On Your Calendar : Beach Lovers in September

"Join me for the the Brooklyn gallery debut of Beach Lovers.
Beach Lovers is a collection of intimate moments shared by couples I have captured at Rockaway Beach.
This series is about the small moments of tenderness between couples, whether sharing a picnic, long laughs, or a lazy limb-entwined nap on a beach blanket.
These photos illustrate love in its purest state.
Celebrate lovers and the end of the Summer at this special opening.
The first 8 couples will have a Lovers Polaroid Portrait taken.
When: Wednesday, September 7th 2015, 6:00-9:00PM
Where: Ground Floor Gallery 343 5th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY 11215
groundfloorbk.com
 See you then!
Erica Reade"

Happening : Women Of The Seven Seas

AUGUST 15 for the 3rd annual NYC Women of the Seven Seas Surf Film Festival!

NY Surf Chicas is more than proud to be a sponsor of Davina Grincevicius' Women of the Seven Seas Surf Film Festival 2015. Saturday 8/15 at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club, the festival will feature a selection of films from established and emerging directors focusing on the inspiring lives of women surfers around the globe, highlighting what makes their journey unique, fuels their passion and connects them to the ocean. Doors open at 7:00pm. Films begin at twilight (8:30pm).

Free Admission.

The feature film, The Wave I Ride will be the east/west coast premiere, with filmmaker Devyn Bisson attending the festival. The film premiered in Maui, May 2015.

Accompanying the feature film are shorts by filmmakers Ed Fladung, Adam Reynolds & Shane Passantino, Leah Dawson, Morgan Maassen, Nathan Oldfield, and Hayley Gordon.

Alongside showcasing surf films, the festival will host a raffle with a Nature Shapes surfboard and many other great prizes from Imaginary Surf Co., SEEA, Salt Gypsy, Grindergirl Surfwear, Zingara Vintage, The Blue Bungalow, Scotty Bags, Suger, Goldie's Natural Beauty, Off Season NYC, St James, Boarders, Sayra's Wine Bar, and Uma’s.

Today's Quote

“It’s like you’re holding a rugby game in the Serengeti National Park during the great migration.”

Then there was this.

via Ricardo Antonio of Phoresia fame.

Becoming Westerly for Nowness

A few years ago Jamie told me about this crazy project he was involved in, documenting and writing a book about this surfing superstar pursuing a sex change in his later years. I wanted to be part of it right off the bat. I had a few good talks with Jamie and Alan, his co-director on the film side of it, but the pressures of keeping a business afloat knocked me out of contention to help edit the thing. A little while ago Jamie rang up, and asked if I wouldn't step back in for a quickie on his book's behalf, crafting a little trailer piece from bits of the documentary-in-progress. His editor was neck deep in finishing the feature, but was incredibly generous enough to let me comb through some footage and make a piece for Nowness.
Jamie's book is a must read, as much for anything surfy as for the interest and psychology of watching someone find themselves and all that entails.
I'm stoked I finally got to be part of this journey.

Forget that Samsung Advert, Forget Gisele's Chanel...

This is tops now. Best piece on surfing I've seen since those damn cows.

Could This Be The Greatest Surfing Commercial Ever?

Only if you don't count the Chanel/Gisele one, which really, for pure, universal surfing stoke, simply cannot be beat. But yes, this reaches right into the pumping heart of that matter.

I'm still for the cow jazz.

Could This Be An Instant Classic Surfing Poster?

Yes.

Respect

Well, this deserves a mention : a Becoming Westerly review.

"Part biography, part memoir, part indictment of surfing’s failure-to-launch culture, Brisick’s new book is a raw, intellectual triumph of American surf writing."

I'm toe-deep into this right now and am already hooked by the diligent & patience and observation on show. I'm only a little bit in, but already Jamie's sensitivity and honesty have snagged the corner of my imagination. 

Read the Surfline review here.

Happening : Jianca Lazarus at Picture Farm Gallery

Jianca Lazarus is an good friend and an amazing photographer. She's been around surfing, skating and all manner of heavy moments long enough to know what to do with them. Recently she relocated to Hawaii to be closer to the stuff she loves the most and had all her gear, hard drives and gear stolen from her apartment. Basically what amounts to a life-to-this-moment's hard won work. 

It is a massive loss, but it has presented the gallery with an opportunity that we might not have had under "normal" circumstances: a chance to have her work on our walls.

On Thursday in the PF Gallery we are grateful to have the chance to help her get back on track with a one night pop up auction of some of her astounding photography.  Please come by!

Germans, Zombies & Schralping the Gnar