Artists Painting for Good

I was talking to my friend Ahra this week and she was telling me about her current initiative with Skateistan to get artists to paint boards and then these will be auctioned off in May/June time in NY. The money will go to Skateistan's efforts in bringing skateboarding and education to kids in Kabul.

I put her in touch with my friend Natas Kaupas, creative director at Quicksilver and he's in. I found his response to me interesting:

"Sounds good.
Just painted a bike for orphans.
I have a bit of time-
Send it on over. When do you need it by?"

This is nothing new but I have to say how impressed I am by artists going out of their way to help. By the way, I know Natas is an incredibly busy guy so for him to do this will mean giving up time with friends and family. It's humbling.

Skateistan has done a great job getting its message out. Here's an interesting push in Denmark for Skateistan http://bit.ly/cf0llK

This video tells you their story in more detail.

There was also a great article on them in the NYTimes last year http://nyti.ms/cEijeU

Check out more on skateistan here http://bit.ly/aUosLK

Another collective made up of Contributor, Society6 and Club Mumble is doing a cool project in Canada with artists and boards, where people buy the artists' time to paint a board. The money goes to giving disadvantaged youth skateboards. Read more here http://bit.ly/9GKert

I love the momentum behind these projects and also how the board acts both as a canvas and a tool to enjoyment, activity, motion, creativity, fitness and expression. Not bad for something created by some California punks in the 50's.