ArtCo Surf's Clark Hipolito to be Featured in "Rocksta" Event, Film in San Diego

Raleigh, NC, June 16, 2008 --(PR.com)-- When three rock bands, swimsuit models, magazine editors, film producers, and around 700 party-goers gather on the rooftop of the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, CA, on June 26th, celebrated Raleigh-based artist Clark Hipolito will be among them, painting a surfboard and helping to sponsor the first “Rocksta” celebration to benefit “The Land of Plenty” skateboard foundation. The free event, which begins at 4 p.m. and ends at 10, is being held to raise funds and awareness for the non-profit foundation, which encourages skateboarding for underprivileged and at-risk youth as creative physical education, progressive artistic expression and a form of non-violent communication. The benefit will be filmed in full-scale production and in high-definition for distribution to several networks. A reality-TV show will also film Rocksta for distribution. Clark Hipolito, founder of ArtCo Surf, got involved with Rocksta and “The Land of Plenty” through Line Up The Magazine, a co-sponsoring along with La Isla Couture Swimwear and Surf Prescriptions Boards & Apparel. For several years, Line Up has followed Hipolito’s creation of hand-painted, wood-grain surfboards inspired by both the Polynesian surfing legacy – when all surfboards used to be made of wood -- and Asian art. His work recently evolved to include skateboards, beach cruisers and a line of apparel that features elements of his signature artwork. In partnership with fellow artist Tony Ramsi, he launched ArtCo Surf earlier this year to produce and market their collections. Clark Hipolito will be on hand to paint a handshaped, one-of-a-kind surfboard during Rocksta within a display of ArtCo Surf’s clothing line, skateboards, and cruisers. Bands scheduled for performances on the rooftop Moonstone Lounge are Sashamon, The B Foundation and The Dirty Heads. La Isla Coutour will present swimwear fashions on a catwalk in 10-15 minute intervals throughout the event. Other art exhibits and a silent auction will round out the event, with proceeds going to The Land of Plenty (www.thelandofplenty.org). For more information on Rocksta, contact Line Up Magazine at 910-509-0572. For more information on ArtCo Surf, visit www.artcosurf.com.

About Clark Hipolito: Born in 1970 in Connecticut, Clark Hipolito grew up in southern New Jersey. Always interested in art and design, he attended Seton Hall University where he studied both design and business administration. During those years, he worked as a freelance artist and completed several design internships. After graduating, he began working at MTV networks in New York where he acquired a broader scope of art and design talents. In 1994, he moved to Raleigh, NC, and founded The Art Company, Inc., an interdisciplinary firm specializing in various phases of interior design including original murals and specialty finishes. His mural commissions range from residential to major commercial applications, including a large mural at the RBC Center in Raleigh for the Carolina Hurricane’s hockey team. His fine art has appeared on television shows such as HBO’s “Sex & The City” and Warner Brother’s “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill.” Clark’s collection of original hand-painted, wood-grain surfboards have been featured in gallery exhibitions and numerous magazines and on-line journals, including in Waterfront Homes & Design, the Raleigh News & Observer, Line Up, NC Signature, Eastern Surf News, The Independent Weekly, and GlobalSurf.com. In 2007, he launched Artco Surf with friend and fellow artist Tony Ramsi to add original photography on signed, limited-edition surfboards to their offerings. The new company also includes limited-edition skateboards, beach cruisers, and an apparel line.

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