands included Los
Olividados,
and Drunk Injuns. In 1983 released first SkateRock compilation tape for
Thrasher magazine.
The
Highlight of the evening was Duane Peters telling the story of "the LOOP",
I have read it probably ten times, but to actually hear it from the man
himself was priceless. Duane included many details that I had never heard
before, such as doing a 1 1/2 loop, slamming a wall, and falling into a
shopping cart. Tales of
being
a 14 year old skater idolizing "Evil Knevil" on a homemade board, picked
off the beach by promoters. "We used to drink beers up on top (of the ramp)
every night, cause we knew I was gonna die"... "They were trying to sell
the fucking loop with my life"... Best Quote: "the Second Punk Rock came
in, we were on it, Skaters were ahead of Everybody"...
The
second panel discussion featured Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Poison 13 and The
Monkey Wrench), Brian Brannon (JFA), Mike Roche and Ron Emory (TSOL), Steve
Olson, Salba, Glen E. Friedman and Alva. With a crowd of about 200
in the JBL Theater they discussed how punk got infiltrated into the skate
culture.
The Exhibit
EMP
displayed video featuring Alva, Brian Brannon, Ron Emory, Salba and others
along with a pretty good collection of skaterock releases including JFA
and Code of Honor. Several boards were on display such as a Big Boys
and an Agent Orange Deck. Through EMP's multi media technology you
could hear more information about the items on your headset. EMP
plans to rotate about 10% of the displayed materials each quarter to showcase
other items that they have.
Fruit of the Vine
The
8mm film Fruit of the Vine was screened on Friday night. Film maker
Coan
Nichols gave his personal introduction before the film hit the big
screen. If you collect skate videos you must get this film.
Not because it shows the raddest skating but because it fully documents
the life and times of a group of underground pool skaters. No other
film I have seen comes even close to capturing the true nature of hunting
for, and enjoying the cast off concrete of our disposable culture.
Other Sessions
On
Friday there were sessions all afternoon on various skate topics.
Chris
Maneras and Brad Ellman spoke about Z-Boys.com and classic skate
collections.
Wez Lundry showed slides from Pool Dust.
Mark Hubbard and Jay Iding spoke on the politics and reality of building your own skate bowl. Mark and his crew have built some of the best skate terrain in the US. For proof visit their web site at Grindline.com or check out our report on Newberg Oregon's skatepark. They have a reputation for building twice the park at half the price. Mark is an outspoken proponent of concrete curves for the masses.
Chris
Carnel showed skate photography from Heckler mag to round out the afternoon.
EMP did an excellent job of showcasing the material and making everyone feel like honored guests. I have to give them full props for a job well done.