Rain or shine, last month’s SkaterAid topped previous success with one hundred and four works of art auctioned for a local cancer charity. This grassroots event benefits the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation with a day full of art, music and of course shredding at the skate-park.

My themed entry was inspired by how the environment remains a hot issue while also being a relegated priority, driven by perspective, often drummed up, politicized, then shelved. In 2010 my first entry to SkaterAid was a somber revisit to the Gulf Oil disaster and Hurricane Katrina, this years piece has an emphasis on our energy choices from the sea turtle point of view. Titled “Tar Ball Cafe” the piece contrasts our perspective on structures, as sea weed climbs and morphs into oil derricks the ocean reflects our choices on wind and solar. This summer Shell had planned to drill five wells in the worlds smallest ocean, The Arctic Ocean, making me wonder how many man-made disasters equates to a wake-up call?

What I love, and would rather rant about, are the good vibes from SkaterAid charity mainly the sense of community and no pressure attitude for artists who don’t stress over clean submissions on canvas instead taking off the shackles to try on the world of found art and skateboard design.