We're just Surf People

‘We’re just Surf People’ is created from marine debris that washed ashore along Vancouver Island and derelict surfboards & leashes salvaged from local surf rental shops. I’ve been wanting to create a work using soft top surfboards for quite a while. They appeal to me because of their vibrant colours and iconic shapes. Unfortunately, these rental boards are mass produced from non-recyclable materials. They aren’t built to last or repair, so after a few seasons they end up in the landfill. Recycling is not really an option due to the time and cost to separate out all the components that go into making the board, which are primarily petroleum-based materials such as plastic, Styrofoam, and vinyl. Same goes for the surf leashes. Given the thousands of first-time surfers who start out on these boards, its sobering to think of how much waste is generated around the world by such an environmentally friendly activity. 

The idea for the piece came to me as I was stacking the boards along my fence to wash them. The various shapes reminded me of people, so I played around with that idea, juxtaposing one board with another until I came up with the final design. It speaks to me about the global popularity of surfing and the shared culture which bonds surfers. It also celebrates the positive experiences that so many people enjoy while surfing in Tofino.

The name for the artwork came from a conversation I had with Albert Shepard, an old friend, local surfer, and fellow artist who sadly passed away while I was creating this piece. We had been joking about some of the funny things that surfers do. He summed it up by saying “Well Pete, we’re just Surf People”.  We had a good laugh about that. This piece is a reminder of that crazy culture called surfing and dedicated to Albert.