Author: vle

If you’re remotely interested in art and are somewhat news-savvy, you’ve probably heard of NFTs–namely the collage image created by Beeple that recently sold for an eye-boggling $69 million. Like many others, I was confused about what exactly an NFT is, and why they’re blowing up. Some artists have even hailed NFTs as the future of digital art. As someone who still doesn’t really know what Bitcoin is, I decided to investigate further. Here are my findings;

• NFT stands for non-fungible token, meaning that it cannot be traded or interchanged like traditional currency
• NFTs are unique digital assets, like gifs, videos, animations, or images that are bought and sold
• The digital tokens are like virtual certificates of ownership, and the information are stored on the blockchain, or a shared record that cannot be altered

NFT artwork provides new lucrative opportunities for artists who wish to share their art online. In some cases, artists can retain copyright over their work, even if NFT copies are sold to various buyers. But the main allure to buying an NFT is the exclusive ownership of a specific instance of the art.

However, some critics describe NFTs as pointless and a fad. Some say it has epitomized art as a money-making machine, not a creative endeavor. But the potential for digital art to disrupt the traditional art selling and auction model is large–perhaps lesser known artists can be compensated for their creative work, not only the rich and famous. No matter how you feel about digital art NFTs, the internet’s embrace of NFTs means that they’re here to stay.

Check out some noteworthy recent examples below:

• Beeple’s EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS
• Grimes’ Collection
• Lebron James Dunk Gif
• Nyan Cat

Skateboarder, model, musician, actress, community organizer–modern renaissance woman Briana King does it all. She’s known for making skateboarding more accessible to all, especially beginner female skaters. Her backstory is unique: she grew up in east LA, booked a one way ticket to Australia when she was 18, and was scouted as a model. After issues with her visa, she flew back to the States and settled in New York. She then started skateboarding and cultivating an empowering community of women and LGBTQ skaters. Notably, she runs display.only, which hosts girl skate sessions in large cities and posts educational skateboarding videos.

Skateboarding is notorious for dominated by young white men (some of whom who are misogynistic), and exclusive. For many young women or queer skaters, entering the skatepark or even just skating around is intimidating for the fear of judgment from others. Beginner skaters, especially girls, are often prone to hate comments and overall negativity from gatekeepers. While skateboarding is becoming much more diverse and welcoming than it was before, Briana King works to further promote inclusivity and enjoyment of skating for everyone. Through skateboarding meetups and even a nationwide tour, King has developed a large following of fans eager to skate. By encouraging young skaters to have fun and get back up, she promotes a supportive and growing community of womxn skaters.

To Briana King, skateboarding and community building is a lifestyle. In an interview with Jenkem Magazine, King explains that “I never had homies who I felt comfortable being myself around, so I was like, ‘I’m going to keep skating forever because this is where I feel the most comfortable, the most open, the most happy.’ So even if the meetups weren’t my job, or brought me income, this is my life and what showed me how I’m supposed to feel and what I was searching for my whole life.” During a global pandemic, hobbies like skateboarding have become even more important.

If you’re a skater or just interested in skateboarding, fashion, and inclusivity, follow Briana King here. Maybe even pick up a sweet Simpsons-inspired skateboard deck while you’re at it.