Adler\Smith Gallery in Santa Monica is considered a cultural hub for surf, skate and music-driven art, thanks to the hard work and stellar reputation of Charles Adler, its co-owner. Adler had been an illustrator for advertising firms, an art director for Quiksilver and a curator for art exhibitions like the South Bay Film, Art and Music Festival when he crossed paths with Mark Smith, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam’s manager, and his wife, Laurie — they are the Smith in the gallery’s name.
In the three years since the gallery opened, they have melded visual art with skate and surf history in a string of exhibitions, including “Collaboration: Tom Blake + Outerknown” and Stacy Peralta’s “The Joy of Decay.” Last weekend, “Dogtown: 50 Years of Fun” opened, marking the 50th anniversary of Dogtown Skateboards.
According to the gallery’s Instagram, “It’s a celebration of one of the most influential movements in modern skate culture. Born out of the raw, creative energy of 1970s Venice and Santa Monica, Dogtown redefined what skateboarding could be: fast, aggressive, expressive, and deeply rooted in surf style and street culture.” . . .
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Jessica Koslow 