I've always found photography depicting skateboard culture very compelling, and one of my main sources of inspiration. I don't know what it is about it, but it always evokes in me a certain sense of rawness and truth in the way the sport is documented, including the lives of those around it.

This Friday June 27th, STUDIO Gallery presents the work of Patrick O'Dell.

Patrick O'Dell is a New York-based photographer who is currently the photo editor for Vice Magazine. For quite some time now Patrick has been documenting skaters in an intimate way - their jumps and falls, their fun times and awkward times. There is certain beauty I've always loved in his candid portrayal of those who he comes across, making the viewer feel like they're one of the gang.

Epicly Later'd is Patrick O'Dell's blog, where he expresses his day-to-day experiences. These days, blogs are shaping a new era in photography, dictating new forms of expressions available to the masses. So to further explore this idea, STUDIO Gallery will transform itself into a physical blog, where the exhibit will get updated as it goes with new work of the photographer as he updates his own (virtual) blog. I think it will be an interesting experiment.

To All My Friends: Photographs by Patrick O'Dell
Opening Reception:
Studio Gallery
294 College st., 2nd Floor
8pm - 11pm
June 27th

Take a look at one of the episodes from Epicly Later'd, his VICE TV show, which was inspired by his photo blog.

Photos by Patrick O'Dell