by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
First Wednesday ArtWalk rolled into 2009 with a multidisciplinary exhibit in the basement at The Library. The theme was skateboarding and genres included hand-painted board decks, a locally-produced video and even some performance art in an area cordoned off and equipped with ramps and rails for a group of street-surfing afficianados.
Artists Chad Laudenberger and Clay Doran displayed their work in a wide variety of styles. Doran said he grew up skating and that’s what got him interested in creating artistic skateboard decks. Laudenberger had a different story.
“I grew up on a dirt road in Middleburg, so there was no way I could skate,” he said. “But I read all the skateboard magazines and they inspired me. I didn’t admire Picasso or artists like that. I was into 24 year-old artists who were painting skulls on skateboards.”
Filmmaker Patrick Barry screeened his 10-minute skateboarding video, “Veer.” He shot it in Jacksonville in four days, then spent four months editing the raw footage into the finished product.
“I’ve already downloaded my application for the Jacksonville Film Festival,” he said.
The next First Wednesday ArtWalk is Feb. 4 from 5-9 p.m. rain or shine.
356-2466