ART/San Francisco
"Free Basin"
Through October 10th

"Free Basin" is a monumental sculpture that doubles as an indoor skate bowl.

As a viewer enters the YBCA Galleries, they walk underneath the skating surfaces and experience the rhythm and sounds of the skateboarding from below.

Once the viewer emerges, they can also watch how the skateboarders respond to the specific character of this sculptural form.

"Free Basin" is part of the "Beautiful Losers: Contemporary Art and Street Culture" exhibit, featuring skateboard memorabilia and contemporary art by more than fifty artists inspired by skateboarding culture.

The exhibition explores the social and cultural world of skateboarding, from the 1950s surf scene through to its ties to punk and urban cultures, into mainstream status today.

The works featured include paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, and local artists Tommy Guerrero and Craig R. Stecyk.

[Shown: Detail, "Giant Poster", (1989)
Shepard Fairey
Courtesy of the artist.]

Find it: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Get info: (415) 982-8522

Find more art events in the August 2004 issue of "Arte Six".