ICONIC URBAN ART PIONEER PHASE 2 COLLABORATES WITH HAROLD HUNTER FOUNDATION ON LIMITED-EDITION SKATEBOARD DECK

The Harold Hunter Foundation is proud to announce it has teamed up with iconic urban art pioneer PHASE 2 on an exclusive artist series skateboard deck that will be available in limited quantities at select retailers and galleries starting October 1, 2019.
 
Only 100 hand-numbered decks are available. Manufactured by Long Island’s Chapman Skateboards, each screen-printed collector’s deck features PHASE 2’s vibrant collage-style artwork inspired by legendary skateboarder Harold Hunter and the city that fueled his many creative pursuits.
 
“We’re excited to be working with PHASE 2 on this project because he’s one of New York’s original style writers whose work helped shape a creative movement that’s inspired generations of artists around the world for the past forty years,” says Jessica Forsyth, Harold Hunter Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director.
 
The limited-edition Harold Hunter Foundation x PHASE 2 collaborative decks are a philanthropic effort with 40% of proceeds donated to the foundation. Coinciding with the deck release, PHASE 2’s original hand-cut work-of-art that the deck graphics are based on is available for purchase exclusively at ACA Galleries 1932 located at 529 West 20th Street in Manhattan.
 
As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Harold Hunter Foundation relies on financial support from the skate community and related outlets to achieve its mission of using skateboarding as a vehicle to provide underserved youth with valuable life experiences that nurture individual creativity, resourcefulness and the development of life skills. Charitable partnerships like PHASE 2 are vital to the long-term success of the foundation.
 
“When we were kids, we used to make skateboards with roller skates and 2x4s and ride on them around the block. As an art piece, I like the surface and shape of the pro boards,” says cultural icon PHASE 2. “With respect to Harold, who I knew through Zoo York in the ‘90s, I’ve been creating art in his honor since his passing. It’s super fitting to get this particular effort out to the masses not only as a tribute to him, but keeping his legacy alive as one of those super special and inspirational skaters of that time, for all time—one who any youth that aspires to be ‘that next one’ should be aware of.”
 
Harold Hunter Foundation x PHASE 2 limited-edition decks are available at Chapman Skateboards, ACA Galleries 1932, El Señor, Art Apple NYC, Eye Shut Island, and Mantis Lifestore.

ABOUT PHASE 2:
Born and raised in the Bronx, PHASE 2 is a first-generation New York City style writer and a founding father/primary instigator of the basic and wildest typography styles in the subway art movement of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Many of the initial components he introduced to the culture have become staples in its format worldwide. His signature “party fliers” played an important role in the spread of hip-hop culture throughout NYC and beyond, and he is among the very first aerosol artists to exhibit in galleries spanning the globe. He also played an integral role in the early days of break dancing and was instrumental in the formation of one of the most prolific B-boy crews ever assembled, which he named The New York City Breakers. From hip-hop fashion to iconic logos, PHASE 2’s global impact remains a guiding light for new generations of artists. Today, he continues on an unconventional, socially conscious path using creativity as his vehicle.

On Sunday, September 22, the 13th Annual HHF Bridgerun will be held to raise money for HHF's Skate Camp Scholarship program. Participants are welcome to run, walk, skate or bike the 5-mile route.

Check-in starts at 4:30pm on the rooftop of New Design High School located at 350 Grand Street in Manhattan (a bag check will be available at check-in). The run starts at 5:30pm.
 
Click here to register for Sunday's fun-run and after-party. When you register and make a suggested donation, you'll reserve a special edition Nike Dri-FIT event t-shirt designed by artist Curtis Kulig featuring a photo by Davide Sorrenti.  T-shirts will be distributed at check-in based on advance registration.

The after-party will start at 7:00pm at the NYC Bridgerunners' HQ located at 67 Loisaida Avenue (Avenue C @ East 5th Street). Beer at the party will be provided by Radeberger Pilsner.

Photos courtesy of Paulsta Wong.

Informed by the results of HHF's groundbreaking 2016 needs assessment of more than 300 NYC skaters, the HHF Legacy Program was launched in 2018. It combines skateboarding activities with life skills, college and career exploration, and year-round psycho-social support.

The “secret sauce” to the Legacy Program is organic mentorship, which honors the culture of skateboarding by embracing the spirit of freedom, independence, creativity, and spontaneity, while also allowing for authentic mentorship relationships to develop and grow naturally. In this way, we are able to give our young people what they want (to be part of an authentic skateboarding community) along with what they need (age-appropriate developmental activities and trauma-sensitive support).

In 2019, the 2nd cohort of the HHF Legacy Program culminated with an annual trip to Woodward in August. Once again, a group of 40 NYC skaters were connected with 3 coach-mentors trained through the Up2Us Sports Coach Across America program for 7 months of weekly skate sessions, 10 life-skills workshops and enrichment activities.

HHF would like to acknowledge the support of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Up2Us Sports, adidas Skateboarding, Sheckler Foundation, and Nike Global Impact for the grants, sponsorships, and in-kind donations that make this program possible. Thank you!