Topeka's Area to Skate and Create

By Cameron Manthe

In June of 2017, ArtsConnect paired up with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation to transform Rip-On Skate Park into a large scale mural project. Since the introduction of this project the structures of the park have blossomed with color and graffiti, a complete departure from the earlier years of the facility. Previously, any paintings would be covered entirely in grey paint, leaving the park a mismatched patchwork of tones. Today it is mostly covered in all sorts of different styles and types of art.

ArtsConnect is a Topeka based organization dedicated to promoting a sense of community through art and spreading the understanding of how it can improve our daily lives. They are the masterminds behind the locally famous Brown V. Board Mural wall and many others as part of the Topeka Mural Project. 

Fresh Mural at Rip-On in 2017
Photo from ArtsConnect
Artist Unknown

They also organize the First Friday Artwalk, primarily hosted in North Topeka, an area known as NOTO, but not limited to. If you have never attended a First Friday I highly recommend going and experiencing it. Topeka has a growing and diverse art scene that is worthy of checking out.

Through the mural project mentioned above, many local artists were invited to come paint at the park to help promote communication between the parks and recreation department and skaters. Not only was this event for invited artists, but for the community as well. 

I was in attendance for this event as I had arrived with intentions of skating, not being aware of the event. Instead, I was generously allowed to use some peoples paints to help decorate the park. This was a great experience that can still be had today. 

To date, many new works show up seemingly overnight, and as far as I am aware you are still allowed to paint at this park. The original murals were very big pieces and many can be seen still today, or traces of what is left of them.

Original Mural from Project Photo from ArtsConnect Artist Unknown

Mural Barely Visible Due to Graffiti Today Photo by Cameron Manthe

Censored Example of Bad Graffiti at Rip-On
Photo by Cameron Manthe

Due to Rip-On still being painted in today, it has amassed tons of amateur graffiti. I am in no way saying that amateur art is not appreciated, as I and many others would love to see more art there. However, this has led to the park having some distasteful phrases and words painted over time. Please do not be one of the people who does this as it may result in the city not allowing us to paint anymore and promotes the park and its users to the public in negative light.

All in all, if you are looking for a huge, safe place to do art look no further. If you do decide to come paint please try and be respectful of what you are painting over as many new pieces are in memory of park locals we have unfortunately lost.

Be respectful of skaters using the park as well and try to stay out of the way, or come back when it is not busy; after all it is a skate park meant to be used as such. I look forward to the future of art and skateboarding becoming more close knit in my local community, and new murals to admire during a session.

Sources:

ArtsConnect - Information and Photos

https://artstopeka.org/

Other Photos By Cameron Manthe