I wasn't ever a big Gator fan. His Transworld Pro Spotlight seemed really weird to the fourteen year old version of me. I don't think his graphics ever appealed to me either, although now being older I can fully see the benefits of continuity with variation on a theme. Sean Cliver has written a couple of great pieces on the numerous versions of the Gator spiral at his Disposable website. This is a stark comparison to the high turnaround rate of today's industry. When you say the name Tony Hawk or Steve Caballero or Jason Jessee, there is an instant art image to go along with the skater that is already burned in your mind, if you are old enough.
When was the last time that happened in skateboarding? Maybe with Chad Muska, but that was over a decade ago now. What pops in there for Eric Koston or Daewon Song or any of today's top pros? Are you really thinking Mike Carroll's Calvin eating mac & cheese model when you read his name? Well, OK, I am, but most probably aren't. I guess what I'm saying is that most of today's young pros aren't going to have an encounter down the road with somebody who got their board graphics tattooed on their arm like so many of the 1980s finest have.
I'm not writing any of this to complain or berate any of the fine artists and designers in today's skateboard world. A lot of you guys and girls are doing a great job. Please keep it up. These are just a few observations on how the visual mythology of skateboarding has changed. And for those that are putting the rider's name in a giant bold font and passing it off as art, try a little harder.
Transworld - December 1988 Volume 6 Number 6
5 comments:
Amen brother. Few great artists in the business like there once was. Mcgee, cliver, pushead, howell, fan-fingtastic artists. But alas, shitty heat transfered soulless corpofascist forgettable scratch rules the day. Cant believe most boards aren't even screened anymore. There are profits to be had.
I totally agree---there's VERY few decks I see these days that might ever be considered iconic, like less than 1%. It's no indictment against the artists, but the old stuff seemed to have a lot more thought process behind them and were in print for years, instead of weeks. Even some of the crappiest 80's and early 90's stuff is a lot more appealing than the current batch of stuff.
I did love that Koston one that was the rip of the old first Boston album though, and was never able to get one---if anyone has one wrapped and ready to sell--I'm down to pay for it---lol.
know why? no rail guards.
All my old decks have rail guards--LOL.
8===D -'.
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