Paskowitz: “Surf is mystical!”

The youngest of "first family of surfing" shares his art!

My surname, as you know, is Smith and it comes with zero baggage or maybe just a little. There was once a Smith named Joseph and he started Mormonism. There is also a Smith named Sam and he sings very whiny songs. Other than Joseph and Sam, though, the Smith is easy to carry. Paskowitz, on the other hand, is not. You are aware of Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, the Stanford educated M.D. who traveled around the world with his large brood surfing and generally living an idealistic life.

You must read more on the Encyclopedia of Surfing but Doc, his wife and nine children soon became known as “the first family of surfing.” The youngest, Joshua Ben-Paskowitz, has led his own fascinating life, fronting one-hit-wonder band The Flys, beating a heroin addiction and all along making art.

I saw one of his prints on Facebook, recently, and it captivated so I called to ask about. He said:

My family is a little bit crazy. My dad is the coolest, most beautiful amazing conflicted loving character you could imagine. The good guy and the bad guy all at once.

I’ve been drawing my whole life, in our family we’d spend a lot of the time in the middle of nowhere. My dad and brothers cared about surfing, I was always drawn to the arts, started getting into comic books at five, six. Heavy metal mags when I was in the single digits. Used that as a conduit for the impossible to understand dynamics of my life growing up.

My life is about, my art is about preserving my dad’s legacy. Reminding people of characters that would have been overlooked. I really want to try to bring art into surfing and develop a contemporary or fine art style around surfing. I’m really grateful for Herbie and Dibi and what they’re doing. Surf is mystical and art is a conduit for that. I’m just trying to develop that as much as I can and be honest to who I am.

With Hanukkah in just five days and Christmas soon after don’t you think a print would make a fantastic gift? I do. Buy here!

the Art of Joshua Ben Paskowitz. Music by the Artist.
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Wayne Lunch
Wayne Lunch
8 years ago

Doc was a legend (RIP), whole family rock.

Abscessed Llama
Abscessed Llama
8 years ago

If you say that something such as beauty or art is in the eye of the beholder, you mean that it is a matter of personal opinion? “That is exactly what I am saying..”

Bleach'd Git
Bleach'd Git
8 years ago

Speaking of buying art, perhaps someone can explain to me how Chas’ cheap and cheeky tease about Gabs at the Whogivesafuck Surf Awards gets shared 75 times, while Longtom’s little number – which is a Beach Grit “exclusive” and pretty interesting and relevant to most surfers – is only worth 3?

No offence intended obviously, Chas.

Otto
Otto
8 years ago
Reply to  Bleach'd Git

We share what we are willing to give away. Sharing Longtom’s brilliance feels like it should demand payment of some sort.

Bleach'd Git
Bleach'd Git
8 years ago
Reply to  Otto

Fair call. How much do you reckon Hank Gaskell sold his soul for to snare those two waves in the Pipe trials? Orgaaaasmic.

Otto
Otto
8 years ago
Reply to  Bleach'd Git

He has to admit he gave Pottz the quote “Shane Backdorian'”.

PacificNorthPest
PacificNorthPest
8 years ago
Reply to  Bleach'd Git

Hmmm, I surfed with Hank Gaskell and one other guy on the best day in 10 years at a place that breaks maybe 3 or 4 days on a good year. Absolutely on 🔥 ridiculously fun, picture 75 yards of head high perfect superbank with 3 guys out but a left. Never saw him before, and never seen him since. Maybe you’re on to something ….

Bleach'd Git
Bleach'd Git
8 years ago

He’s been wandering the infernal plain…

Eddie Haiku
Eddie Haiku
8 years ago

If he wants to really make it big, I suggest a Billabong x Paskowitz colab. Andy Warhol is now a household name thanks to those cool cats.

PacificNorthPest
PacificNorthPest
8 years ago

Hey look, it’s latter day Fauvism! Nice to see that simple Polynesians gals are still sporting innocently star-gazing nude tits more than 100 years since this movement was over!

f u
f u
8 years ago

whats wrong with polynesian tits? pics of tits will never get old and “movements” only matter to sheep

PacificNorthPest
PacificNorthPest
8 years ago
Reply to  f u

A of all nothing.

B of all, he makes art that looks exactly like art that was avant-garde 120 years ago, and I’m the sheep? Hmmm, better start looking over my shoulder for the Irish….

f u
f u
8 years ago

Your statement about his art has no real point, other than it reminds you of something you have seen before. You where just trying to make yourself sound educated by using the word Fauvism.

janeausten
janeausten
8 years ago
Reply to  f u

https://www.youtube.com/wat…

I dunno much about art, but I know the Fauves played rock and roll.

Bleach'd Git
Bleach'd Git
8 years ago
Reply to  janeausten

They are too.

PacificNorthPest
PacificNorthPest
8 years ago
Reply to  f u

Fauve is part of my ordinary lexicon. I sound like me. I shan’t affect the basic bitch for anyone. I said good day sir.

Karl Von Fanningstadt
Karl Von Fanningstadt
8 years ago

Nice badvertorial. You really should be peddling my shit, though… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

Bleach'd Git
Bleach'd Git
8 years ago

Lovely composition. Where’s the link to your online shoppe?

Otto
Otto
8 years ago

did St. Bede pen “squirt humble Sads”?

Karl Von Fanningstadt
Karl Von Fanningstadt
8 years ago
Reply to  Otto

“squirt
humble
suds”
… The Venerable appears to have poor penmanship…

Otto
Otto
8 years ago

Ha! I was also thinking it was a saintly shot across the bow of ads.

Lemon Next to the Pie
Lemon Next to the Pie
8 years ago
Reply to  Otto

He is the People’s™ Saint. We know the struggle of squirting humbly.

Manuka
Manuka
8 years ago

Madvertorial

Mapski
Mapski
8 years ago

Your no Poggio Bracciolini.


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