Yonkers Art Exhibition Explores the Community and Culture of Skateboarding
“The Art of Rebellion,” the latest art exhibition to hit Yonkers, is an interactive and immersive experience that delves into the unique culture and community of skateboarding. It’s a chance for families and community members to step into a world that’s more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. The show guides viewers through various themes that define the skateboarding community, including an interactive setup that invites attendees to play on a PlayStation 2 (which is fun for kids of all ages), making it a must-visit for families. It’s also a window into the vibrant arts community flourishing in Yonkers.
The opening reception on July 25th was full of artists, creatives, and supporters of all ages who connected on their love of skateboarding, art, and the creative expression that comes with being part of the skateboarding community. You may have missed the opening ceremony, but the exhibit is now live, and we have everything you need to know about this exciting new show.
Be sure to check out…Playland Announces New Historical Ferry Tour.
The Rise of Arts in Yonkers
Yonkers is gradually solidifying itself as a hub for up-and-coming artists and lovers of art, with more spaces and opportunities in our community. These spaces provide opportunities for artists of all ages in Westchester. This primarily comes from spaces like Yonkers Arts and artists like Tralona Boisne and her husband, Joseph Boisne, who hope to expand on all that this bustling and creative community offers. We had the pleasure of speaking with Tralona about this incredible show and all that went into this latest exhibition; more on that later.
Those who may not be aware of the creative community cropping up in Yonkers should start tapping in, as the city is soaring to new heights and is already one to watch. On a large scale, the city is making art the heart of the town. Residents see this with things like the tagline, “Hollywood on Hudson,” springing up throughout downtown Yonkers. This largely comes from the recent additions of Great Point Studios and Lionsgate Studios in the city.
Lionsgate Studios, owned and operated by Great Point Studios, was created to meet the demand for large studio space in New York City. The campus features advanced film stages, post-production facilities, office space, and various support services. The expanding complex had a cost of over $500 million and features 20,000+ square foot stages, making it the largest facility in the Northeast.
The city is evolving and has come to center artists in a major way, with muralists taking part in beautifying Yonkers, galleries like the Blue Door Art Center, Urban Studio Unbound, and more becoming a place for families to gather and support the city’s incredible art. There is an ever-growing community that we foresee continuing to grow, with organizations paving the way for the upcoming generations. Some of the notable opportunities in the city can be traced back to the local arts organization, Yonkers Arts, and the latest waves it is making throughout the county.
Yonkers Arts, established in 2007, is a minority-led non-profit organization in the Carpet Mills Arts District. The organization aims to inspire and empower people of all backgrounds to engage with the arts and utilize them for positive change. Its mission is to create a collaborative network promoting the arts in Yonkers and build a connected community that celebrates the arts as an essential component of cultural, economic, and social well-being.
Yonkers Arts has contributed to making new and fresh exhibitions like “The Art of Rebellion” possible, and it all came from a conversation amongst like-minded artists within the community. We had the opportunity to learn all about the exhibition from co-curator, artist, business owner, and Yonkers resident Tralona Boisne, who gave us an in-depth breakdown of all that went into creating this show.
The Art of Rebellion
We’d love to know about the person, people, or team behind putting this exhibit together.
The Art of Rebellion exhibition is a culmination of the collaborative efforts of myself, Tralona Boisne, and my husband Joseph Boisne of Little Shop of Gorgeous and French Finish Wall Upholstery; Ray Wilcox, Executive Director of the Yonkers Arts organization; and Thomas Feinstein, Co-founder of Fillin Global artist agency.
What does skateboarding mean to the team, and what inspired The Art of Rebellion?
I moved to NYC from Florida (I’m originally from CT, so it felt like coming home) to open the Billabong and Element surf/ skate shops in Times Square. I met my husband Joe on a subway train in Brooklyn while on my way to work because he had a skateboard every time I saw him! Kismet right?
The inspiration for the exhibition came out of a conversation between my husband Joe; who is a skateboarder and master artisan, an Artist by the name of D.I.A.L.E.K.T.O who is also a skateboarder, and Ray Wilcox, the Executive Director of Yonkers Arts who we happen to know from our boxing gym. The conversation started because, during this year’s Yonkers Arts Weekend, I had a booth at the Yonkers Collab Exchange pop-up. I was showing my photography and a few sculpture pieces made by a friend from France, Franck Mekideche, who has quite a few pieces featured in the Art of Rebellion exhibition.
One of the ways I was showing my photography was as skate deck artwork. D.I.A.L.E.K.T.O had a few pieces featured in the Yonkers Arts Gallery, which was in the same building as the pop-up. He and Joe struck up a conversation about the skateboards in the booth (typical behavior when two skateboarders meet in the wild: talk about all things skateboarding!), and that led to further conversation about our friend Franck being an incredible artist and avid skateboarder which spun into the idea for an exhibition about the connection between skateboarding and art. Joe and D.I.A.L.E.K.T.O brought the idea to Ray from Yonkers Arts, and the seed for the Art of Rebellion was planted.
What was it like collaborating with Yonkers Arts, and why was it important to present this show in this city?
The collaboration with Yonkers Arts has been a very natural and organic one. I am a firm believer in the necessity of self-expression and the importance of connection within a community. Yonkers Arts and Ray have created a physical space to cultivate and foster these same ideals.
Yonkers Arts has established an environment for people of the community to discover, explore, and participate in their personal growth, which in turn creates growth and enrichment for the city as a whole. The same sense of belonging, community, and support is essential to skateboarding culture. The city of Yonkers has such an eclectic body of citizens that it’s important for each of them to visualize and know how art can affect the community.
What was the process like for creating this exhibit and choosing the artists that would be featured?
The process of artist selection was a combination of an open call to the community and networking in both professional and personal relationships. Ray had previously worked with Fillin Global, the Yonkers Mural Project, and approached Tommy with the idea for the Art of Rebellion. There was a great response from the Yonkers Arts community following! Joe, Ray, and I have a healthy amount of artist friends in the skateboarding community in Westchester, the US, and overseas. We reached out to them for contributions and recommendations.
I also did some cold messaging on social media, and some artists responded! Kurt Boone is a well-known street culture photographer, and he was gracious to answer my message and contribute a couple of pieces! Franck Mekideche actually flew in from France to be at the exhibition opening! Joe and Franck grew up together in France and have remained close friends through their love for skateboarding. Both will tell you how skateboarding completely changed the trajectory of their lives.
What do you hope to convey to viewers and families in Westchester with this show?
By putting this show together and presenting it to the community we hope to highlight and to underscore the multi-faceted natural talents of skateboarders as it relates to artistic expression and community.
What’s next for you?
Joe and I are small business owners of French Finish Wall Upholstery based here in Yonkers, so that is my full-time job, but I continue to explore and grow through my photography and creative nature in general. This was my first time co-curating (or curating an art show at all!), but it feels amazing to help shine a light on other artists. I think of myself as a muse! I am an “idea fountain” and at my best when in the service of others. Hopefully what’s up next is more of the same: connecting with people who share a love for art and community!
Artist Lineup
The artist lineup is stacked with artists from Yonkers and beyond, as Tralona mentioned, and some notable names that artists may recognize.
Featured Artists:
Anthony Greene, avisualbliss, Barbtropolis, Barry Mason, Beau Crum, Benny LA Rosa, CES, Cesar Finamori, Curb Your Ego, D.I.A.L.E.K.T.O, Dain, Dalone, Delphine Vacelet, Downer Jones, Ed Castaneda, Ethan Armen, EXR, Franck Mekideche, Henry Marrs, Jacqueline Rivera, Jean-Christophe Teyssier, Joseph Sanci, John ‘June1’ Perez, Joseph Boisne, Ken Davis, Kenneth Alexis, Kurt Boone, Lance Johnson, Lens Visuals, LMCS_R, Merio One, Nicolas Thomas, Nicole Anderson, Noel Hefele, Obadeveloped, Paul Coutherut, Raemann Eviair, Robin Alcantara, Roche, Sean Olson, Sean Sullivan, Shepard Fairey, Sinclair The Vandal, Snapaway Stanley, Such, Tabitha McMahon, Tralona Boisne.
Where to View the Exhibition, Details, and Important Dates
The Art of Rebellion is now on view at Yonkers Arts, 216 Lake Ave. Yonkers, NY, through September 28th. The current gallery hours for The Art of Rebellion Exhibition are Wednesday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Thursday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Saturday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Follow @yonkersarts on Instagram and Facebook for updates on gallery hours and the show.
Experience the growing art community in Yonkers and visit the latest exhibition that is perfect for the entire family.
