2.12.09 - Matix signing at Hennessy+Ingalls

Following The Binges set at Amoeba, we went across the street to Hennessy+Ingalls to see if the Matix crew had arrived. The signing table appeared vacant, but the clerks informed us that the guys were milling around incognito and that if I bought a book, the brand's marketing manager would take me around to them. To be honest, the book's $50 price tag wasn't in my budget, but I kinda knew Lori and thought it might be cool to meet some of the Matix dudes. (Getting a free T-shirt with Marc Johnson art on the front didn't hurt.)


It was odd but actually fitting that the skaters didn't show up while the photographers did. Some things never change. Here's Lori with Anthony Acosta, who drew a Canon AT-1 on his page. He has the dubious honor of being the only photographer to have his name misspelled on his section's title page. He had the PMA, though, as you expect from a member of the In4mation army.


Mike Gomez, a Matix "insider," turned out to be a GR shop regular. He often spends Sunday afternoons at our Sawtelle shops. I think most of our customers have interesting gigs and accomplishments that we'll never know about. Now we know some of his. See the camera? My book was used as a prop in clips for Fuel TV's coverage of the event.


I recognized Giovanni Reda's name from skate shot credits that we've run in recent issues, listed some of them, and he said, "I did all of those. And don't forget Jaime Reyes." Damn, that was way back in issue 12! I'm impressed and flattered that he remembers us. Giovanni has all of those issues on file, and offered to help us out in the future. A very cool guy.


Colin Kennedy drew some tangrams on his page. The book has a DVD with the Matix tangrams animations that he developed. (Look them up on YouTube.)


Outside, I met Paul Park, who came up with a bunch of the Matix skaters and contributed anti-war photos to the book, which is centered on skating but is really about progress, as billed. Paul is super nice guy and longtime GR reader that I plan on keeping in touch with.


Okay, I did see one pro skater. Hanging out with Paul was Chocolate/DVS rider Daniel Castillo. I've been bumping into him now and then since our interview that ran in GR56. I introduced the Culver City local to Eloise, who was up way past her bedtime and was ready to bail. We told Daniel to say what's up to Daewon at the afterparty, and went home to look at the gorgeous book. A review will follow...