Skateboard-theme art show raising funds for skate park

A group of Fredericton people have come together to create a skateboard-themed art show and auction to benefit Isaac Miller, a young skateboarder who died last year.

Marc Landry pitched the concept of the fundraiser to Deanna Musgrave, Miller's stepmother.

"Deanna wanted to create something that would help raise money for Isaac. I suggested that maybe she could auction off a board that she painted because she's a fairly established artist and it all started from there," Landry said.

The idea turned into "Concrete: Art Fundraiser for the Isaac Miller Memorial Skatepark."

Andrew Miller, the late skateboarder's father, said the response from the community has been overwhelming.

"When Isaac passed away there was real outpouring of grief," he said.

"People wanted to do something, so when the idea for an skateboard art show came up there was a huge response. All sorts of artists were coming out of the woodwork donating their time, skills and art."

Landry gathered old skateboards, sanded them down and distributed them to whoever wanted to participate.

The skateboards are now hanging in the Fredericton Playhouse's east and west galleries until the auction ends on Wednesday evening.

"Deanna thought there would be 10 boards, maybe 20 boards then there were 30, then 40, then50m then more than 60 boards. It was a very elating experience," says Miller.

Miller said all of the boards vary in style and meaning. He says the artists who contributed work range from family members to well-known professionals.

"Some are very representational, some are very abstract. Some people knew Isaac quite well and some didn't. Some of them are a lot more personal but they all have something to say," he said.

The boards are available for bidding online.

Miller said already they've received nearly $10,000 in bids with a goal of reaching $15,000 to match the Skateboard Fredericton Inc. donation.