Surf punk celebration

For surfers in the late ‘70s, there were two major revolutions.

The first was the introduction of the twin-fin surfboard. The

launch of this board design enabled surfers to make sharper cuts and

more aggressive turns.

At the same time, a new, aggressive sound was entering the music

scene.

Joe McElroy, global director of branding for Hurley surfwear, said

a lot of surfers during this time were listening to radical and

rebellious punk rock music.

In response, the surfboards became a sort of artistic testimony

for defiant youth -- the colors became more vivid and the designs

more intense.

To celebrate the collision of the punk rock and twin-fin eras,

Hurley and Surfer magazine have put together an art show, “Against

the Grain: Surfing and Punk Rock Collide.”

“It’s a perfect combination,” said McElroy, who is also the show’s

curator.

McElroy said the company believes strongly in music and the arts.

This show is a way for Hurley to pay tribute to two of the strongest

influences on its clothing lines.

The exhibit consists of 17 twin-fin boards crafted by eight

shapers from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, including the company’s

chief executive officer, Bob Hurley. Each board was then sent off to

a punk artist from the same time period, who did designs for the

undersides of the surfboards.

All 17 boards are available for auction on eBay, and all proceeds

will benefit VH1’s Save the Music, a nonprofit foundation devoted to

preserving and restoring music education programs in schools across

the country.

“Our company is influenced by music and bands and music trends,”

said Julie Weitzberg-Leffler, marketing and publicity director. “We

like to keep things going back into art, music and sports.”

Like punk music, much of the show’s artwork can be considered

controversial. For his board design, Winston Smith used his cover for

the Dead Kennedy’s album “In God We Trust, Inc.,” which portrays

Jesus Christ being crucified on a cross made of money.

Other artists in the show include photographer Edward Colver, who

shot photos of the early Los Angeles punk rock scene; Arturo Vega,

the “fifth Ramone,” who designed the Ramones’ crest; and Mark

Mothersbaugh of Devo.

The show is nearing the end of its international tour, with its

next stop scheduled for San Diego and a final stop in Sydney,

Australia.

McElroy said the show was well received in Tokyo, Hawaii, New York

City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He is working on the possibility

of taking the show to Europe.

“It was a little stressful, but it came together,” he said of the

exhibit. “We feel we should show as many people as possible.”

To view the boards on eBay, visit o7www.stores.ebay.com/

againstthegrainartshow.f7

IF YOU GO:

What: Hurley and Surfer Magazine’s “Against the Grain: Surfing and

Punk Rock Collide” -- an art exhibit featuring 17 twin-fin surfboards

featuring punk rock art

When: Aug. 19, 6 to 11 p.m.

Where: Hurley,1945 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa

Cost: Free

For more information: (949) 548-9375 or o7www.hurley.com

f7Featured shapers:

* Bob Hurley

* Lance Collins

* Al Merrick

* Mark Richards

* Shawn Stussy

* Ben Aipa

* Spider Murphy

* Peter Schroff

Featured artists:

* Winston Smith

* Edward Colver

* Mark Mothersbaugh

* Bradie Shemke

* Thad Matson

* Keith Morris

* JoJo

* Jack Grisham

* Kris Markovich

* Dean Bradley

* Buff Monster

* Arturo Vega

* Mike Clark

* Stephan Jay-Rayon

* Tommy Steele

o7

f7

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

(714) 966-4625 or [email protected].