By Joyce Owen
Modus Apparel, an apparel company that features cutting-edge art influenced by the surf and skate culture, will present the Driptych Art Exhibit featuring Jeremy Lynch, a Walton County Artist of the Year finalist, Zach Blanford and Jeff Shultze.
Modus Apparel owners and surfers, Nick Gullo and Lynch, will sponsor the event which opens on Dec. 2 at SouthHaven in Santa Rosa Beach.
?Although Modus is an apparel company, that is only one aspect of the business ? ours is a life-style company that supports artists,? Gullo said.
The emphasis of the company is to provide a product that uses high quality materials and innovative designs, and embraces the lifestyle many of the artists enjoy ? surfi ng in the Gulf of Mexico or skating at a private skate ramp.
?Skating and surfing are art forms,? Gullo said. ?Each is an artistic expression. The devotion to artistic expression formed the inspiration for our company. Our goal was to create and cultivate a company committed to supporting the positive growth of artists, whether they are painters, skaters, musicians or surfers. To engage and give back, and in turn sustain the passion we feel for our art.?
As Lynch started the clothing company, there were skate and surf artists he wanted to promote. With the exhibit, he has created the opportunity to show some of these artists? work.
?The skate board and street art culture is a big thing,? Lynch said. ?Some of this art sells for thousands of dollars. It is especially being collected by Hollywood stars. It?s cool for me to sponsor these guys artistically.?
By sponsoring the exhibit in South Walton, Modus Apparel brings a new style of art into the community, Lynch said.
?I?ve seen a newer style of art, but mainly there?s still beach portraits, purple fish and folk art,? Lynch said.
By offering his own style, Lynch believes other underground artists will find an outlet for their art.
The company respects the history that combined skating, surfi ng and underground art only available in small shops run by small companies. Rather than growing into a giant conglomerate, the owners of Modus encourage the support of the small businesses, suppliers and brands that have been an integral part of its development.
?We don?t want a storefront,? Gullo said. ?We want to put on events and stage promotions like the exhibit.?
The show includes a collaboration of the three artists on a four-panel painting. The artists will trace the drawings and begin the paintings prior to the opening, Gullo said. During the week of the exhibit they will complete the panels which will be auctioned on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. The proceeds will be donated to the local Surfrider Foundation?s Panhandle Chapter.
?This will give us the opportunity to give back to the surfers, skaters and artists in our community,? Lynch said.
Modus Apparel, an apparel company that features cutting-edge art influenced by the surf and skate culture, will present the Driptych Art Exhibit featuring Jeremy Lynch, a Walton County Artist of the Year finalist, Zach Blanford and Jeff Shultze.
Modus Apparel owners and surfers, Nick Gullo and Lynch, will sponsor the event which opens on Dec. 2 at SouthHaven in Santa Rosa Beach.
?Although Modus is an apparel company, that is only one aspect of the business ? ours is a life-style company that supports artists,? Gullo said.
The emphasis of the company is to provide a product that uses high quality materials and innovative designs, and embraces the lifestyle many of the artists enjoy ? surfi ng in the Gulf of Mexico or skating at a private skate ramp.
?Skating and surfing are art forms,? Gullo said. ?Each is an artistic expression. The devotion to artistic expression formed the inspiration for our company. Our goal was to create and cultivate a company committed to supporting the positive growth of artists, whether they are painters, skaters, musicians or surfers. To engage and give back, and in turn sustain the passion we feel for our art.?
As Lynch started the clothing company, there were skate and surf artists he wanted to promote. With the exhibit, he has created the opportunity to show some of these artists? work.
?The skate board and street art culture is a big thing,? Lynch said. ?Some of this art sells for thousands of dollars. It is especially being collected by Hollywood stars. It?s cool for me to sponsor these guys artistically.?
By sponsoring the exhibit in South Walton, Modus Apparel brings a new style of art into the community, Lynch said.
?I?ve seen a newer style of art, but mainly there?s still beach portraits, purple fish and folk art,? Lynch said.
By offering his own style, Lynch believes other underground artists will find an outlet for their art.
The company respects the history that combined skating, surfi ng and underground art only available in small shops run by small companies. Rather than growing into a giant conglomerate, the owners of Modus encourage the support of the small businesses, suppliers and brands that have been an integral part of its development.
?We don?t want a storefront,? Gullo said. ?We want to put on events and stage promotions like the exhibit.?
The show includes a collaboration of the three artists on a four-panel painting. The artists will trace the drawings and begin the paintings prior to the opening, Gullo said. During the week of the exhibit they will complete the panels which will be auctioned on Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. The proceeds will be donated to the local Surfrider Foundation?s Panhandle Chapter.
?This will give us the opportunity to give back to the surfers, skaters and artists in our community,? Lynch said.
