Mark Gonzales Explained

Mark Gonzales should not be confused with Mark González.

Mark Gonzales
Birth Date:1968 6, mf=yes
Birth Place:South Gate, California, United States
Occupation:Skateboarder, artist, company owner

Mark Gonzales (born June 1, 1968), also known as "Gonz", "the Gonz" and "the Godfather", is an American professional skateboarder and artist.[1] A pioneer in the development of modern street skating and considered the first street-only skateboarder alongside Natas Kaupas. Gonzales and Kaupas are also credited with the first known boardslides on a handrail.[2] Gonzales' pioneering influence on skateboarding has caused him to be known as the "God Father" of modern street skateboarding,[3] and he was named the "Most Influential Skateboarder of All Time" by Transworld Skateboarding magazine in December 2011. Gonzales was placed ahead of Tony Hawk (2nd) and Rodney Mullen (3rd)[4]

Early life

Gonzales was born and raised in South Gate, California, United States, and is of Irish and Mexican descent.[5] [6]

Professional skateboarding

Gonzales entered the skateboarding scene at the age of thirteen in South Gate, California, U.S. At the age of fifteen, Gonzales would come in to contact with Tommy Guerrero and Natas Kaupas who were developing their own styles of progressive street skating. Gonzales began pioneering a modern, innovative approach to skateboarding in a street context (subsequently dubbed "street skateboarding") His street skating actives included taking freestyle and vert tricks and employing them in a street context, developments which would end up causing Gonzales to be credited as one of the inventors of street skateboarding.[7] [8] [9] He was featured on the cover of Thrasher magazine's November 1984 issue riding a board from the Alva company, his board sponsor at the time, while performing a trick known as a "beanplant".[10]

Vision, Blind and ATM Click

Shortly after his Thrasher magazine cover, Gonzales then joined the Vision skateboard team and entered his first contest as a professional in May 1985 at the 'Sacto Streetstyle Contest' held in Sacramento, California.[11] [12] [13] Soon after turning pro, Gonzalez won the 1985 NSA Sure-Grip Beach Style contest held adjacent to the pier in Oceanside, California.[14]

In 1989, Gonzales left Vision and co-founded Blind Skateboards with Steve Rocco. The company name was chosen as a slight on his former employer, Vision.[15] Gonzales proceeded to further influence the progression of street skateboarding with the 1991 Blind Skateboards video Video Days[16] [17] Directed by Spike Jones, Video Days is often credited as the most important skate video of all time.[18] Starring Gonzales alongside Rudy Johnson, Jason Lee, Guy Mariano and Jordan Richter, Video Days paved the way for modern street skateboarding. Whilst at Blind Gonzales also designed the original Blind Skateboards logo which is still used today. Gonzales would leave Blind in 1993, after experiencing frustrations that were similar to his time with Vision.

Gonzales then started another company called ATM Click and followed it with a venture with Ron Chatman called 60/40 who sponsored future Menace skaters Fabian Alomar and Joey Suriel. In 1993, Gonzales created controversy after he appropriated a Vision design that was used for one of his signature model boards for an ATM Click design; Gonzales then proceeded to also use the graphic for Real and Krooked signature skateboard models following his move to Deluxe Distribution.[19]

Deluxe Distribution

Under the Deluxe Distribution company, Gonzales skated for Real Skateboards and appeared in three of the company's videos: Kicked Out of Everywhere, Non Fiction, and Real to Reel. In 2002, Gonzales then launched Krooked Skateboards in partnership with the Deluxe company[20] and, as of February 2016, Krooked is an operational company that has released four full-length videos.[21]

In 2007, Gonzales appeared in the skateboarding video game EA Skate[22] and filmed a commercial to promote the game's release.[23]

Sponsorship

As of 2013, Gonzales was sponsored by adidas,[24] Krooked,[25] Spitfire,[26] Independent,[27] and Supreme. In 2016, Gonzales joined the Pro-Tec skate team.[28]

Influence

In the summer of 1986 Gonzales performed an ollie from one wall down to another platform at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, U.S. and the obstacle had been known as the "Gonz Gap" since his completion of the trick;[29] [30] the trick also helped to popularize The Embarcadero as a location for skateboarding.[11] Later that year, Gonzales - along with fellow progressive street skater Natas Kaupas - was the first person to skate handrails.[31] Gonzales was also the first person to ollie the Wallenberg Set, a four-block, nineteen feet-long, four feet-tall gap in San Francisco, California, US.[32] [33] [34]

In reference to the early era of street skateboarding, professional skateboarder Mike Vallely stated in a 2007 interview: "At the time, the best street skaters in the world were Mark Gonzales, Jesse Martinez, Tommy Guerrero, who all three were Mexican kids, and Natas Kaupas, who was a Lithuanian dude that lived at the beach in Santa Monica." In an interview for the Adidas website, Gonzales explained in reply to a question about his influence with the Blind company, "I wanted to work with my big brother doing construction—at the time I felt old, but had a young chick."

In 2006 Gonzales was awarded the Legend Award by Transworld Skateboarding,[35] [36] and the magazine selected him as the most influential skateboarder of all time (followed by Tony Hawk and Rodney Mullen) in December 2011.

Art and writing

Mark Gonzales is an acclaimed and internationally exhibited artist. Having previously exhibited at many different galleries including; Gallery Target in Tokyo, Japan. Chandran Gallery, San Francisco, USA. Janet Borden gallery, New York, USA and the Stadtisches Museum, Abteiberg, Germany. He is currently represented by Parrasch Heijnen Galley In Los Angeles.[37]

London-based art curator Emma Reeves has explained in an introduction that she wrote for Interview magazine: "He makes art all the time, and he has been making art in some form or another for almost as long as he has been skateboarding." In the same article Gonzales goes on to reveal that he likes creating "zines" the most, as "it is the most free thing to do. I can write anything and just put it in a zine, and then it’s out there. It is like blogging but on paper.". In 2008, Drag City released a book called The Collected Fanzines that consists of reproductions of old zines that he created together with director Harmony Korine.[38]

Gonzales was featured in the music video for the song "West Coast" by Jason Schwartzman's band, Coconut Records;[39] the music video featured a sequence that was originally filmed in 1998 at the Stadtisches Museum, but was edited for the purpose of the music video with Gonzales' permission. Gonzales also directed and appears in the Coconut Records music video "Any Fun", alongside actress Chloë Sevigny and skateboarder Alex Olson.[40]

Gonzales is also a published poet and author. His published body of work includes Social Problems,[41] High Tech Poetry, [42] Broken Dreams, and Broken Poems.[43] Gonzales has revealed that he is constantly writing poetry.

In 2011, Gonzales designed and painted the London Flagship Supreme Store. Gonzales would send letters to the New York store entitled “Supream” during the early years of the brand. This led to many collaborations with Gonzales and Supreme, with the latest being in the S/S21 collection.[44] [45] Gonzales has designed sculptures and paintings for Supreme's retail locations in New York (Manhattan), San Francisco, London, Paris, Tokyo (Shibuya), Nagoya, and Osaka.[46]

Personal life

As of 2018, Gonzales resided in Paris and New York City, with his wife, Tia, and their two children.

Filmography

The following is a list of films in which Gonzales appears:

Videography

Savannah Slamma (1987)

The Truth Hurts (1993)

A Love Supreme (1995)

Rocket Science (2004)

A Five Day Excursion To Paris (2008)

Diagonal (2009)

Cherry (2014)

Gonzales also appeared in the 29th part of the web series 7 Day Weekend, produced by professional skateboarder Dustin Dollin—in the episode the pair skateboard, drink beer and converse while in France.[59]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gonzo for Mark Gonzales. Interview Magazine. 15 March 2013. Emma Reeves. March 2013.
  2. https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/history-of-skateboarding
  3. Web site: First & Last: Mark Gonzales . 22 July 2022 .
  4. Web site: THE 30 MOST INFLUENTIAL SKATERS OF ALL TIME. Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. 17 August 2012. Blair Alley. 20 December 2011.
  5. Web site: MIKE VALLELY. Juice (skateboarding magazine). Juice Enterprises, Inc. 15 March 2013. Jim Murphy . Luke Ogden . Marc Falkenstein. 1 April 2007.
  6. Web site: CONROYCHRONICLES.
  7. Web site: Mark Gonzales . 7 September 2016 .
  8. Book: Stalefish: Skateboard Culture from the Rejects Who Made It. 9780811860420. Mortimer. Sean. 2008-04-30. Chronicle Books.
  9. Web site: Pioneers: The Mark Gonzales Ride - ESPN Video. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200306164806/https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14329672. 2020-03-06.
  10. Web site: November 1984. Thrasher Magazine. High Speed Productions, Inc. 15 March 2013. 2013.
  11. Web site: 16 THINGS: GONZ. Skateboarder. GrindMedia, LLC. 17 August 2012. Kevin Craft. 12 October 2005. dead. https://archive.today/20120913094000/http://www.skateboardermag.com/skateboarder-news-features/features/16thgsgnz/. 13 September 2012.
  12. Shatto . Chris . July 1985 . Mark Gonzalez Interview with CS. Ripper . EDO Mag . Internet Archive.
  13. Web site: Hamm . Keith . October 15, 2011 . Birth of Street? Sacto Street Style '85 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103011025/http://www.xgames.com/action/skateboarding/article/7096377/mark-gonzales-tommy-guerrero-reminisce-early-street-contest . January 3, 2023 . January 3, 2023 . X Games.
  14. Web site: September 25, 2004 . NSA Sure-Grip Beach Style 1985 Results and Footage . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230103012925/https://www.brettstedet.no/article.asp?id=1772&language=en . January 3, 2023 . January 3, 2023 . Brettstedet.
  15. https://www.surfertoday.com/skateboarding/mark-gonzales-facts-about-the-influential-skateboarder
  16. Web site: Blind 'Video Days' skate video. Trashfilter. 15 March 2013. Chris. 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110114095433/http://www.trashfilter.com/blind-video-days-skate-video. 14 January 2011.
  17. Web site: Blind Skateboards. Skately. Skately LLC. 15 March 2013. 2013.
  18. Web site: 50 Best Skateboard Videos of All Time .
  19. Web site: roots: the first vision mark gonzales graphic by andy takakjian. disposable: random essays on skateboard art. 25 March 2013. 31 January 2010.
  20. Web site: Krooked. Skately. Skately LLC. 15 March 2013. 2013.
  21. Web site: Krooked Skateboards skate videos. Skatevideosite.com. 25 March 2013. 2005–2013.
  22. Web site: Profiles. https://archive.today/20130122195126/http://skate.ea.com/mobile/profiles?itemId=MarkGonzales-mgonzales.xml. dead. 2013-01-22. skate.. Electronic Arts, Inc. 2010.
  23. Web site: Mark Gonzales "The Gonz". YouTube. Google, Inc. 16 September 2012. EASkateTV. 17 April 2011.
  24. Web site: Team – Mark Gonzales. adidas. 15 March 2013. March 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130320052059/http://www.adidas.com/com/apps/skateboarding/team.php. 20 March 2013.
  25. Web site: About. krooked on Facebook. Facebook. 15 March 2013. krooked skateboards. March 2013.
  26. Web site: Spitfire Skateboards. Warehouse Skateboards. Warehouse Skateboards, Inc. 15 March 2013. March 2013.
  27. Web site: Mark Gonzales: Independent Truck Company Pro Skate Team. Grind TV. GrindMedia, LLC and Yahoo! Sports Network. 15 March 2013. Video upload. 14 March 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131012013701/http://www.grindtv.com/action-sports/skate/post/mark-gonzales-independent-truck-company-pro-skate-team/. 12 October 2013.
  28. News: Mark Gonzales joins the Pro-Tec skate team Adventure Sports Network. 2016-11-16. Adventure Sports Network. 2018-06-26. en-US.
  29. Thrasher, September 1986.
  30. Web site: Jamie Thomas Gets Karate Chopped, Ollies The Gonz Gap Daily, and More .... https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/fp47EUtP3Bs . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. RIDE Channel. Video upload. 6 March 2013.
  31. Web site: Mark Gonzales. Giant Bomb. CBS Interactive Inc. 15 March 2013. 2013.
  32. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Ask The Phelper - The Gonz . YouTube. 5 January 2010 .
  33. Mark Gonzales: Why Skateboarders 'Don't Give a F--k'. Rolling Stone. 21 June 2016.
  34. Web site: Mark Gonzales - Unrecorded Hearsay & Half-Forgotten Conversations . www.huckmagazine.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140308072510/http://www.huckmagazine.com/ride/skate/mark-gonzales-2/ . 2014-03-08.
  35. Web site: 8TH ANNUAL TRANSWORLD SKATEBOARDING AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED. Transworld Skateboarding. Bonnier Corporation. 17 August 2012. Transworld. 21 April 2006.
  36. Web site: TWS Legend Award Mark Gonzales. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yFB6GpQN6w8 . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. airn720. Video upload. 24 January 2007.
  37. https://www.parraschheijnen.com/artists/mark-gonzales
  38. Web site: The Collected Fanzines. Powell' City of Books. Powells.com. 14 September 2012. 1994–2012.
  39. Web site: Coconut Records "West Coast". https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mTzEp4CeWT8 . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 14 September 2012. audiobee. 17 April 2007.
  40. Web site: Any Fun - Coconut Records. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/NzyzP5upKMY . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 14 September 2012. youngbabyrecords. 6 July 2009.
  41. Book: 林文浩 . SOCIAL PROBLEM: MARK GONZALES . 1998-05-26 . Little More . 978-4-947648-71-6 . en.
  42. Book: Gonzales, Mark . High Tech Poetry . 2002 . Contingency Pub. . 978-1-881390-31-2 . en.
  43. Book: Gonzales, Mark . Broken Poems.: Stories, Poetry and Drawings. Erzählungen, Gedichte und Zeichnungen . 1998 . Tropen . 978-3-932170-17-1 . de.
  44. Web site: Items Overview fall/winter 2019 - Supreme Community. Supremecommunity.com. en. 2019-12-08.
  45. Web site: Gonz Logo Beanie - Orange - Shop - Supreme. www.supremenewyork.com. 2019-12-08.
  46. Web site: Supreme stores .
  47. Web site: How They Get There - A Short Film With Mark Gonzales. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yO1zCydsJUg . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 16 September 2012. Aidan Ralph (film directed by Spike Jonze). 12 February 2007.
  48. Web site: Mark Gonzales in Gummo. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/20M-d04AFXc . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 1 September 2012. joeyfurocious. 21 December 2009.
  49. Web site: beautiful losers. YouTube. Google, Inc. 1 September 2012. yohey01. 14 January 2007.
  50. Web site: Mark Gonzales "Video Days" Blind (1991). YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. Don1970. Video upload. 23 July 2008.
  51. Web site: mark gonzales - non fiction street part. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/OXkR_hXkYeI . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. lelandgtaylor. Video upload. 11 February 2008.
  52. Web site: Mark Gonzales - Real Kicked Out Of Everywhere. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. skaidernation. Video upload. 6 November 2009.
  53. Web site: Mark Gonzales - Real Skateboards Real To Reel '01. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. skaidernation. Video upload. 3 November 2009.
  54. Web site: Mark Gonzales Super Champion Funzone. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/020-mq4QvDc . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. bicyclekickflip. Video upload. 16 December 2010.
  55. Web site: Mark Gonzales - 'Get Familiar'. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/iNLwOosvrO4 . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. Zynkero. Video upload. 13 February 2010.
  56. Web site: Gnar Gnar – Krooked – 2007. Skate and Annoy. 1 September 2012. chompy. 2 April 2007.
  57. Web site: Mark Gonzales WE ARE SKATEBOARDERS Teaser. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mDiBqgL0Ajg . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. calikristos. Video upload. 6 April 2010.
  58. Web site: Mark Gonzales skate videos. Skatevideosite.com. 15 March 2013. 2005–2013.
  59. Web site: Dustin Dollin's 7 Day Weekend Prt 29 (Mark Gonzalez). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tGajFKnmZok . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. Google, Inc. 15 March 2013. pissdrunx4ever. Video upload. 10 September 2011.

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