This exquisite longboard by Robin Rorick showcases a striking mosquito design, masterfully integrated with the sleek, elongated form of the skateboard. The bold, flowing lines of the artwork follow the contours of the board, creating a seamless and harmonious composition that not only honours traditional Haida aesthetics but also adapts them to a modern medium. The symmetry and curvature of the design reflect the skilled use of formline, which allows the mosquito motif to come alive with a sense of movement and fluidity that mirrors the board’s intended purpose.

This work was exhibited in the Stonington Gallery’s Fast Forward: Skateboard & Paddles! exhibition which noted that the paddle blade and the lines of a skate deck share a striking visual and functional similarity, rooted in their shared purpose: to move seamlessly through air or water, slicing through resistance with accuracy and speed. The paddle, a traditional and highly engineered object, has been a cornerstone of transportation on the Northwest Coast for millennia. In contrast, the skate deck, a contemporary innovation, has garnered widespread appeal across both rural and urban communities for its affordability, its fluidity of movement, and its association with counter-cultural identity.

Beyond their shared functionality, both the paddle and the skate deck have long served as personal canvases for artistic expression. The customization of decks and the painting of paddles hold deep, individual significance for their users, creating an intimate bond between the tool of travel and its owner.