"Against the Grain" Surfboard-As-Art Show at 46th Annual Washington Boat Show

Washington, DC, September 07, 2007 --(PR.com)-- When the world’s boating enthusiasts stream into the new billion-dollar Washington Convention Center for the 46th annual Washington Boat Show this February, they will see something besides the reported 500-plus boats and booths of boating accessories. They will also get to see original, handcrafted, wood-grain surfboards created by artists Clark Hipolito and Tony Ramsi.

From February 14-18, Hipolito and Ramsi will present “Against The Grain,” their newest collection of popular surfboards-as-art during the only indoor boat show in the mid-Atlantic “where million dollar boats are regularly sold,” according to the organizers.

Hipolito, who owns The Art Company in Raleigh, NC, and Ramsi introduced their unusual surfboards last summer then reprised it with new boards this summer at a special exhibit and auction in Deluxe restaurant in downtown Wilmington. (A portion of the proceeds goes to the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world's waves and beaches.)

The boards have been subsequently featured in Waterfront Homes & Design and Line Up magazines and Global Surf News.com. They are scheduled to be featured in Genug, a German magazine on luxury living, and Khooligan, a Russian art and lifestyle publication. The collection was also on display this summer at April & George in downtown Raleigh.

The artists say they find their inspiration for the boards in both the Polynesian surfing legacy and Asian art. “There’s a fine line we’re dancing between invoking classical elements and keeping the design hip,” says Hipoito, 36, of Filipino descent. “The point is to focus on the artwork in conjunction with the application of timeless wood grains.”

The surfboards are shaped by Brian Wynn of Wynn Surfboards in New Jersey, as well as Adam Price and Hunter Ford of Momentum Surfboards.

By participating in the Washington Boat Show, Hipolito and Ramsi will enjoy an audience of affluent water enthusiasts who might not see the surfboards in a surfing venue. They will also potentially benefit from the show’s extensive advertising campaign, which includes television, radio and print.

“This show is the perfect opportunity for us to present to the public our ideas of how we’ve been inspired by the details introduced by classic boat craftsmen,” Hipolito said. “Integrating these details into our handcrafted surfboards has opened the door for a whole new way of interpreting surfboards as art, and we’re excited by the fact that our form of recreational water sports is a perfect compliment and accessory to the amazing vessels around us at this venue.”

For more information on the Washington Boat Show, visit http://www.washingtonboatshow.com.

For more information on "Against The Grain," visit http://www.art-company.com.

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