Skateboarding As Art at New 'All Decked Out' Exhibit at Polk Museum

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Daredevils or athletes? It's hard to decide as you watch skateboarders fly up, down and go airborne at designated parks that are growing in number.

And now those skateboarders are showing their culture with a new art exhibit, "All Decked Out," at the Polk Museum of Art, 800 E. Palmetto St.

"Painted skate decks, skateboard photography, skate-related sketches and assembled sculptures will provide audiences a glimpse into the creative state of contemporary skateboard culture," said Sandra Dimsdale Horan, Polk Museum's public relations and marketing manager.

Adam Justice, the museum's art curator, organized the show along with Chad and Suzie Cardoza, Tampa-based artists who founded Kick Start My Art.

"This exhibition will obviously appeal to certain groups of visitors: those who participate in skateboard culture and those who are attracted to contemporary art," Justice said. "But I think this exhibition also has a lot to offer those visitors who are not as familiar with the cultural genre. Those visitors who only know skate culture because of its reputation for being gritty and rebellious may find themselves surprisingly taken with the works in this show."

The Cardozas said in an email that they found both local and national artists for the exhibit.

"Most artists are excited with the idea of challenging themselves to use unconventional materials to create art. We also have four professional skateboarders who created art for the show," they said.

Trent Manning, a Winter Haven artist who has won multiple awards, is the sole Polk County participant in the show. "I entered because of my love of skateboarding," Manning said.

Manning said he thinks the exhibit will draw young people as well as older fans.

"I am 40. The last time I went to the skate park, the kids called me 'old school,'" Manning said.

"I've never seen this type of art displayed elsewhere, and I think it's going to be a huge success," Manning said.

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