When Don Pendleton offered Level an interview with (SLAP magazine editor and photographer) Mark Whiteley, it was immediately snapped up and slated to be an article. But it was related to Mark’s new book of his photos, so wouldn’t that be a goodstuff? A simple solution came to mind: make it both.
—Chris Noble, 06 October 2009
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photopeople
WHITELEY UNDERSTOOD
I’ve met a lot of incredible, talented people over the years through skating. That’s not an exaggeration… skateboarding has always seemed to attract the most talented, unique and friendly people.
Maybe the most remarkable aspect of this is that some of them I’ve never even met in person.
Take Mark Whiteley, for example.
I can’t even remember the first time I saw the SLAP magazine editor’s name or made note of his work. In hindsight, both just seem like they’ve always been part of the skateboarding landscape for me. One of those things you can take for granted if you’re not careful.
But when you stop for a second and examine his work and career, the sum of the parts quickly
—Don Pendleton, 06 October 2009
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW AND FLIP THROUGH A SELECTION OF PHOTOS FROM THE BOOK, HERE AT LEVELMAG.COM. The interview is by MR PENDLETON
if you enter the code “Whiteleybook” at the checkout at the slap magazine web store, you’ll get 20% off the RRP. talking of slap, they have an slideshow of images from mark’s book up too
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eventsport
SEASONAL IMPRESSION
It’s cross season in Nebraska—and everywhere else, I imagine—and contrary to popular marketing and myth, it doesn’t mean it’s time to glue tubulars, or drill dismounts, or hup hup some run-ups.
Cross season in Nebraska means I’m going to hit some hidden gravel, some dry grass, some rolly pine needles in an off-camber turn and my front wheel’s going to wash. And since I’ve gotten out of it nine times out of every ten, I’m going to pretend it’s not happening, hang on a little tighter, and hope for the lucky hook up.
Too much pressure, not enough rubber, or whatever the case, it’s cross season in Nebraska and that means I’m picking myself up off the ground, emptying my levers that
—Kevin Wilkins, 30 September 2009
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As software is continually being overhauled and upgraded, the stuff created on the old stuff looks less like itself when opened on the new stuff. With that in mind, I ported the old Level covers from the original QuarkXpress 4 files to future-proofed Adobe Illustrator CS3 EPSs before it was too late. Like someone recording their vinyl onto MP3, only without the disdain from stylus-fondlers. While I was at it, I made a slideshow of the covers for anyone who’s interested.
Also, for added functionality, this website now has a contents page, available via the link at bottom left.
—Chris Noble, 16 September 2009
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sportfilm
Stompin’ Who?
Vintage BMX has become all the rage—just search eBay for anything related to “Hutch BMX” or “Hutch Trickstar” and you’ll find your wallet running for the hills. BMX racing, which was influenced early on by motocross racing, was, in its heyday, a sport of outcasts and hooligans. Kids that wanted to go fast and break out of the mold. But these days BMX is touching pop-culture as countless 40-somethings are out to relive their youth with bike restorations, re-releases and exhibitions.
Stompin’ Stu, the newly released documentary from John Swarr and Mark Eaton, is the story of BMX racing legend “Stompin’” Stu Thomsen, who dominated in the early days of BMX racing and became one of
—Jared Souney, 09 September 2009
PHOTO: THAT’S STU going down in a tangle of legs and chrome
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: THERE’S A TRAILER ON THE OFFICIAL SITE, FROM WHICH YOU CAN ALSO BUY THE DVD
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The New York Times has just published a great piece about Level favourites Spike Jonze and, of course, his Where the Wild Things Are movie. The article benefits from writer Saki Knafo’s in-depth research and his shadowing of Jonze for a fair few months. Along the way, Knafo seems to have talked to most of the big players in Spike’s life and that of the film and the result is a compelling and telling read.
—Chris Noble, 04 September 2009
Recent Nike SB art department quitter Michael Leon has set up his own studio. The artist, renowned for his repeated recycling of his skull-in-shades icon, has left a trail of excellent work in his wake, including that for the Girl Skateboards group, Rasa Libre and his own Commonwealth Stacks project.
He managed to give Nike SB some good looks in spite of the notorious bureaucracy at 1 Bowerman Drive, so we can only expect this uncaged bird to sing very sweetly.
—Chris Noble, 04 September 2009
Update: The Subliminal Projects Gallery in LA is the venue for the month-long Weekend Pacifists exhibit. The very fine art of Russ Pope, Michael Sieben, Chris Pastras, Mike Mills and Level logger Andy Jenkins—including some results of the latter “trying new things”—is now on show for your delectation, until September 19th.
The gallery has posted images of the art on show on their website and their YouTube page features video from from the opening night and interviews with the artists.
—Chris Noble, 01 September 2009
In honor of the new Spike Jones movie, Girl Skateboards has released a series of Where the Wild Things Are decks. All the characters—and appropriate widths—are available. (I got the 8″ Rick McCrank featuring Emil’s big mug on it.) What better way to commemorate the movie event of the year than with some wild tre flips and impossibles on a board featuring one of the Wild Things?
—Roy Christopher, 01 September 2009
When drunk drivers inadvertently collaborated with the current American health “system”, two by-standing Portlanders each lost a leg and gained an armful of steep medical bills.
If the system is proving reluctant to help, Austin and Lauren’s friends have jumped to it, holding various fundraisers such as garage sales (flogging overstock Commonwealth Stacks clothing for a buck a pop, et cetera) and now an email-bid art auction, flogging works by various artists including Andrew Pommier, Geoff McFetridge, Michael Leon and Mike Perry.
It’s decent art with extra good karma.
—Chris Noble, 25 August 2009
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