The No Comply Network is a "skate lifestyle creative agency network". Founder and coordinator Jason Caines created the network in order to represent the collaborations in skateboarding, art, music & film and to address the disconnection between big brands and commerciality and the artists and the alternative media who are at the heart of skate culture.
I am interested in Jason Caines’ project because it recognises the links between skateboarding and art and celebrates the ideological and creative nature of the culture. On their Facebook page they profile their members who are ‘skateboard artists’, giving them publicity but also allowing others insight into other creatives in the skateboarding community.
The latest 'NCN' profile is of Phil Evans: a skateboarder and filmmaker/ photographer and illustrator based in Malmo, Sweden. In his bio, Evans states: “Skating traditionally attracted weirdos and it also attracted people who produce unorthodox material. Skate culture can be fussy, if something is not authentic it doesn’t really last too long or gets called out, so there seems to be an unspoken standard that exists in the culture” (Evans, P 2015).This statement hits the nail on the head when it comes to my findings and understanding of skateboardings relationship with Art. "The No Comply Network" is all about the authentic, the alternative, the original and most importantly the non commercial creative integrity of skate-art and this philosophical idealism is the centre of the culture
Jason Caines | Tre Flip, Birmingham | Photo: CJ
Sources
Facebook - The No Comply Network Page https://www.facebook.com/nocomplynetwork/ [accessed 19-12-15]
Picture source - The Daily Grind "Catching Up With Jason Caines" (Aug 2014)http://www.idealbirmingham.co.uk/blogs/the-daily-grind/15012197-catching-up-with-jason-caines [accessed 19-12-15