Tell us about yourself. How did you decide to use recycled skateboards?We are a husband and wife team from Orangeville, ON. My partner John is responsible for developing and creating all the Skate Art and I take care of customer orders and marketing.
John has been riding a skateboard for fun most of his life and had a collection of broken boards. In the summer of 2011 he decided to make something with them so he could hang them in the house to display and not have to get rid of them. The first piece he ever made consisted of 5 recycled skateboards cut into ¼” strips, compressed together to make wall “Skate Art”. Almost everyone that saw couldn't believe it was old skateboards.
Because almost all skateboards consist of seven layers of cross laminate maple ply, with some layers dyed different colours depending on the brand and manufacturer, the finished Skate Art turns out unique, colourful and one of a kind because of the colours in the maple wood. After the first piece was done John was inspired to see what else could be made from recycled skateboards.
Is there a story behind the skateboards you use?
For sure! We don’t always know the story or person that it belonged to but all the skateboards we get are different from the scratches, dents, cracks, stickers, graffiti, etc. That gives us a little view into its story and life before we get it. We are often contacted and asked to do custom pieces using a certain skateboard that has special meaning to the person. We believe every board deserves a 2nd Shot!
How did you find out about Etsy and why did you decide to join?I had bought a few things on Etsy before so I knew it was a great place to buy/sell handmade items! When we first joined we weren't sure if the Skate Art would sell, but it did in less than a week! So it began!
How long does it take you to create a piece?
Every piece takes a lot of time. Some pieces a few hours and some have been in the making for over a year. It is a definite process to use old skateboards, because we can’t just go to a store and buy old boards we have to put time in first just finding people, skate shops, skate parks, etc. to donate their old skateboards. Then we have to collect them or have them shipped to us. Once we have the old boards the grip tape has to be removed and both sides of the board are sanded. Now it is a workable medium for John to create with. From there it all depends on the project and details put in.
Where do you find inspiration?
John’s inspiration comes from all sorts of places. He has a real passion for creating functioning art so he’s also looking for something new to make that has purpose.
Tell us where to find you other than Etsy
You can visit our website at www.secondshot.ca to see past work and to order items that are available. If you are in the Orangeville area you can find some of our products at Icarus Skate & Snow at 94 Broadway. You can find us on Facebook (www.fb.com/secondshot2011), Twitter (@secondshot2011) & Instagram (@secondshot) As well, we have a few videos of John making some different Skate Art on YouTube.
What are your future plans for your shop? Any exciting new products in 2013?We plan to continue to offer one of a kind art and watches made from recycled skateboards. As well, we have a few collaborations with other artists and companies coming in 2013. One we are really looking forward to is the Skate Guitar collab with The Canadian School of Lutherie in Toronto. You can visit our website in the New Year for updates as it gets completed.
Check out the other items available from Lindsay and John in their Etsy Shop! You can find more of their work on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Interviewed by Shabnam of MorningdewPhoto in December 2012 in Toronto.
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