SKATEBOARDING AS AN ARTFORM

"Skateboarding is an artform and our way of life" states Brownsville Street Skateboarders Emmanuel Avete and Farmer John. On Saturday May 12 I got a chance to take pictures of these two local skaters rippin it up at the Brownsville Edlestein Park which features a not to bad skate area located on 12th and Polk.
In Brownsville skateboarding has become part of an underground culture of sport, music, art and lifestyle since back in the late 80's early 90's. Its just something you do on the streets on your own. Its not pushed by society like football or soccer, its kept aside like, punk music or a weird hair style. Its a culture that has accepted all that was rejected. It was simple, you were freinds with everyone else who skated. You almost wanted to know everyone so you can find out where the next skateboard hotspot was at.
For me and several other skaters the Cameron County Courthouse was center of it all. The courthouse just had almost everything you needed and is practically downtown. Back then, my parents were renting a house in front of the Edlestein Park, of course back then the park had no skate area like it does now, and almost everyone down Polk was a skater. You just had to be, there was too much influence.
I think it all dates back to two local surfboarders Chucky and Jaime who built a quarter pipe ramp in there front lawn with a giant spray painted Misfits skull that got the attention of every kid down the block. I think every found there way to Bycle World the only placed that sold pro-skateboards that featured brands from Powell Paralta and Tony Alva. Skateboards were expensive for kids like me, about $100 for a complete skateboard. You had to either buy a used one from your freinds or wait until Christmas and hope you got it as a gift.
The scene was then undertaken by the punk music scene at the time. Everyone skated and listened to punk, it just made sense that way. Bands like Mental Disorder/ Cero Brains -The Rejected whom also lived and practiced in the neighborhood fueled the scene into an everyday lifestyle that would be unstoppable...
The skateboarding scene is still out there and is part of a new generation. Hundreds of local skaters are still waiting for Brownsville to accept it into the public parks as everything else. Brownsville is too big now and skateboarding is more dangerouse on the streets than it was back then. I support the idea of building a full on public skatepark. Its part of our lifestyle..