Just wrapped up the Bowman x TLG project, and I couldn’t be happier!!

I’ve been a fan of Bowman’s work for some time now, and was lucky enough to pick up one of his originals years ago and now even luckier to call him a friend. So when the gents over at TLG approached me about working on a project together and asked for my input on who to use and what to do. I immediately thought of Bowman. Knowing he’d kill it and the fact that I had been wanting to work with him seemed to be a perfect fit. A few changes later and a new concept we had what later turned out to be an amazing end result. The gents loved it and Bowman can’t stop smiling about the project. So all in all it was an adventure to say the least.

This is just one of the background gorillas from the entire piece. Remember, this is just a small small sample of what’s yet to come!! Watch out for the full posting and deck to come this spring. 

Just wait till you see the the new FFSB x TLG x Bowman deck in full action with all the characters and beasts.

Bowman, thanks again for killing this! 

This is how I’m feeling! Haha’ What a great track!!

So my old friend Mark dropped by today to give me a Christmas present. I remember him telling me before it was something I already had. Now, this got me thinking but I couldn’t figure it out!?

Here he is sporting the Freedom Fighter Bazooka Trooper chain. He always seems to be rocking something FF. Then he hands me this bag.

 WTF!?!!? An empty bag with tissues, ha ha? Mark’s never been that funny and I think this is why. Oh, then he says to me “do you remember that piece of art I asked you to hold onto” The one you’re picking up today to go have framed? Yeah, here it is! “Merry Christmas!” He got me, and he got me good.  He picked up a piece at the Steve Olson’s art show in Toronto back in September and asked me to store it for him. Wow! I can’t believe he got me. Thanks homie!! and Merry Christmas.

So the holidays are upon us, and when Ken asked me to lend a hand with the Christmas raffle benefiting The Lake Ontario Waterkeepers association. I said we’re in!!  What an amazing group of people that are dedicated to keeping our lakes/waterways safe for swimming and drinking. Cover for the evening is $5 or a non-perishable food item. The night will also play host to the launch of the second edition of Word Zine, Street Feet & the Dunbat Video. A ton going on for one evening but the guys at The Bait Shop want to help out and give back for all the support they’ve received this year. So, please come out and have a drink and win yourself an xmas gift.

It seems that I’m never satisfied. We have a ton of upcoming spring projects that we’re pretty excited about, and this summer is going to get even crazier!! I know I’m being super vague but trust me, I’ll be filling you in soon, and it’s worth the wait! Now back to the grind.

It’s finally here!! Well not so much here as it’s on the vimeo site. You can checkout the first of two videos from the Disposable Art Show by just clicking HERE. I know it’s been a long time coming and I do apologize. Darryl Callender did all the filming for the night and we were patiently awaiting the end results and when they didn’t seem to come, a few calls and emails were made. I later found out that D was dealing with a few other things that came up. Now 100% and back at it he swung by and dropped this off. Hope you enjoy what a few of the artists had to say about their work and the event. The second video which is an overall view of the evening, still to come.

Thanks again to all of the artists and everyone involved in making this a successful event. We raised $2000 dollars so far for PMH.  We still have some of the decks from the show available. Check out this LINK to see them.

The next show will be benefiting a non-profit that’s currently in the works called Free Skates. More information to come in the upcoming weeks. This show will be a little different as well because it will focus on showcasing Canadian artists. More details to come. 

Thanks again for all the continued support and can’t wait to see you at the next show this spring/summer. 

It had to happen, but here’s the twist! There’s only 9 of these in existence and one of those is staying at Freedom Fighter. So you better act quick!! We have 3 decks in each of the following sizes  7 5/8, 7 3/4 and  8 inches. Just to make sure you get your proper size, we’re going to let you have first go. Eight are up for grabs, and the last one is ours. We still have some in the old school shape available as well.

Here is the deal. They’re only $60 dollars, and only available through me. Email me at joey@freedomfighterskateboards.com  and be sure to act quick!

I have to thank Spazz again for killing it with this graphic!

What?
BeautifulCity.ca is a city building initiative that aims to beautify, democratize and diversify access to public space, and in turn — hold companies investing in billboard advertising accountable for their impact on shared spaces through an annual license fee.

How?  Through an  tax paid for by third-party billboard advertisers. Revenue would go through Cultural Grants for arts, Clean and Beautiful funding to individual wards and the Community Resource Unit for marginalized communitties. Then directed to art in the public sphere (public art)  through various arms-length agencies and peer assessed processes.  A priority would be put on marginalized communities and youth art. 

“Toronto spends less on arts and culture than other major North American cities. We spend only $13 per-capita, while Montreal spends $32, New York is at $54 and San Francisco allots a whopping $80 in per-capita spending.”

1 – Call and write your councillor. Click here for info and key asks:http://tinyurl.com/yj9cn5f

4 – Spread the word.

Thank you for reading this post & please forward this to anyone that believes in art in public spaces. I remember traveling along the highway with my pops when I was a little kid and was mesmerized by the larger than life billboards. But I always found myself wondering why they weren’t saying anything or being used to inform? I guess this is why I’ve always been drawn to and supported anyone doing guerilla marketing ad campaigns. This is why I support my friend Dr. D and anyone else doing so.

Background
After seven years of work, the tax on billboards for art is close to
becoming a reality! Toronto City Council will be voting on the new
billboard enforcement bylaw and tax for art on November 30th OR
December 1st, 2009. We don’t have much time - and we need your help!

Advertising is increasingly infringing on our public spaces, and the
privilege of leveraging our city for commercial ends should come with
a responsibility to keep them healthy. Almost all other forms of
advertising subsidize content in exchange for your attention. The
billboard tax is a fair and just means for private advertisers to take
responsibility for their impact on the city.

What it will mean?
What’s at stake is a revolutionary new approach that will help bring
balance in our communities. The billboard tax will provide the funds
for proper enforcement of the new billboard bylaw as well as generate
new funds for art in the public sphere - including murals, sculptures,
festivals, accessible arts programming, outdoor performances and more.

This is not just about increasing funding to arts in Toronto (which
lags behind most other cities in cultural spending) this is an
opportunity to start building the beautiful and creative city we all
know is possible: to nourish communities; to reclaim and rehabilitate
our public spaces, and to build our city’s economic potential. For
every dollar of public arts funding in a regional economy, eight
dollars are generated (McKinsey Co.) Investment in arts and culture is
proven to be effective in cultivating healthy and prosperous
communities -- don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of
transforming our city!

Implementation of the bylaw and tax would dramatically increase arts
funding in Toronto while democratizing access to expression public
space. At the target of 18 million in revenue it would create the
opportunity for:

- An historic increase to Toronto's arts and culture budget,
potentially doubling the number of artists and projects receiving
grants.

- Providing approx. $100,000 annually to each Toronto ward
for urban beautification, streetscape improvement, and green initiatives

- Provide approx. $300,000 annually to each of Toronto’s 13
priority neighbourhoods to support accessible youth arts programming.

- Creation of a well-supported bylaw enforcement team to
keep pervasive illegal advertising in check and an arms-length
variance system.

My good friends at The Bait Shop are hosting an event for the City of New Lights video premiere and the new issue of Color. Be sure to hit this up and then head over to 751 for the after party.

So when I heard it was Bradley and Rob’s (TLG) birthdays the one thing that came to mind was drinks and mayhem, I know they wouldn’t have it any other way! If you’ve ever came out to one of there events or just kinda know them you should hit this up and give thanks for the year of parties and skate comps. See you at 751 this Friday.