2008 – OLO Gallery
Our first skate deck art show went down at the OLO Gallery on Feb. 28, 2008.
We didn’t have a clue what we were doing, but with a lot of help from Steve and Andrea Ingle from Creative Kids(non-profit 501c3) we pulled it off.
More than 25 deck art pieces were auctioned with more than $2,000 raised. We were blown away and inspired to do it again!
You can read the pre-event write up Where Skate Meets Art, Auction benefits local skatepark group by Marina Monsisvais published in the What’s Up weekly.
2009 – Marco Polo Dive Bar
About 200 showed up for our 2nd SDAS at Marco Polo Dive Bar, most of them well-behaved, and grooving to the bumpin’ music provided by DJ Chris Matthews and Matt Salazar, while checking out killer skate videos on a double-sided window video display.
The most sought after decks were auctioned live. Allain Angelos’s “Pop Scullsicle” created the biggest competition goin’ live at $105 and eventually selling for $200 – thanks GQ!
The highest grossing deck, Theron Nicholson’s “Urban Gorilla” made with India ink and oil glaze, sold for $251. And Jaime Favela’s rustic-looking “r evolution” displayed a progression of wheels – from wood to urethane – went for $150.
Our youngest artist was Mya Celeste Salgado and the strangest creation was a late-entry made from 60 popsicle sticks by legendary vert ramp builder Tim Fulmer.
2010 – Black Market
In our most successful fundraiser to date, more than $3,000 was raised at our 2010 SDAS at Black Market on May 12, 2010.
The silent auction featured a total of 74 pieces. Artist Deana Mustin’s hot pink creation featuring a sign language’d “El Chuco” was the top seller at $400 to Black Market owner Austin Allen.
Other top earning decks included: Jacob Lawson’s “Skyline” for $326, Francella’s “Chucostein” for $300, Allain Angelos’s “The Flaming Whore” for $250, and Theron Nicholson’s “Indy Sun God” for $150.
The all-ages event drew more than 200 attendees and was featured in the El Paso Times, KVIA-TV, KROD Sports Talk and KHRO’s The Lisa D Show.
2011 – The Lowbrow Palace
Killer venue, cool crowd and folks down for the public skatepark cause!
The benefit featured more than 80 decks dollied up with a wide variety of styles and materials. Prior to leaving El Paso to explore India and teach English, skater/artist Theron Nicholson threw down an amazing tri-fold piece called “No Obstacles Exist” which sold for $260.
Competition was keen during the live bidding with Francella’s “La Chucana” selling for more than $400 to Lisa Rath – the top grossing deck of the night. New York City-based artist Lars Klingstedt created a couple of sexy blue/black muscle car grill prints which sold as a set for $300.
Other featured artists included Hurley International’s Jason Maloney and sicko local Chris Melero, who made a pair of 3D paper mache demons. Many attendees cruised off with killer art at low-low prices!
2012 – The Lowbrow Palace
The 5th edition silent auction/party at The Lowbrow Palace featured a record total 94 pieces of deck art – 20 showing up day of the show – from a wide range of generous artists including graphic designers, tattoo gurus, grease monkeys, freaks, nerds and weirdos – we love ’em all.
Jaime Favela’s woodshop turned out a comfy-curvy, 8-deck patio chair creation was the top earner, pulling in $300.
Other top dollar decks included: Alain Angelos’s hot rod-inspired “Flaming Longboard”, Francella’s gun-toting Mexicana “La Revolucionaria” and Joe Bla Blazo’s dirty tongue face “Halitopic.”
DJ Rob Bass kept the cool tunes flowing and several lucky winners scored big with door prizes from Vans, Hurley and Inklination Tattoos.
2013 – Tricky Falls
Our 2013 SDAS went prime time with a Saturday night slot at one of El Paso’s most storied entertainment venues – Tricky Falls. The proscenium style theater was designed by the legendary architect Henry C. Trost.
Some 99 years after the theater first opened in 1914, the main floor which typically hosts bad ass music acts like Wolfmother, was filled with 88 skate-inspired art pieces. Some of the more unique stuff up for auction included a room divider, surf bench and a 4-pack of vintage Earth Surf action image canvas prints.
Pro/bro skater Chet Childress threw down a piece called “Bad Poet” and Mario Robert’s colorful vato-centric acrylic “El Paso in the Night-O-Sphere” auctioned live for more than $400.
Former Local’s Only skateshop boss Mike Teele donated a sick Madrid “El Cochino” complete with Tracker 219’s for raffle. Mandy Ferguson’s artwork on the 44 1/2 inch long, 15 3/8 inch wide monster made it a one of a kind gem.
With a new 3 section, staggered auction shutdown strategy, check was easy-breezy for the 200-plus attendees. The night closed with a showing of a short video explaining EPSA’s history and accomplishments, reaffirming why it’s so important we volunteer to do what we do.