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Skateboards are art at this weekend's 'Art Deck Yo!' showcase

Tribune file photo by CHRIS URSO

A crew of local artists will turn plain old skateboard decks into art for this weekend's 'Art Deck Yo!'

By SARAH HOYE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 14, 2009

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TAMPA - It'll be all paint on decks this weekend at the Skatepark of Tampa.

Art aficionado and skater Chad Cardoza hosts the skateboard deck (the part you stand on) art show, "Art Deck Yo!," Saturday inside the snack bar area of the park.

This is no wine and cheese gallery night, Cardoza says -- it's an art party. "You'll see a different kind of show," he says.

Don't worry if money is tight. Admission to the show is free. Plus, DJ Blenda will be spinning tunes while skate sessions rage throughout the park.

"I thought that arting up a deck would be fun," says Cardoza, who has skated alongside park owner Brian Schaefer and manager Ryan Clements for years. "We have local and regional artists using new or used decks who will art them up."

Featured artists include Jason Fondren, Daniel Mrgan, Bean Spence, Chris Deacon and more. Proceeds from Art Deck will go directly to the artists.

Cardoza also organized the "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" art show in December, with all proceeds going to Skatepark's Boards for Bros program for underprivileged youth. The event raised just over $2,000.

"Art Deck Yo!" isn't the only thing going down at the park this weekend — or next week, for that matter.

Skatepark is hosting a skate competition, part of the DC Shoes "King of" series, at the same time as the art deck show. The winner gets a trip to Chicago and a spot in DC Shoes' "King of Chicago."

Next week is more bananas. The Moat Show trade show is setting up shop Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, Red Bull sponsors the Throw Down Best Trick Contest, complete with $2,500 in prize money.