In February 2006, Rob Perez started Artslam as a way for local artists to introduce their work to a larger audienceThe public's response was lukewarm at best.

“Not that many people showed up,” Perez said of the inaugural Artslam event, which was held at the now-defunct Black Lion. “But we had a blast, and we've been doing it every month since. It's really been growing bigger and bigger.”

So big, in fact, that Artslam no longer solely serves local artists.

For this month's event, which takes place on Saturday, May 12, Artslam will serve some local skaters as well.

The event, titled ARTSLAM! S.O.S. (Save Our Skateparks), will benefit Skaters for Public Skateparks, a nonprofit organization that aims to add and maintain public skate equipment. All the proceeds from ARTSLAM! S.O.S. will go the public skateparks effort.

“We've been doing shows for a while, so we figured we might as well do it for a good cause,” said Perez, who operates under the artistic moniker of Deadbeat Hero. “When I heard what the organization was about, we decided to put a show together and help out.”

The show will include Perez and a handful of other artists performing live art on blank skate decks, which are essentially skateboards without wheels. Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 apiece, with all of the finished artwork being entered in the raffle. Artslam artists typically perform on wood or canvas surfaces, but because of the skatepark benefit, they elected to perform on actual skate decks.

ARTSLAM! S.O.S. will feature live music from such groups as Lotus Tribe (hip-hop), Robo Trumble (rock) and Of My Redemption (indie rock), while Perez and fellow Artslam regulars Gerry Garcia and Joe de la Cruz will head up a handful of artists.

“We don't charge artists anything to be in it,” Perez said. “We just want them to go and produce. It's a really positive environment and just about supporting local artists. It's just really grown to where different artists have become good friends at these events. Some of them have gone on to collaborate, and that's been really positive so far.”

Clint Hale | 210SA