austin skate notes

The Austin Chronicle last week released their special 20th Anniversary Best of Austin awards and Michael Sieben’s crew over at Okay Mountain were selected as the Best Art Gallery for 2009. Speaking of which, they’ve got an exhibit opening later this month featuring 2-D art by Devin Flynn, who worked on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie.

The New York Times Magazine published an awesome article last week about Spike Jonze and his struggle to create the movie version of “Where the Wild Things Are.” I started reading the Jonze article on my iPhone while on the toilet, and found myself there almost an hour later before I finished it.

Sometimes-Austin-video-visitor, Jeremey Lavoi shot a great video for ESPN of this year’s Chili Bowl contest. Seems almost as excellent as last year’s Chili Bowl Contest at Mabel Davis Skatepark in Austin. Some of the same faces were competing. Wonder if they know what hot chili really is…

Ideal Skateparks poured this Sadlands replica at the Benbrook Public Skatepark in Leander earlier this morning. That park should be open in a couple months.

It was a kick in the gut to read that Gallery Lombardi is going to shut its doors in January. With the current economic recession, I might as well copy this text to my clipboard to paste into a long series of ASN blurbs about local businesses closing. For those unfamiliar, Gallery Lombardi is an excellent local gallery that has featured dozens of local skateboarders’ art in thoughtful exhibits. People like Andy Rihn, Michael P, Lee Brooks, and Michael Sieben are obvious examples that come to mind. Curator, Rachel Koeper was one of he panelists who selected the artist to create the public art for the upcoming skatepark in House Park.

Speaking of Chris Levack, during the recent East Austin Studio Tour, he displayed some drawings and scale models of the work he’s putting together for the House Park skatepark.

Leander is hosting its second public input meeting on its upcoming public skatepark next wednesday at 7:00 PM. There will be three conceptual designs presented at the meeting for attendees to discuss and vote on. Here’s a flyer for the meeting with location, date, and time.

After the meeting on Wednesday, a movie will open at select theaters starring Mickey Rourke and an academy award-winning actress. It’s called, “The Wrestler,” and also features a theme song crafted by Bruce Springsteen. Oh, and comedian, Todd Barry.

In the past five or more years, San Antonio’s skate scene has enjoyed two really great skate spots that attracted skate nomads from around the world. Shallow Hal and the Claw Ramp no longer exist. The improbably small pool that was improved upon by Fields Hammond to great effect was recently filled in with dirt. Like every plywood skate behemoth eventually suffers, the Claw Ramp was dismantled in October. Check out the footage of Indy Pros skating these spots during their final sessions on the 30th Anniversary Indy Tour video.

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Michael Sieben’s print, ‘Hang Five‘ can be seen in the R-comedy, “Role Models.” There were some laughs in addition to the fine art in that movie, but I had a better time watching ex-Madonna husband, Guy Ritchie’s, “Rocknrolla” this weekend. It’s a welcome return to gangsters and razor-sharp dialogue.

Independent has some more footage posted online from their 30th Anniversary Tour.

Working people lost an advocate two weeks ago when Studs Terkel passed away at the age of 96. Meanwhile, the Austin Museum of Art is hosting an exhibit containing some of Sebastião Salgado worker photos.

Leander skateboarders will want to attend the public input meeting to be held on Nov. 22nd. It’s the first meeting in the design process of that city’s first public skatepark.
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I asked for a mission, and I got one. It’s a doozy. But if it weren’t, they wouldn’t have called for me.

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Radio and television broadcasts have been filled with descriptions of the destruction leveled upon Galveston by hurricane Ike. I really wonder how that city can rebuild after this. Perhaps a light at the end of this tunnel is one of the things that wasn’t destroyed: it’s recently opened concrete public skatepark. Bring your buckets…

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Design the Board Competition

Lots of people say they want to contribute to get more public skate spots like the mini ramp in Patterson distributed across the city. Well, here’s an opportunity for those community-spirited skateboarders. Austin-area designers have created concept skateboard graphics that will be featured in a show at ‘Design Within Reach‘ and all proceeds from the showing will be turned over to the Austin Public Skatepark Action Committee for the purpose of building more free skate spots throughout Austin.

Event Description
Map to Location

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Finally, an update on Patterson. Yeah, the grass looks awesome. That’s the result of over a month of watering EVERY evening and morning. Seed planting. Sod laying. Fence raising. But yet, there are still some bare spots. The city won’t accept the project as complete until all the park area disturbed by construction is covered with grass. Hopefully it will be soon. Your best bet to make it open faster is to volunteer to help water. Send an email to seth[at]austinskatenotes|dot|org if you want to get involved.

The Broken Neck Ramp broke Dave Watigny’s spleen, and this Friday it has the opportunity to make amends by hosting a fundraising event planned to help defray his overwhelming medical debt stemming from the injury. Last I checked, it has exceeded $70,000.

On the roster for this Friday:

7:00 art auction
9:00 Video Premiere- Pray For Me: Jason Jessee

This is the first public screening of the Jason Jessee documentary in Austin. It’s a very interesting glimpse into the life of an colorful character. Many questions are answered. Many more are begging to be asked. Here’s the trailer. And here’s an odd follow-up interview with Jessee where he complains about a falling-out he’s had with the guy who made Pray for Me.

Broken Neck, 4701 Redbluff

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Patterson Park Mini Ramp is currently on lock-down in order to provide an opportunity for the grass to grow on the dirt berms and other disturbed areas. It’s doing well in spite of the heat. Trespassing on the site doesn’t help get the ramp opened any faster and in fact creates a real problem for the volunteers working to get the project completed and turned over to the city.