Sustainable Surf Craft

Kevin Cunningham, a surfboard-shaper based in Rhode Island, has embarked on a project to create a series of boards from trash he finds washed up on the beach. Over the years the surf industry has dipped it’s toes into sustainable board design but this project is downright audacious. Drift wood and plastic will become the skin and ropes; fishing nets will act to strengthen the board; and plastics (bags and sheets) will be pressed and formed into fins. The boards will be both art and functional water craft. Initially they will be shown in galleries around the country . . . hopefully after they have been put through the paces in the ocean.

With degrees in architecture and fine art from The Rhode Island School of Design and a track record for creating beautiful and functional boards under his Spirare Surfboard label it’s a good bet Kevin will succeed in creating a truly unique and beautiful line of recycled surfboards, but first he’ll need the funds. To get the project off the ground he’s raising money through Kickstarter. For those unfamiliar with Kickstarter it’s a website that helps raise money for creative ideas through small donations from people like you and me. You can give as little as five dollars and as much as $2,000. Combining so many of the ideas I hold dear: surfing, sustainability and art, this is a project I was happy to help fund. If it sounds like something you’re interested in as well, head over to the Spirare Sustainable Surf Craft project page and give a little.

What do you think?