The Skate Show Rolls into John H. Baker Gallery

Students, faculty and alumni of West Chester’s Art + Design department are busy preparing to unveil THE SKATE SHOW, a fresh, new, and unique exhibit in the John H. Baker Gallery, E.O. Bull Center, 2 Rosedale Avenue. Press and public are invited to an opening night reception on October 24 from 4 – 8 p.m. The exhibit runs through December 13.

THE SKATE SHOW may be the first of its kind in the country, and is a deep, artistic dive into skateboard culture. It is the brain child of Associate Professor, Andrew Snyder.

Snyder says, “Skateboards are all over this campus, so I thought it would be a topic that would both excite and motivate students. They’ve really embraced it, and we have all worked so hard to pull the show’s elements together.”

Handmade wooden, painted skateboards - some carved and some not - hang together on one wall. Another “graffiti wall” houses huge canvases painted in glorious, vibrant colors. Another wall will house the backdrop for cult-favorite movies, shown on select Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. throughout the exhibit’s run.

Perhaps the “piece de resistance” is the full size indoor mini halfpipe ramp, handmade by Snyder and students, which will be christened by professional skaters from West Chester’s Fairman’s skate shop at the opening. After that, it’s available for use by campus and community skaters during regular gallery hours. Those interested need to schedule an appointment and sign a liability waiver.  

At the opening on October 24, bands will liven the atmosphere, playing in one-hour sets. West Chester’s own Gracenotes, a treble voice barbershop a cappella group, will open the exhibit with their rousing rendition of  "The National Anthem." Other bands include The Manhattan Distance, Plūm, Down Dresser and We’re From Antarctica.

For information on all exhibits during the 2019-20 Season visit www.wcupa.edu/arts or https://www.wcupa.edu/arts-humanities/artDesign/exhibitionsEvents.aspx