This year, over 400 artists from all over metro Detroit, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania as well as nearly 50 downtown Rochester businesses are participating in Deck Art 2016. In its sixth installment, Deck Art 2016 is a skateboard art competition and exhibition. Artists submit one-of-a-kind artwork using skateboard decks as a canvas. These decks will be on display in downtown Rochester businesses beginning May 19, and will be celebrated with a two-day event on May 19 & 20.
The Thursday Night Kickoff will take place on May 19 from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. Attendees will preview Deck Art 2016 and enjoy a variety of in-store promotions offered by participating businesses. Street-side musical performances by Jennifer Kincer & Friends will fill Main Street, and kids can partake in a craft activity located outside 308 Main. The Thursday Night Kickoff is a partnership between the Rochester DDA, and founder of Deck Art, Linda Gallaher of South Street Skateshop.
Deck Art 2016
“Downtown Rochester is beyond excited to partner with South Street Skateshop for the fourth year in a row”, said Stephanie Hellebuyck, DDA Events Coordinator. “What’s not to love about Deck Art? It showcases the talent we have in our local community and beyond, and it brings people of all ages and backgrounds downtown.”
Deck Art 2016 will continue on Friday, May 20 with the official Competition and Exhibition Crawl from 5:00 – 9:00 pm. The Crawl will begin at any participating business where attendees and artists can pick up the official “Crawl” maps. Artists aren’t informed of their artwork’s placement, so they must “crawl” from business to business until their artwork is found.
A panel of judges from Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) will select one winner from the five categories – elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and adult. Winning decks will be identified with a special ribbon. The kids’ craft will continue outside of 308 Main and there will be a special performance by the Saline Fiddlers from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at the corner of E. Fourth & Main.
“Deck Art continues to grow and evolve year after year,” said Linda Gallaher, owner of South Street Skateshop, and co-founder of Deck Art. “It’s expanded from an event that originally took place in just two downtown businesses, and I’m excited to see where it goes in the future. Deck Art 2015 had 438 participating artists. Artists submitted work from California, Kansas, Wisconsin and Kentucky”.
A list of participating businesses who will display artwork can be found at www.DowntownRochesterMI.com. Awarded Artists will be listed on South Street Skateshop’s website, www.southstreetskateshop.com beginning May 19. All artists have the option to sell their artwork. Specific details will be listed next to each deck. For more information, please call the DDA at 248.656.0060 or South Street Skateshop at 248.651.0555.
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