The wonderful folks at OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) asked us to scribble up a little blurb for their blog as their annual Maker's Faire approaches. It can be viewed HERE. 

We are very excited to have been invited back for this year's event. Seeing all the excited youngsters is probably as motivating for us as it is for them. They're the future, and we're honored to be given the opportunity to inspire and push them toward a creative path in life. But don't let us forget the "grown ups" who'll be in attendance; they're the ones who were eagerly bouncing from booth to booth as a child at similar festivals ten, twenty, thirty years ago... the ones who helped ensure that these gatherings kept happening, generation after generation. Bottom line: Come out and say hi to us in our booth at the OMSI Maker's Faire this September 14th and 15th!

We just launched our 1^st Annual ‘Go Skateboarding Day’ Fundraiser:

WRITE GO SKATE: A fundraiser to turn broken skateboards into skateparks.

We teamed up with Bryce Kanights, Silas Baxter-Neal, and Reese Kahn and gave them one task: Write “Go Skate.”

In our wood shop, we turned these handwritten words into mosaic-style art pieces made from broken skateboards. The three individual pieces will be signed by the skateboarders and auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going towards building Portland’s Powell Blvd Skatepark!

The auction is set to launch today, Monday, June 17^th and will run through Sunday June 23^rd 11:45 EST.

BRYCE KANIGHTS

SILAS BAXTER-NEAL

REESE KAHN

“There’s something about seeing a person’s handwriting that seems to share a glimpse into their soul. What could be more inspiring than seeing pieces of skated boards making up the handwritten phrase “Go Skate” by such inspiring skateboarders,” says MapleXO’s owner Lindsay Jo Holmes.

Both Kanights and Baxter-Neal are well known in the skateboard community for their past and present influences in skateboarding. To tie in the future of skateboarding, MapleXO asked 6-year-old skateboarder Reese Kahn to participate:

“Reese’s pure and eager passion to be a kid and have fun is one of the most inspiring parts of skateboarding to me. His dad Billy posted a priceless instagram photo of Reese carving a bank ramp with a look of pure joy on his face. The caption read: ‘When going higher is the new trick.’ To me, that right there is skateboarding. Pure and simple,” explains Holmes.

In addition to the Go Skate art auction, we are selling 25 limited edition photographic prints of the project by Jake Richardson each signed by all three contributing skateboarders. 

25 Limited Edition 16" x 20" giclee prints on archival paper.

Separately from the WriteGoSkate project, we will be donating 50% of all proceeds from MapleXO.com on Go Skateboarding day to the Powell Blvd. Skatepark fund.

@MapleXO • #writegoskate • @originalBK • @silasbaxterneal • #reesekahn

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MapleXO is a recycled skateboard jewelry & accessories company made up of skateboarders out of Portland, OR USA. Founded by Lindsay Jo Holmes in 2006, MapleXO is currently sold in over 50 stores worldwide. In 2010, MapleXO began working with PS Stix skateboard manufacture to recycle the industrial waste of skateboard manufacturing in addition to the post consumer waste. They are constantly adding to their line of products that now include house wares and furniture. www.MapleXO.com @MapleXO ­

Bryce: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221242053851?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Silas: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221242054540?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Reese: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221242055281?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Did you know we were part of a video for NIKE about "makers of the world"?

Wieden+Kennedy came to our workshop here in Portland and filmed our hands in action. It was fun seeing so many people in here at once... At one point there were 17 people here with cameras, and lighting, and sound equipment, and stylists. It was a blast.

To find out more about the project... check out their Tumblr and watch this teaser video!