From Dogtown to his art studio, impressive board collection and beyond, Stacy Peralta remains an inspiring figure in the world of skateboarding and in this new short film by Dana Shaw, "Against the Current" we're reminded exactly why.
"It’s not just a love letter to a life of skateboarding," says Shaw, "but a celebration of the spirit of creativity and commitment." Take a look:
In the film, Stacy shares a variety of his inspirations from childhood to present day, and the challenges and lessons he's learned "while working to develop this new visual language in his iterations of these tools of joy from the past," mentions Shaw.
It also explores Stacy's obsessive relationship to his personal vintage skateboard collection—one that undoubtedly holds the memories of the Dogtown glory days and beyond. "As well as the decay and degradation that entropy and time have on our prized possessions," Shaw concludes. Tacking on, "And even ourselves."
Whether you're a fan of Stacy, the golden Dogtown era of skateboarding, art, creative processes or the whole shabang, this little mini doc is super insightful and is bound to spark a little bit of creativity for skateboarders and creatives of all ages.
Some people just can't silence that creative buzz in their heads, and Stacy is clearly one of them. Whether it's filmmaking, art, gardening, surfing, skateboarding—the list goes on—Stacy's boundless creativity and passion have made him an inspiration in pretty much everything he undertakes (whether he wants to admit it or not).
And personally, I'd say it's this wide range of talents and relentless drive that continue to motivate (and sincerely captivate) us all to this day.
It goes without saying, but Dana Shaw did an incredible job on the film as well. Against The Current is still up at Cruise Control Contemporary now through November 27, 2024. There will be a pop-up show with Stacy's work available in Venice, CA from Dec. 13–15 at 12613 ½ Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066.
Thanks for all you've done and continue to do for skateboarding, Stacy! Keep the fire burning.
