When Ramps Ruled the Earth or Guerilla Skate Ramp at SiteLA

I've waved bye-bye to my best days of skating in the rear view mirror. Instead, these days, I seem to spend more time trying to relearn what I forgot than learning new things. One thing that will never escape me though is the DIY spirit that one piece of wood, tow metal trucks and some wheels have given me. Long ago summer days were spent "liberating" supplies to build ramps in our small New York town. Eventually we had a prehistoric skatepark built in an abandoned parking lot. Now, in a similar fashion with a keen eye exploring the boundaries of living space and art Quik's SiteLA is getting ready to drop the Guerrilla Ramp.

This installation gazes through an artistic lens at how we can interact with public and private space through the modern skate ramp. I only say modern ramp to imply that a) the wood was not stolen from a construction site and b) they actually know what they are doing in building the transitions. But enough about my past indiscretions and inexperience lets talk about Jesse Rodato.

Along with being the design brain of this skate creation Ms. Rodato's will be showing off the new exhibit tonight at SiteLA.org. As the exhibit opens there' be a host of other activities but first and foremost there will be skating. Quik team riders and legends will be on hand: Olsen? Garcia? Brock? Forbes? who knows? The Quik team is so deep they could bring a bunch of ams and they'd slay it. Back to the other stuff though, Danny Garcia's band will be playing a set, Jessie's short film featuring Alex Olsen and Garcia will premier and she's has invited local DIY artist to come and explore the space as her creation is unveiled. There's quite a bit going on but none better than supporting the Do It Yourself ethos that resonates through skating.

Rather than simply host and exhibit opening and leave everybody on the conscious high of art Jessi is looking to empower us to do the same. At Site LA you'll be able to pick up newsprint based ramp plans to build your own ramp. Check out the event and take those amazing visual from your brain and convert them to reality. Don't let a moment pass by where you could regret not becoming a part of this conversation we call skating. Most of all...don't steal wood from construction sites. But, if you do. I won't tell.

OK, on to the usual stuff...