Making Waves with Surf-Inspired Art
The Blackwing 840 is our tribute to surf culture and its mantra of mindfulness. Despite (or perhaps because of) its go-with-the-flow mentality, surf culture has made waves across a number of artistic disciplines, including the visual arts, music, and woodworking.
Visual Art – Concert Handbills and Posters
The 1960s and 70s were the heyday for concert posters and handbills in San Francisco and up and down the California coast. Often, these posters featured psychedelic designs with bright colors and fluid shapes that evoke watching curling waves against a sunset backdrop. Or an acid trip.
Music – Surf Rock
The late 1950s saw the emergence of a new genre of music known as “surf rock.” An early predecessor of punk rock, surf rock features rapid tremolo picking, “wet” reverb laden instruments, and layered vocal harmonies. Dick Dale and The Beach Boys are two of the best-known the pioneers of the genre.
Photography – Surf Photography
Wherever there’s something interesting to photograph, you can bet a photographer will be there to capture it. Surfing is no exception. From the earliest known photo of two surfers captured by Herbert Smith, to modern-day exposures of crashing waves frozen in time, surf photography has helped spread the mystique of surf culture around the world.
Woodworking – Surfboard Crafting
The art of crafting a surfboard has changed dramatically over the past century. What started as long, solid pieces of wood has evolved into hollow-bodied boards of various shapes and materials. The craftsmen who make these boards are always experimenting with creative methods to help riders traverse waves in new and interesting ways. Stay tuned for another post on the how the surfboard has evolved over time.