Stage 3 Research: Glen E. Friedman.

"Skateboarder Magazine at it's peak had a million readers, and we started covering some of these punk bands, and people around the country, who thought they were buying a skateboarding magazine, all of a sudden were being infused with another culture."

My research for both this blog and my dissertation have led me into studying Glen E. Friedman's practice. An American photographer (b. 1962), well established in both underground and popular skate and street culture, known for his groundbreaking photography of the infamous 'Z-Boys' skate/surf crew in the late 1960s and 70s, as well as his documentation and production of the fast-emerging hardcore punk scene in the 80s.

I'm inspired by his strong work ethic, something heavily present in his practice. Encapsulating the 'D.I.Y' approach, artistic drive and the rebellious ethos present in underground subcultures. Interlinking and highlighting the strong connections produced through photography; a combination of documentation and creative expression. An attitude of low-cost and high effort production, drive and energy that further fuels subcultures surrounding one another. The creative "crock-pot", storing and recycling information, the urge to create and discover.

"I called record stores. I called record distributors. I delivered the boxes myself to the record stores. People nowadays talk about D.I.Y (do it yourself). Do it yourself was the only way to do it! We didn't have a choice. You didn't put a label on it: 'Ooh I'm gonna do this D.I.Y!' Guess what? If you didn't do it D.I.Y it wasn't done."