Join us for a dynamic panel discussion in conjunction with Skate Craft - The DIY Design of Skateboarding exploring how folk art, functional craft, and skateboard culture all wear—and proudly own—the misfit label.
At their core, folk art and skate subculture share the exact same DNA: self-reliance, functional resourcefulness, and a drive to create outside traditional institutions. Both traditions embrace outsider status as a badge of honor. Long before skateboarding gained global recognition, skaters functioned as modern folk artists—shaping their own decks, welding DIY obstacles from salvaged steel, printing zines, and tailoring custom gear. By taking pride in the unpolished and the unconventional, both folk art and skate culture celebrate the hand-made over the mass-produced, transforming humble, everyday materials into vital expressions of community identity and personal utility.
In this conversation, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, author Sean Mortimer (The Misfit's Survivor Guide), and exhibition curator Guusje Sanders examine the historical and artistic alignment of these two worlds. Drawing on Mortimer’s work documenting subculture resilience and Hawk’s firsthand role in skate history, the panel will explore how "owning the misfit label" paved the way for a global creative movement—and why the ethos of the custom-made continues to shape living craft today.
Following the discussion, guests who pre-purchased a book are invited to a special author meet-and-greet! Pre-signed books will be handed out directly during the meet-and-greet session.
Limited tickets will be available to Mingei members via exclusive email early access. Members will receive a registration link on Monday, January 4 at 10 AM. General public registration opens Tuesday, January 5 at 10 AM.
Note: Event tickets grant access to the exhibition and the panel discussion. Access to the post-panel meet and greet is included with the purchase of a signed copy of The Misfit's Survivor Guide. Signed copies and meet-and-greet access are strictly limited. Outside merchandise is not permitted.
Limit 2 tickets per person.