SPACE BLOG //
Wed, 23 Dec 2009
An Adventure In Terror!
Slash in the New Year with the Purple Razors
An adventure in terror
Presented by Purple Razor
Jan 7th 6-10pm
Located at Electric Coffin Studio (Ok Hotel 212 Alaskan way s )
Wed, 23 Dec 2009
Spacecraft Astronaut
Spacecraft Astronaut :: Scotty Witsil has been filming with the Pirate crew and posed for these cool shots : Go Witsil!
Tue, 22 Dec 2009
: Spacecraft sighting :
Gwen Stefani’s baby boy has a spacecraft beanie on!
Send us your sightings and maybe we’ll style you out with stickers and prizes.
Tue, 22 Dec 2009
“Open Space” on ESPN this week
ESPN reviews Mike Basich’s 37-minute film “Open Space”
To check out the video check out Mikes 241 Site:
And to read ESPN’s Review click the link below:
http://espn.go.com/action/snowboarding/blog/_/post/4722930
Mon, 21 Dec 2009
“mission”: reappropriating public space in new york
Why is it ok to take down someone else’s work (/advertisement) and put my work up instead:
The message of this work is not “buy! buy! buy!” it is “look, enjoy, think, like, don’t like, form an opinion.” It engages viewers in a dialogue which advertisements do not. Each piece of art put in a public space, in place of an ad, is an opportunity for viewers to reconnect with the space they inhabit.
I didn’t sign this work:
If this poster were an advertisement for me-as an artist-it would be just as problematic as a conventional, legally paid for ad. Jordan Seiler uses this quote from Lewis Hyde’s The Gift to describe his work: “unlike economic exchange, a gift has no expectation of return.” As a gift to the city, I have no expectation that this work will garner recognition or accolades. It was a very small way to change a very large cityscape. It was perhaps a utopian gesture which has the potential to lead to more concretely efficacious ones.
Just getting my feet wet:
As I prepared for my project (reading about street art, about Jordan Seiler’s work, about resident/public-space interaction) the holes in it became quite clear to me. I’m not sure such an obviously political work is the best use of reappropriated ad space; it’s a case of the message is the medium; I think just putting a piece of art in a space conventionally used for advertisements is enough of a message itself. Or perhaps I just needed to put my work in a more specific location—out side the TimeWarner center or maybe even very close to a news stand. My lack of experience entering the instillation limited me in some ways in these options.
Sun, 20 Dec 2009
Let it F*cking Snow follow up.
Here is a follow up on the “Let It F*cking Snow” party at Havana.
So… go ahead and F*UCKING snow. Thank you Mother Nature.
Click this link for hot party action :
http://www.plwp.com/091125_havana_snocon.html
Thu, 17 Dec 2009
EL CAMINO x EXIST 1981x TOCAYO
Cuban-born illustrator (Tocayo) collaborates with San Diego street artist (Exist 1981) on El Camino restaurant in Little Italy, SD.
EL CAMINOxEXIST 1981xTOCAYO from EXIST1981 on Vimeo.
Wed, 16 Dec 2009
Jesse’s WEAKly Report 3: Tonight’s gonna be a good night.
Jesse’s WEAKLy Report 3!
Wed, 16 Dec 2009
Mighty Midwest Snowboard Camp Tour 2009-10
The 4th annual Mighty Midwest Snowbord Camp Tour 2009-10
Presented by: Pat Milbery & Sno-Gnar.
Tour dates and Locations:
Dec. 19th & 20th - Trollhagen Resort, WI (Minneapolis, Mn)
1-800- 826-7166 -www.trollhagen.com
Dec. 28th & 29th - Sunburst Resort, WI (Milwaukee, WI) - 262-626-8404 -www.skisunburst.com
Dec. 30th & 31th - Tyrol Basin Resort, WI (Madison, WI) - 608-437-4135 -www.tyrolbasin.com
Jan. 2nd & 3rd - Raging Buffalo Resort, IL (Chicago, IL) 847-836-RAGE -www.ragingbuffalo.com
***This stop will hopefully include a LIVE set from DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN & BUKUE ONE
Jan. 16th & 17th - Otsego Club Resort, MI (Gaylord, MI) - 989-732-5181 -www.ostegoclub.com
Jan. 23th & 24th - Freeze X-Fest @ The Soaring Eagle Casino, MI - (Millington, MI) - 989-871-3358 - www.freezexfest.com
Feb. 6th & 7th - Buck Hill, MN (Burnsville, MN) – 952-435-7347 - www.buckhill.com [this is a night camp]
Feb.13th & 14th - Echo Mountain, CO (Evergreen, CO) - 303-325-7347 -www.echomt.com
[all proceeds from this camp go to the Chill Foundation]
To check out more info click on the link below:
Wed, 16 Dec 2009
The people of Spacecraft.
Here is a little taste of our impromptu holiday photo shoot courtesy of Pat Wright.
More to come :: Stay focused and join the movement
Fri, 11 Dec 2009
As they say on animal planet “when the buying stops the killing stops”.
We all know the tigers are almost extinct in the Jungles of indonesia, but when was the last time you saw a friend wearing a genuine tiger fur or boots to dinner?
Today I was shocked to find my regular leather supplier is also one of Bali’s largest Python skin suppliers. I began questioning my Javanese friend on the python market, Where he bought them? how much he paid? how many snakes were killed?. He was so excited to tell me how popular python skin is today, he even showed me a movie on his hand phone of them killing a 4 meter long reticulated Python, which can grow up to 9 meters, the worlds longest snake.
What I have learnt is, unlike crocodiles or cows, which are farmed for meat and skins , the pythons are taken directly form the jungles of Sumatra by local villages, and sold to dealers who will kill and skin the snakes. On average the python is about 4 meters long and is sold to my friend for $10 per meter. I estimate the villages receive $5 or$10 a snake. My friend believes the supplier kills about 15 until 20 pythons per day.
To export the python skin , a buyer must have a certificate from the Indonesian government which will state the animal was taken from the wild. However I was informed this is just a formality and most customers lie about the quantity.
When I asked my friend what will happen when the snakes run out, He laughed and replied, they will not run out.
Pythons are not farmed as they are too expensive to keep, Python skins have recently boomed in the fashion world.
Please make your friends aware of this.
As they say on animal planet “when the buying stops the killing stops”.
I have attached a link to a more detailed article for those that would like more info
www.bihartimes.com/Maneka/snakeskintrade.html
Wed, 09 Dec 2009
Wordtomother - An Introduction To Their Creative Process
Artist Profile : WordToMother from Andrew Telling on Vimeo.
Tue, 08 Dec 2009
Holiday Bizarre
Holiday Bizarre
Solace and Ego present: An Epic Group Art Showcase!
Friday Dec. 11th at Greenwood collective (8537 Greenwood Ave N. Seattle, Wa 98103)
The opening reception is 6pm-10pm.
There are over thirty different artists set to showcase!
It should be a rocking good time.
So come on down have a drink check some art.
Tue, 08 Dec 2009
Jesse’s WEAKly Report 2: The Circle of life
Another week, another video. Next week reporting from the mean streets of Alaska.
Thu, 03 Dec 2009
Gimme Baby Robot
GIMME BABY ROBOT
HOSTED @- Spacecraft headquarters : 227 9th Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 (across from Jones soda)
ONENIGHT ONLY- Wednesday, December 16th 7pm-9pm
GIMME BABY ROBOT IS A ONE-NIGHT EVENT FEATURING A SILENT AUCTION OF SMALL ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY HUNDREDS OF ESTABLISHED AND UPCOMING ARTISTS NATIONWIDE. STARTING BIDS AS LOW AS $1, AND THE BIDDER WITH THE HIGHEST BID OF THE NIGHT GETS TO TAKE THE PIECE HOME. JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF CHEAP BEER, AFFORDABLE ART AND GOOD TIMES. AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A LAST- MINUTE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A UNIQUE HOLIDAY GIFT .
Thu, 03 Dec 2009
Jesse’s Weakly Report 1: Nas or Jay-z and a whole lot of Nothing
Hey Everyone
This is the First of Jesse Burtner’s Weakly Reports.
Stay tuned for many more to come!
Thu, 03 Dec 2009
Pat Milbery appears on Fuel TV’s Daily Habit
Spacecraft Astronaut “Pat Milbery” appears on Fuel TV’s Daily Habit. Word has it the Spacecraft hand made masks were placed on heads and chaos ensued.
Airing Wednesday, December 2 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (6:00 pm Pacific Time) and telecast three additional times, Pat Milbery will appear on “The Daily Habit.”
If you miss it on Fuel… check it out on Hulu.
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
A Spacecraft star sighting: Gwen Stefani
A Spacecraft star sighting: Gwen, husband Gavin Rossdale, kids Kingston and Zuma are enjoying a night out on the town. Zuma is wearing a Spacecraft Buddha Bear hand knit beanie. Thanks for the love Gwen and family ::
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
Anthony Lister
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
The Story Of “The Pink Lady of Malibu”
One Saturday morning, on October 29, 1966, a massive 60-foot-tall painting of a nude pink lady holding flowers suddenly appeared as you headed into the tunnel on Malibu Canyon Road.
As word of the massive pink lady spread, and the traffic on the highway grew to a halt, city officials decided “The Pink Lady” had to be removed. Firefighters were called to hosing her off the rocks. It didn’t work. Buckets of paint thinner were thrown on the rocks. It only made her pink skin pinker.
As county officials worked on figuring out a way to remove The Pink Lady, a 31-year-old paralegal from Northridge, a woman named Lynne Seemayer, suddenly showed up on the road and admitted that she was the artist who did the piece.
Seemayer said that she was annoyed by the graffiti that was all over the canyon wall (”Valley Go Home” was a memorable slogan) and so, over a 10 month period, she started to secretly climb up under the moonlight and suspended herself by ropes to remove the graffiti.
At 8 P. M. on October 28 Seemayer painted the Pink Lady using ordinary house paint. By dawn it was done.
The Pink Lade lasted only a week. Seemayer sued LA county for $1 million for the destruction of her work, and the county counter-sued for $28,000 in removal costs. Since the painting was on private property, both cases were dismissed by the court.
On Thursday, November 3, workers covered the painting with 14 gallons of brown paint.
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
“Monkey Wrench” Music Video
Check out DEL The Funky Homosapien X Pat Milbery’s song “Monkey Wrench”off of his newest album “AutoMatik Statik”.
Del X Pat- “Monkey Wrench” Music Video from Jameson Walter on Vimeo.
and read more about him at the link below:
http://my.so-gnar.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=70:del-the-funky-homosapien-x-pat-milbery&Itemid=96
Wed, 02 Dec 2009
The Collection Art Show
The Collection Art Show
Sponsored by Scion!
Opening night Friday and Saturday Dec. 4th and 5th 6pm-11pm
Its gonna be a party!
DRINKS, music, goodtimes and there will be art for sale!
Come check it out!
Thu, 26 Nov 2009
“OPEN SPACE” a film about the life of Mike Basich
Hey Click on the link below to check out “OPEN SPACE” a film about the life of Mike Basich
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
The show will take place on First Thursday, December 3rd 2009, at The Electric Coffin Studio from 6-10pm. 212 Alaskan Way S, Seattle, WA 98104.
Duffy
www.electriccoffin.com
thepurplerazors.blogspot.com
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Spacecraft goes to Baker : November in the NW delivers
Mt. Baker with nearly a 100” base… we believe, so will you
Mt. Shuksan with two fresh bananas in the foreground
Road shot to beat the crowds
Astronaut and Mervin shipping mgr Dave Mounts with a hand drag
Our Spacecraft for the day : Go make it happen ::
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Kabul Skatey
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AFGHANISTAN OPENS ITS FIRST SKATE PARK <– organized by Skateistan, an Afgan Skate School which engages growing numbers of urban and internally-displaced youth in Afghanistan through skateboarding, and provides them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs… More photos of the park.
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Wed, 25 Nov 2009
An Interview With Kelly Jablonski from Ultimate Skateboard
Spacecraft’s Canadian distributor :: Ultimate Distribution’s Kelly Jablonski talks about the state of the industry.
retailcommon - How did you get started in the business?
Back in about 1989 when I was in grade 11 I starting working for Kevin Harris at both The Richmond Skate Ranch and The Boarding House retail store. After high school I ended up managing the park and the retail store for a short time until its closure in 1992. Soon after I was offered a job at Ultimate which Kevin also owned. 16 years later its hard to believe I still get to work for both a company and culture that I truly enjoy.
retailcommon - Tell us about your company. (Who are you & what do you represent?)
Ultimate Skateboard Distributors is currently in its 24th year of business representing and distributing various skateboard brands and related companies. Ultimate has always focused on core brands and has concentrated on the hard goods aspect of skateboarding with a huge belief in putting back into the industry and the culture in Canada thru the creation of Canada’s first Skateboard magazine. We also do as much as we can to help support the up and coming batch off Canadian am’s. We also try to support the Canadian retailers as much as possible for playing such an important role in keeping the scene alive across such a vast country.
retailcommon - Who or what inspires you?
Inspiration can be found in the most surprising ways. Charity work and seeing the affect we can have on those less fortunate or suffering from many different things really inspires me. Inspiration and opportunity is there in so many forms, most people just choose to overlook it as it is dressed in overall and looks like work!
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Alva Edison
retailcommon - How is business? Did the economy smack you around this year? How are you feeling going into next season?
This last year has been a lesson on how to run a lean business with focus on overhead and cash flow and finding unique ways to protect our margin with such a fluctuating dollar exchange. The biggest road black we had to deal with this past year was the huge dollar exchange that happened towards the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009. It really created a situation for about 3 to 6 months that saw our gross margin nearly vanish. This is difficult as the overhead and the expense to operate a successful business continues to climb. Sales overall have been decent this year, luckily we are a distributor that sees the majority of sales come from at once orders. Prebook seasonal business has been affected much more, so I think we have a bit of an advantage with such a hardgoods at once focused. If a store sells 10 boards this week they need 10 more for next week. That’s where we come in. This winter I think retail is still going to have a tough time but going into spring of 2010 as long as we don’t have any dollar exchange surprises I think distribution should be pretty stable.
retailcommon - Which trade shows can we expect to see you at?
We usually partake in Know?Show but in 2010 not sure yet what direction we will take with tradeshows. I do believe tradeshows have a place but there may be some new unique ways to interact with our customers that need to be explored.
retailcommon - How does your company stay in contact with suppliers/buyers?
Ultimate has a strong focus on direct human connections with both suppliers and buyers. Online ordering has its place but nothing will ever replace the importance of a phone conversation to catch up with either a supplier or retailer. Of course email is still a great way to quickly connect and communicate. Many of Ultimate’s employees are really involved in the grass roots of skateboarding as well so it’s not like at 4:30, the day ends. I am currently writing this in a hotel in Irvine as I sit on the IASC (international association of skateboard companies) board of director where I get to meet and interact with some of the industries biggest players (George Powell, Frank Messmann, Don Brown, Tod Swank, Per Welinder, Steve Van Doren, Bob Denike, Bod Boyle, Jamey Stone etc). The goal is to help bring our industry together to work towards a common goal of increasing the success of our industry and the participation of those who skateboard. It also is a great way to extend our relationships deep within the industry.
retailcommon - How do you market your business? Are you involved in online social networking? If so, what community groups do you belong too?
Most of the brands we carry are pretty selective to the retailers we deal with so really its more a matter of keeping connected with the dealers we currently sell to. A few brands such as Spacecraft have a bit different retail base but overall we have our customer base pretty nailed down. Also the reps we work with are really another great tool to make sure each brand is in the proper retail store. We do some facebook stuff and minimal online stuff other then our own website and blog to keep the retailers up to date with any news regarding the brands we represent.
retailcommon - Does your company have an online presence? If so, what’s your web address?
www.ultimateskateboarddist.com www.concreteskateboarding.com
retailcommon - Does your site have ecommerce capability? If so, tell us what it’s like running an ecommerce site.
Ecommerce is something we are just starting to look at. I think it’s coming but at the distribution level I think we still have some time to make sure its done properly to make sure the human connection to our retailers is not lost. Ecommerce I think has to focus on what is the most convenient for our buyers, not what’s convenient for us as I still believe personal communication is still one of the most affective ways to maintain relationships with buyers.
retailcommon - What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
These past few years the thing I have learned most is always be ready to change. Brands, retailers, staff etc are ever changing and you have to be ready to adjust your business accordingly. It’s kind of like that book, “Who Moved my Cheese”. If you do not change you become extinct!
Special Thanks to Kelly Jablonski for the interview!
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
SPACECRAP Sample sale
Spacecraft presents a one afternoon only SPACECRAP sample sale :: Friday, Dec 4th from 3pm to 8pm.
At the Spacecraft headquarters :: 227 9th Ave N | Seattle, WA. 98026 || Across from Jones Soda
Get your stocking stuffers and Spacecraft gems… then go support your local Spacecraft dealer :: Details below
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Spacecraft in Baghdad.
Spacecraft sends Jay Naylor over to instill peace and seek out surf locations.
Wed, 25 Nov 2009
Spacecraft returns to its birthplace :: Stevens Pass
Mother Nature has decided that El Niño will produce insane amounts of snow in the NW an left a blanket of snow on Stevens Pass that was good enough for a November 19th opening with about 50” of the fluffy stuff.
There was work to be done, and this days work was catching up with old friends and shredding POWDER. An all staff riding day was called and we did just that…
Highlights:
Meeting up with the Mini Winni crew of Pat McCarthy, Jeremy Dubbs, Dylan Hart and Nick Ennen in the RV lot with powder eating grins.
The mad rush for fresh tracks with the Pow Gloves crew of former Spacecrafter Maxx von Marbod, with fellow hooky players Kaiser and Jeff
Seeing the stoke on Cali transplant Kyle Kennedy from Snowboarder Mag… and seeing the turmoil of him having to write up another killer opening day story and submit it to Bridges and E-tree
POWDER RUN, after powder run
Riding with the famed Skunk Apes, (Eric Brandt and Billy Summers) down fresh lines
Getting freshies with the whole staff and calling it work :
HUGE THANKS TO THE STAFF AND LOCALS AT STEVENS PASS : Go there… and stay on the groomers please.
Jeremy Dubbs and Pat McCarthy : in the Mini Winni
Kyle Kennedy and Maxx von Marbod… just after their first run
Spacecraft designer, Colby Smith and long time Northwaver Dez
Spacecraft co-founder: Stefan Hofmann with old friends Billy Summers and Eric Brandt
Colby : Bar time
Aaron “mango” Manganaro
Kevin O’Brien : Spacecraft sales Samurai
Colby, prepping for a lip smack
The red dot is Billy Summers setting up to drop in a Stevens Pass low tide shoot
Eric Brandt Kung Fu style with 30lbs of extra snow on his shred stick
Get some : Make it happen