With only two more days until Stoked on Spring, Stoked’s annual fundraiser that will be this Wednesday, May 16th, at the Scholastic Greenhouse, today we feature the work of artist Paul Zepada and Stoker Ze. Their skateboard, designed and painted in a collaborative effort, will be auctioned along with 14 other collaboration decks at the event, as will several pieces of fine art, trips, and experiences.
Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Paul Zepeda has been creating professionally and roaming the United States for over ten years. His oil paintings, etchings, and sculptures can be found in private collections around the globe and have been sold at auction to benefit many worthy causes, and he has exhibited in galleries, backyards, and everything in-between. “I create to remind humanity (including myself) of its roots – what is truly important, what is still magical. Beyond racial or national identity, there is an ancient common ancestry that runs deep in our memories and is the source of our deepest emotions. To touch on that is to attempt to communicate in a language that is understood by anyone who allows their self to put away the superficial facades we have developed to shield us from the often caustic constructs of society. I believe every child is born an artist, and that the world would be a better place if more of them were allowed to hold on to that.”
Ze goes to The Brooklyn Latin School, and is about to complete his first full year in Stoked. He has participated in Stoked to Serve and Snow Mentor programs in addition to the after-school program, and says of his experience in Stoked: “The best part is the interaction between people. It just simply creates beautiful sparks.” Ze has become the resident stencil expert in his class, holding the patience and dexterity necessary to carve extremely intricate stencils. Working with Paul, he says, helped him understand a more abstract area of art.
You can support Stoked by attending Stoked on Spring this Wednesday! All proceeds from the event will directly benefit Stoked’s after school programs in New York. If you are unable to attend, you can still support Stoked by clicking here.
