Craig Wetherby/Manik Skateboards Collaborations

I love skateboard collaborations.  Skateboarding can go together with almost anything imaginable.  Just like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Skateboarding goes great and be associated to things like tight pants, cursing, bowl haircuts, and Christian Slater.  But once in a blue moon something comes along so tight that the collaboration was almost meant to be.  And that’s is how I feel about Manik Skateboard Company’s collaboration with photographer Craig Wetherby. 

Craig is a self-taught photographer out of NYC who has a creative style and technique all his own.  Wetherby has contributed to several notable publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Spin, Rolling Stone, XXL, Vibe, Frank151, Mass Appeal, Swindle, Zoo, Complex, The Fader, Snowboard Magazine, Snowboard Canada and Warp Japan, to name a few.  Unfortunately he still hasn’t done my favorite magazine “Big Un’s. 

Anyway, the collection will feature skate decks, clothing, and New Era caps with Wetherby’s work slapped onto each piece.  Ghostface Killah, Slick Rick, Method Man, and a few other artist are the subjects featured in his photography.  But I would have to say that my favorite is the Gwar graphic.  Now that one is just awesome.  And Bad Brains. 

“We are really excited about this collaboration. It’s a privilege to work with such an amazing artist. The response to the series has been overwhelming and the upcoming Manik and Craig Wetherby exhibitions are going to take it to a whole new level!” Says Nin Truong, Manik Creative Director.

The traveling art exhibition will begin its tour in May 2008 starting in Seattle and will continue through December 2008 making stops in Tokyo, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. As a special treat, each stop on the tour will have unique limited edition color ways of the fitted hats available only for that particular city.

Check back with the Manik site for dates and locations of the tour.