Hi everyone! Happy 2012! It's been a whirlwind of projects, events, trips, and overall life for me these past few months. I'm a strong believer in not only working hard, but playing hard, too. So, often times, I'm out and about on what I like to call a "workcation". The good, the bad, and the ugly. Gotta get it all done, right? So, anyway, I apologize if it seemed as if I slipped off the face of the earth. As many of you already know by now, Hawaii was a huge success as far as getting together the old and the new vanguard of the Wave Warriors. It was great! Though there were some people who plumb forgot about the get-together (Derek Ho and Gavin Beschen!) or were too sick to attend (Shane Beschen) or didn't even know they were invited (Dusty Payne), and others who, unfortunately, weren't on the North Shore to take part of it (Archy ...

[caption id="attachment_1375" align="alignnone" width="333" caption="Greyson and Christian Fletcher at Julian Schnabel's House."][/caption] I spent much of July in New York, and depending on who you've been talking to, I was there for a variety of reasons. The heat was, often times, agonizing and unbearable. But despite the exhaustion from that, I really enjoyed my time on the East Coast; from Montauk to Manhattan, I was hanging with the natives. First came Tripoli Gallery's presentation of "Flip Flops and Popsicles", where my artwork was featured. I had several pieces displayed there and it was a really good opportunity for me to expand my works in front of a broader audience. (http://www.tripoligallery.com/) Then came the Hamptons International Film Festival where my surf movies, "Savage Beast" and "Supernatural" were featured. Long-time family friend and ...

[caption id="attachment_1205" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Herbie Fletcher's "Wrecktangle" at the Waikiki Edition Hotel "][/caption] Herbie will be in Oahu this week to promote his "Wrecktangle" board sculpture that's being featured in the lobby of The Waikiki Edition. Coming from the mastermind of Ian Schrager, The Waikiki Edition is a new type of hotel - kind of like an entity of its own - that's being introduced by the Marriott International. In collaboration with interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg and landscape designer Deborah Nevins, the Waikiki Edition resides as its own sanctuary on the sand; smack dab near the beaches and Marina shopping districts in a coastal urban sprawl. Truly, a visiting surfer's paradise. When you walk into the lobby, the first thing that captures your eye is the wall-to-wall "Wrecktangle" pieced ...

Herbie, Dibi and Nathan are presently having their artwork displayed in New York as part of the "Swell" showcase. Check out the press release for more information: "Curated by Tim Nye and Jacqueline Miro. This survey of art inspired by surf and beach culture will open to the public on July 1st at the three locations in Chelsea and will include work by most members of the group of Venice Beach artists known as Light and Space and Finish Fetish. The show historically contextualizes beach culture and its poetic and freeing nature on the Beat Generation, Assemblage, Light and Space, Finish Fetish, and early Pop Art. One of the main axes of the show is the obvious yet sensual relationship between Shapers and the Finish Fetish movement of the 60's. As the show focuses on two cities, L.A. and New York, it attempts to place the Ocean and its proximity to both cities ...

[caption id="attachment_864" align="alignnone" width="401" caption="Herbie Fletcher. Photo by Art Brewer"][/caption] Herbie went on a boat trip to the Mentawai Islands this past fall. It was all-time. With a crew that consisted of Nathan Fletcher, Bruce Irons, John John Florence and Danny Fuller, how could it not be? And when Herbie came back to San Clemente, he came back in typical form: with lots of great tales of near-perfect surf and good times. He also took a bunch of photos for definitive proof of all of this. So stoked, so amped. Here Herbie takes us back to last October and how it all went down. Read it through and check out the pics while you're at it. To say the least, Herbie and the guys were going mental at the Mentawai Islands! This is Part ...