Denver, CO – October 27, 2010 – © Photos by The GRO Project.
The annual ‘Shoe Shine’ sneaker and art exhibition/competition popped off last Saturday in Downtown Denver, CO. The event was hosted by Pulse Arts and went down at the new City Hall event center off 11th and Broadway in downtown Denver. The two story venue was covered in dope sneakers, sick artwork, fresh gear, alongside an ill skate session. Denver’s premier clothing boutique Family x Affair featured some new gear from The GRO Project’s new Fall/Winter collection. Another highlight included artwork from Thomas Evans putting it down with some airbrushed basketball backboards with speakers included (see pic below)!
Here is a little background on the event off the Pulse Arts Myspace page:
“Shoe Shine” is an annual Sneaker Exhibition and Competition. It’s primary goal is to creatively engage youth and the community at large through integrating visual art and sneaker culture. Over the years, sneakers have become a fixture in popular culture. Their design has evolved from a simple canvas and rubber shoe, to colors, materials, shapes and patterns limited only by the imagination. “Shoe Shine” showcases the sneaker as a canvas unlike any other, and allows us to revel in its possibilities for self-expression. Through this event, we provide young people, who often view sneakers as symbols of status or wealth, a channel to view them as art and as a medium to express their individual artistic abilities. The contestant’s shoes are displayed gallery style, and a prize is given to the winner from each of the five categories that include; Best Men’s, Best Women’s, best Customized, Oldest & Cleanest, and Best in Show. With the exception of the Best in Show category, “Shoe Shine” winners are determined by a combination of audience ballots and a small panel of celebrity/expert judges. Other elements of the event include: 1.) A “Customize Your Own Sneaker” contest where children are invited to color-in a sneaker “silhouette” and receive a prize; 2.) The “Use the Backboard” exhibition where some of Denver’s best local artists transform a basketball hoop and backboard into amazing paintings, photos, or sculptures; 3) Displays of sneaker and basketball art and paraphernalia and; 4) A “live” shoe customization by sneaker artists.
Official Detour Art Studio J Dilla Tribute Backboard w/ Built in functioning speakers | by Thomas Evans of Detour Art Studio
The GRO Project Showcase w/ Family Affair.
Family Affair Showcasing their collection’s on site.
Youth Mini-Hoop Jam Contest
Shout out to Mu$a, Marz, InkMonstr and DJ Wes!