Pictured: Local artists use skateboard decks as canvases in All Decked Out.

What happens when you give a group of Florida artists a whole bunch of skateboards? You’ll have to stop by this weekend’s All Decked Out: Skateboards As Canvas event to find out.

Organized by SRQ East Art Studios (SEAS) and hosted at Calusa Brewing this Saturday, 5-8pm, the one-day exhibition from the artist collective sees nearly 50 local and regional artists debuting new works of art—all using skateboard decks as their canvas. From painting and carving to collaging and even fabric art, it’s all an homage to skate culture, says Jen Kroeger, SEAS director and member artist, as well as a testament to the boundless creativity in Sarasota’s backyard.

“Art always connects people,” Kroeger says. “And it’s amazing what these people came up with.”

If the unconventional canvas proved a challenge to participating artists, it doesn’t come through in the final result, and popsicle-stick-shaped paintings run the gamut from neon-soaked abstract landscapes to impressionistic seagulls fighting over french fries, regal peacocks that dissolve into striations of blue and even an image of Bigfoot being abducted by a UFO. Some artists added to their skateboard, like Sandra Wix, who collaged real tree bark onto her hyper-realistic portrait of two pileated woodpeckers, and Barbara Gerdeman, who affixed painted leaves that sprout from her board.

For sculptors in the show, even the shape of the board was up for grabs, with artists like Lucas Groeger carving a matching pair of skateboards to bear complementary paintings of a jackalope, and another artist crafting a shark-themed board sporting a big bite carved out of it. One of the most striking submissions, however, has to be from artist Elizabeth Goodwill, who practically transformed her board into a miniature loom and wove her fabric art directly onto the deck, leaving loose threads and uneven fringe for some skate-punk flavor.

All of these and more will be on display and for sale at Saturday’s event. The artists will also be in attendance and Calusa Brewing will be releasing two new beverages on draft: Citronius BIG and Florida Flavor.

“You can’t help but get in a good mood when you see this art,” Kroeger says. “So come out and grab a beer, get to know some local artists, meet your neighbors and have a good time.”

All Decked Out: Skateboards As Canvas hits Calusa Brewing this Saturday, November 16, from 5pm to 8pm.

Pictured: Local artists use skateboard decks as canvases in All Decked Out.

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