Vissla Add Color Surfboard Art Contest celebra arte e surf
Anúncios
Vissla Add Color Surfboard Art Contest une criatividade, surf e cultura em um só evento global.
Whether it’s painting surfboards or making films that explore its culture, self-expression is what keeps surfing vibrant and relevant. It’s more than just a sport—it’s a lifestyle, an art form, and for many, a way to bring light into the world.
The upcoming Vissla Add Color Surfboard Art Contest and the short film Waves Apart by Josh Greene both reflect that idea. Though rooted in different media, they share the same spirit: surf culture as a platform for identity, creativity, and inclusion.
Let’s dive deeper into these expressions of surfing, art, and social awareness through six compelling lenses.
Surfboards as Living Canvases
For Paul Naude, founder of Vissla and lifelong surfer, boards aren’t just for riding waves—they’re canvases that tell stories. Through the Add Color Surfboard Art Contest, he aimed to unite the global surfboard-building community while celebrating creativity in all its forms. From abstract splashes of color to intricate cultural references, each board submitted was a unique testament to the artist’s vision. With nearly 2,000 Instagram entries under #VisslaAddColor, the response was overwhelming. The project not only revitalized visual interest in board design but also honored the board as a core symbol of surfing’s artistic soul.
A Global Art Celebration in San Clemente
The contest culminates in a vibrant awards ceremony at Brophy Gallery in San Clemente on Friday, Jan. 27, turning the local surf town into a global creative hub. Top entries are arriving from Australia, Portugal, France, New York, Spain, San Diego, and Hawaii, all competing for over $8,500 in prizes. The event will feature live music, tacos, and drinks, offering more than just visual art—it’s an immersive cultural experience. Esteemed judges include artist Drew Brophy, filmmaker Thomas Campbell, master laminator Alex Villalobos, and Jason Woodside, all lending credibility and insight into the evolving artistry of surf culture.
Waves Apart: Surfing Through Identity
Filmmaker Josh Greene, a San Clemente High alum, explores a deeply personal and cultural journey in Waves Apart, a documentary shaped by his own Jewish identity. Inspired by an early moment at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, Greene delves into the intersection of religion, heritage, and wave-riding. The presence of a historical surfboard featuring a swastika—a symbol later corrupted by Nazi ideology—ignited his curiosity. Years later, his USC film thesis became a powerful narrative exploring Jewish surfers, their experiences, and the fight against hate. The result is a story where riding waves becomes a metaphor for resilience and inclusion.
Surfing Against Hate: A Deeper Message
Greene’s film does more than highlight aesthetics—it confronts the uncomfortable truths in surf history. One story stands out: Izzy Paskowitz, son of surf icon Doc Paskowitz, once destroyed a surfboard adorned with a swastika, taking a bold stand against hate in the water. Through interviews and historic parallels, Waves Apart shows how surfing can challenge prejudice, bridge communities, and offer healing. Former world champion Shaun Tomson, who also shares his Jewish heritage, reflects on surfing as a spiritual and emotional sanctuary. Their voices serve as a reminder: the ocean is for everyone, and hate has no place in the lineup.
From Bar Mitzvahs to Board Culture
Both Greene and Tomson share a unique thread—celebrating their Bar Mitzvahs at age 13 while finding a second coming-of-age through surfing. Greene’s was held at a surf museum; Tomson received a trip to Hawaii. These parallel stories highlight how religious tradition and surf culture can intertwine, offering a sense of purpose, identity, and belonging. In Waves Apart, this theme emerges as central: the balance between honoring your roots and carving your own path on the waves. For many, the board is both a vessel of movement and memory, a symbol of growing up, discovering oneself, and navigating a complex world.
The Power of Artistic Expression in Surf Culture
Art has always lived beneath the surface of surf culture—from board shaping and graffiti to film and photography. What contests like Add Color and films like Waves Apart prove is that surfing is inseparable from expression. Whether you’re laminating a board, scripting a documentary, or designing graphics, every act is a declaration of identity. Events like these not only amplify unheard voices but also redefine who gets to tell the story of surf. Creativity in the water and beyond keeps the sport alive—not just through performance, but through the stories, statements, and souls behind each wave.
Surfing as Cultural Conversation
At its best, surfing opens doors—between generations, countries, and conversations. The Add Color contest invites artists to paint what surfing means to them; Waves Apart invites viewers to reframe what the surfing community looks like. In both, there’s a call to action: to look deeper, to think critically, and to ride forward with awareness. Surfboards become symbols of expression, while waves serve as stages for storytelling. These aren’t just art events—they’re cultural conversations in motion. And as long as creativity flows, surfing remains more than a sport. It becomes a language, one that anyone can learn and reshape.
Surf Films as Tools for Awareness
Beyond just capturing thrilling moments on a wave, surf films are increasingly becoming tools for advocacy and education. Waves Apart is a prime example of how visual storytelling can challenge norms and expose hidden narratives. Through compelling interviews, archival footage, and emotional resonance, Josh Greene builds a narrative that questions stereotypes in surf culture and promotes empathy. His work shows that filmmaking can transcend entertainment—it can spotlight injustice, celebrate identity, and ultimately move audiences to action. The ocean may be vast and free, but representation within its culture hasn’t always reflected that. Films like this help rebalance the tide, inviting broader voices to join the conversation and inspiring the next generation to see surfing as both inclusive and transformative.
Building Community Through Artistic Surf Events
Events like the Vissla Add Color Contest don’t just celebrate talent—they cultivate community. Artists from around the world, some professional and others hobbyists, found a platform where their surf-inspired visions could be seen and appreciated. The contest’s inclusive nature—open to anyone with an Instagram account—encouraged participation regardless of background or experience. This democratization of art within the surf world reflects a broader shift: surf culture is no longer limited to those who dominate the biggest waves. It now embraces creators, storytellers, and innovators of all kinds. The contest bridged oceans and borders, creating a global gallery united by the love of boards, waves, and expression. More than competition, it sparked collaboration, admiration, and a shared celebration of creative freedom.
