me and you and everyone we unofficially know

If there was ever an embodiment of a spirit animal in skateboarding it would undeniably be Mark Gonzales. Unofficially speaking, of course, because why would you expect to read anything about the mythical Gonz here? But that, my friend, is precisely where the blooming onion begins in our professional world of many layers. Let’s take a dip in the Outback deep fryer to unpack.

First of all—and perhaps for once—this isn’t about me, aka Sean. I’m just here to passably channel my partner Nick Halkias’s occupational moonlighting. But while I’m still relatively me for the moment, I should probably lay some preliminary pipe so you, the reader, have a better understanding of our slightly unorthodox skateboard operation.

If you’ve ever placed an order with us, you’re probably amused by the fact it ships out of Florida—yes, that Florida, the inflammatory appendix wang-dangling off the large Atlantic intestine of the United States. Now, if you’re wondering how the heck a company can feasibly if not economically get boards manufactured in Mexico, screen-printed in California, and then shipped clear across the amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties from sea to shining sea amid the worst of transportational fuel times, you'd have very good reason to do so because it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense… and yet somehow it does? Especially if you know the real estate lay of this beautiful American land.

Anyway, long and oddly patriotic tangent made short, we occupy unaffiliated time and space in the warehouse of the Boardr: a well known entity unto its own helmed by Ryan Clements and his team who are responsible for organizing everything from grass roots to global skateboarding events and managing a portfolio of top shelf professional skaters that just so happens to include the indisputable legend of all skateboard legends, Mark Gonzales.

Nick, who runs the day-to-day blow-by-blows of StrangeLove at a spare office room in the Boardr, has long been a respectful admirer and advocate of Mark’s artistic endeavors over the decades. Naturally so, Ryan enlisted his expertise and on-site presence to be the tip of the spear and a bit of the shaft behind UnofficialGonz.com, a new online source for unique Gonz products and ephemera. Just like that Nick had a new hat perched atop his StrangeLove hat! Apparently, though, Nick’s head is so big and his days are so long that he felt the need for yet another occupational hat to wear on top of those: Enter the Heritage online auction site.

If you’re unfamiliar, Heritage is a venerable auction house founded in 1976 specializing in antiquities and collectibles. Did I get that date from Wikipedia? Hell yes I did. That’s exactly where you can go, too, for any other trivial thing you wish to know about their institutional operation beyond the pertinent fact that they’re currently hosting an online auction of art and memorabilia gleaned directly from the studio spaces and storage units of the Gonz, as hand-picked and curated by Nick.

Remember that Thrasher cover of Mark where he’s skating in a pair of white pants with spray painted stars? Well, here’s your chance to own those! Or how about one of those wacky handmade racers made for the Krooked x Escapist Kansas City Racer event held in 2014?

If you’re one of those deep-pocketed hoarders of boards, provenance doesn’t get much better than original Vision Mark Gonzales “Color My Friends” (1988) and “Man and Woman” (1988) decks directly from the archive of the man himself. But if we are talking top of the pops, though, it has to be the original art to Mark’s interpretation of Jason Lee’s “Bowie” board graphic. Beyond the aforementioned artifacts there are a bevy of personal riders, production samples, hand-painted shoes, helmets, apparel, and basketballs, adidas oddities, and much, much more.

Be aware these assorted auctions close on Sunday, August 25, at 6pm CST, so best get onto the Heritage site now to root around in Mark’s virtual studio space and see what all is available to bid on. —Sean Cliver