 – The U. S. Postal Service unveiled its latest Forever stamps celebrating the Art of the Skateboard during a first-day-of-issue event held recently at the Desert West…){kind=link}
PHOENIX, AZ (PNAN) – The U. S. Postal Service unveiled its latest Forever stamps celebrating the Art of the Skateboard during a first-day-of-issue event held recently at the Desert West Skate Park. The dedication ceremony kicked off PHXAM 2023, an annual amateur skateboarding competition that attracts participants from around the globe. This event marked the official release of the stamps, which feature artistic skateboard decks with bold, vibrant designs that capture skate-boarding’s excitement, diversity, and rebellious attitude.
“As an American institution older than our country itself, the Postal Service is always looking for ways to highlight and honor the stories and histories that are unique to the United States,” said William Zollars, the dedicating official and a member of the USPS Board of Governors.
The Art of the Skateboard stamps feature four unique designs created by skateboarders-turned-artists Crystal Worl, Di’Orr Greenwood, Federico “MasPaz” Frum and William James Taylor Jr., also known as Core222.
Worl’s deck has a blue and indigo salmon design expressing her Tlingit/Athabascan heritage. “The salmon formline represents abundance to the Indigenous people of the northern Northwest Coast and I’m proud that this uniquely Alaskan symbol will be immortalized on mailpieces across the country,” she said.
Greenwood’s design represents her Navajo culture, a turquoise-inlaid skateboard that displays eagle feathers and the colors of the rising or setting sun. When creating her deck, Greenwood said she “…wanted to capture the passion and perseverance of my people. It is my sincere hope that through these amazing Forever stamps I can inspire youth worldwide to strive for and achieve greatness,” she said.
Washington, DC based muralist MasPaz, Spanish for “more peace,” created a design featuring the mystical jaguar of the amazon in his unique bold lined style. “Art helps me reconnect to the stories and land of my Colombian ancestors. The jaguar symbolizes the rainforest, guidance, and healing. Let her powerful call awaken all to live in peace and care for our home, Mother Earth,” he said.
A striking red and orange graphic abstraction by self-taught Norfolk, VA artist Taylor energizes the final skateboard. “These stamps are a celebration of the diverse and vibrant imagery, camaraderie, and athleticism of skateboarding,” said Core222.
“It’s satisfying to see the diversity of America represented by these artists,” said Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, who designed the stamps using photographs of skateboards held aloft by a young person, displaying the underside of the maple deck, where the artwork, wheels, and trucks all appear. The color saturation of each human model is muted to draw the eye to the skateboard itself. Stylish lines radiate from each skateboard in colors coordinated to the artwork.
This collection captures the diversity and creative energy of the sport. The Art of the Skateboard stamps will be released in panes of 20, with 18 million copies in production. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.