CMCOLLAB
EPIDEMIC SKATEBOARD SHOP established in 2001, is an independent skate shop providing quality and unique products to the Coachella Valley.
KYLIE KNIGHT is an artist who makes paintings, flyers, zines, comics, music (lead singer of the band Greasetrap), and promotes local events.
How did the collaboration come about?
KYLIE KNIGHT: The Epidemic x Kylie Knight collaboration fell into place almost effortlessly. Epidemic has been continuously producing great events and products with an emphasis on supporting local talent, and I was stoked when they approached me with the idea to turn one of my paintings into a two deck series. I’ve been a fan of their work for years and vice versa, so making a board together felt very natural. The skate decks were limited edition, so we aren’t planning on releasing any more of that particular design, but I’d be willing to collaborate with Epidemic to produce more designs for future boards.
EPIDEMIC: We have been collaborating and working with Kylie for several years now. She was in fact, our first featured artist in our previous Palm Desert store’s art gallery space. Kylie is a major presence in the art scene, and as major fans of this scene we see her at pretty much anything and everything we attend. We love the loud, energetic and raw energy produced in her work and it seemed like a natural fit to replicate this energy onto our product.
What was your original inspiration for the artwork?
KYLIE KNIGHT: I work with shapes, colors, and lines first and the context usually comes later. This painting to me is about vulnerability, but I’d prefer the audience to gather their own ideas.
Do you skateboard or plan to take up the sport?
I used to skateboard when I was much younger but I’m actually pretty accident prone and try to avoid most sports that could potentially cripple me, haha.
When you collaborate with local artists—what do you generally look for?
EPIDEMIC: Over the years we have had the opportunity to collaborate with many artists from various backgrounds. The underlying theme in their work seems to be originality, a vibrant personality, and a strong work ethic.
Do you have ideas for other products?
KYLIE KNIGHT: There’s nothing solidified for the future right now, but I’m constantly working on new ideas and paintings. We might make some t-shirts in the near future if we can agree on a design.
What are you currently working on? Anything we should watch out for in 2015?
KYLIE KNIGHT: I am currently working on completing a series of paintings that have been in progress for the last 3 years. Hopefully looking to have a solo show sometime this year. Other than that, I have my band Greasetrap, and we play shows pretty frequently.
Hypothetical question: If you could collaborate with any artist living or dead, who would it be?
KYLIE KNIGHT: Jean Michel Basquiat
EPIDEMIC: Brad Walters
COMPANY: EPIDEMIC SKATEBOARD SHOP
FOUNDED: 2001
HEADQUARTERS: CATHEDRAL CITY, CA
WEB: EPIDEMICSKATEBOARDSHOP.COM
LINKS: KYLIEKNIGHTART.TUMBLR.COM