Where did your inspiration come in creating this board?
I wanted to see a skateboard that was made out of a material that came from the urban environment. I work with steel and so I automatically think about things in metal. Hot-rolled steel diamond plate is one of my favorite materials because it’s something very industrial and used on sidewalks and on streets. If you look down, you’ll start seeing it! I thought it would be perfect for a skateboard and wanted to try to create an exact size/dimension/thickness board in steel instead of wood and refinish it in the way that I work with my steel wall works.
I always thought from the first moment the idea came into my mind that the board should be made to do good – I wanted to put forth something compassionate and beautiful. I am hoping that it can help in this way. I decided to make a series of the boards and call them ‘Shinobu’ which means ‘endurance or perseverance’ in Japanese. I like the idea of committing to having good intention and sincerity with the works that one produces and staying true. I was really inspired by the Element family and values, and as an advocate I wanted to create something special. The diamond plate and steel seem very real to me. I think it represents strength and staying true no matter what.
In making the piece, did you do any research on the engineering of skateboard design?
I actually emailed Vince De la Pena who put me in touch with Brian Hanhart, who gave me the actual drawings and specs of the Element boards. I recreated it from those drawings and tried to be true to the exact dimensions.
Describe how lighting effect the appearance of the board and how the way in which it was constructed?
I’m an artist who works with layering metal finishing techniques, I work a lot with fire and acid and heating up the steel and changing the colors, adding chemical patinas with heat and effecting the color and texture of the steel surface. I approached the skateboard in the same way as I do my steel wall works. Recently I’ve been working with luminescence and am very interested in light – I used a phosphorescent chemical on the board so that the edges are luminous in darkness. I love the idea that the phosphorescent chemical ‘charges’ during the day with the available light from wherever the board is and at night it is luminous and emits the light back to the viewer. I think of light as suggesting transformation and transcendence. The family of Element and all the good that can come about is really amazing. The luminosity to me conveys that feeling of wonder, it’s a little bit magical.
Where do you picture this piece best displayed?
I have it right now on the wall of my studio, it’s attached to the wall with really strong magnets! I think it can be anywhere, on a wall or leaning against the wall – even flat on a tabletop – I refinished the bottom side, the top is the diamond tread – I like both so I flip it around and sometimes just lean it against the wall. I keep making people hold it, they are all shocked at how heavy it is! 3/8″ steel is heavy!
If you could take this skateboard on a trip, where would you go?
Well…the deck isn’t actually ride-able…(at least not by me!) it’s very heavy…my friend wanted to put wheels on it and take it out and I told him that I thought it may kill him or someone else, it is super heavy…. but I’m hoping to show the board series in Europe this year. If I could take any trip right now, I’d go back to my two hometowns, Okayama and see my family and Santa Cruz and go sit by the ocean and look at the redwoods.
How long did this beauty take?
It took over a month, but it felt like it was over way too soon, I had a really, really good time making it.
Sarah Larnach kicks ass! T-rex’s and wolves painted in psychedelic colors, mountain ranges made of cats, and angst-filled teens… These are not your grandmother’s watercolors. The newest edition to our Eden Advocate family, Sarah’s paintings have been featured in group shows by Monster Children, Absolut, and high profile projects such as Becks Beer, but her most mind-blowing artistic feat are her visionary works for New Zealand based electro-pop band Ladyhawke. While we’re in love with the album art and all the illustrations that adorn the Ladyhawke website, we were absolutely speechless when we watched Sarah’s paintings come to life in the music video My Delirium. Check out the video below, and see more photos and a full interview with Sarah here.
Eden Advocate Amber B was recently interviewed for art blog The Number 20. Read on for more of her wisdom and wit.
“As we are so lucky to have so many creative friends around us, we would like to introduce them to all of you. First one out is Amber B. Dianda. I met this talented girl in Australia back in 2002. She was already then doing the coolest things with her art. Photography, tailoring and whatever she could put together. She has come along way since then and she just continues to inspire us. We are proud to start of this series of posts on a very special Aussie.
INTRODUCE YOURSELF!
Amber B. Dianda (Photographer, Tailor & Creative Princess)
Your first job?
I grew up on a dairy farm so my brother and I always had jobs like getting fresh milk for the house and getting up before the sun to bring the cows into the dairy for milking but my first real job away from home was a waitress, which was a disaster… Thank God I’m creative cause I completely suck at everything else!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the hinterland of Queensland, Australia. My family were some of the first to colonize the Gold Coast, apparently we were ‘free settlers’ but knowing my family, I am dubiousness about this! Hehe!
What are you doing now and where would you like to be in 5 years?
I currently live in Southern California with my husband Kirk Dianda. I really love traveling and learning about unfamiliar places and meeting new people. My husband and I love our work and happily submerge our whole lives in it, so I guess we will be where ever our creative work takes us.
How come you’re so creative?
My mum was always very creative with fashion and my dad is an inventor at heart, while both my grandmothers were sewers so growing up I always had that hands on or DIY mentality. I would also have to say, the first time I saw Bjørk in her ‘Venus as a boy’ music video, it blew my mind as a teenager and the wonderment continues til today. Her lyrics and ability to invoke emotion like she does constantly inspires me to reach new levels in my own creativity and also to be unique and follow my own path, no rules…and to always fight for what is in your heart.
Play it forward! Please pick a song and tell us why you choose just this track.
I picked the song ‘Storm’ which was written and directed by Bjørk and Leila Arab. The song is part of a soundtrack from the movie ‘Drawing Restraint 9′ that was created by Bjørk in collaboration with her partner Matthew Barney. I love this song because it gives me goosebumps when you listen to it on headphones.”
Come join us for an evening of hope and inspiration as the ENABLED PROJECT shares the incredible stories of nine athletes who do what most able-bodied people don’t dare. Three years in the making, the ENABLED PROJECT is a movement in art, hope, and inspiration that has already begun to change people’s lives. Presented by highly acclaimed photographer and creator of the ENABLED PROJECT, Ian Ruhter. His photographs will take us into the lives of those who have made the unimaginable possible. Ian’s work has been featured on many magazine covers and ad campaigns throughout the world and now he brings his vision of hope expressed through art to the public.
The event will be held at 610 S Main st. Los angeles, CA 90014 on December 10th from 5-10pm. See you there!
