Fresno Skateboard Salvage, CSP-Corcoran team up for project
A team of incarcerated artists, community members and prison employees have teamed up to create beautiful hand-painted art on skateboards.
Once those one-of-a-kind art pieces are auctioned off, the proceeds are used to buy skateboards for children who would otherwise not be able to afford them.
The project is a partnership of several institutions, including California State Prison-Corcoran, Avenal State Prison, Valley State Prison, and Fresno Skateboard Salvage.
Rodney Rodriguez, who founded the nonprofit organization, said the hobby of skateboarding helped him stay away from making negative choices in his youth.
“There are a thousand different ways kids can connect with the world,” he said. “Drugs, gangs — I mean, you name it. And I just want to help kids keep doing something positive.”
The power of art and skateboards
Artists incarcerated at CSP-Corcoran were eager to join the project.
The benefits to them are many, including the opportunity to express themselves creatively, participate in a positive activity, and learn new skills.
But far and away, the biggest takeaway is knowing they are helping children in the community.
“I’ve always liked art. It’s a way of expressing yourself,” shared Omar Cruz, an artist who worked on several skateboards. “I was a troubled youth once, so I want to give back to kids that could potentially be taken off the street to do something creative, like skateboarding or any type of sports.”
Score your own custom skateboard art
Fresno Skateboard Salvage hosts skateboard auctions on their Facebook page.
There, you can view more art, learn more about the nonprofit, and see dozens of beautifully painted skateboards.
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