{"id":316925,"date":"2021-07-13T11:11:12","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T11:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nocomplynetwork.com\/?page_id=316925"},"modified":"2023-06-28T16:16:52","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T16:16:52","slug":"mia-gurary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nocomplynetwork.com\/mia-gurary\/","title":{"rendered":"Mia Gurary"},"content":{"rendered":"

@c.e.foulkes<\/a><\/p>\n

Mia Gurary is a skateboarder and artist who runs Slacker. Through her creative brand she’s experimented with different forms of art, produce work in several mediums and made tighter connections with her crew and the collective of creatives she’s met along the way.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

As soon as we noticed that her approach to skating and art had a distinct style we had to get to know more about her and her brand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although her brand is called Slacker her rate of creative productivity is quite the opposite. Not only does she run a brand and skate she’s involved in various London based skate community projects and on top of that has loads of intriguing perspectives and plans for it all.<\/b><\/p>\n

So we caught up with her to find out her thoughts on skateboarding, art, design, Slacker creative collaborations with her crew, influences and inspirations, getting on Tranquil Skateboards, Mark Rollinson, Adam Aulqui, shredding Southbank, Deptford and Moscow, her role in a new Canada Water Skate Spot regeneration scheme, future plans and her favourite skaters, artists, styles, videos, photos and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Read the Mia Gurary Interview below to find out out yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo by @lola.pani \/<\/a>Pani Paul<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your full name?<\/h1>\n

Mia Gurary\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Where did you grow up and where do you live now?<\/h1>\n

So I was actually born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in the countryside there. <\/span><\/p>\n

My family moved around a lot and I ended up living in Moscow, Russia for five years before I moved to London to study at university in 2017.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Right. So, how did you start skateboarding?<\/h1>\n

I used to sit and watch people skate at the local park growing up. I always thought it looked cool. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then when I was about 13, my friend Olga and I bought boards in Moscow and tried to learn to skate in secret near my house. <\/span><\/p>\n

But w<\/span>e felt too embarrassed and stopped. I was able to cruise then but never properly skated.<\/span><\/p>\n

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So when did you really start taking skateboarding more seriously?<\/h1>\n

It wasn\u2019t till I was 18, when I was in London and I was going to university that I found myself actually really getting into skating. <\/span><\/p>\n

I was at Cantelowes Skate park in North London with my friend Remi and my boyfriend at the time, we started joking that I was there as a “pute du parc” – which is French for a park hoe, but as soon as that joke became a thing I was like \u201chey you know what? Fuck that! I’m going to get a skateboard”!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What was your first board?<\/h1>\n

So we went to Slam City Skates and it was there that I got my first board. It was a 7.8 Krooked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Who were you skating with at the time?<\/h1>\n

I was skating with my friends Remi and Joost and then we met another friend Aiwa – Lava La Rue, one day at Cantelowes. <\/span><\/p>\n

They invited me over for lunch the next day and we skated together that whole summer and also <\/span>with our friends Yolanda, River, and Madi. <\/span>We had a super creative crew and we had so much fun getting to know each other through skating and going on different creative adventures. <\/span><\/p>\n

I went to Moscow later that summer and was skating more with my Russian homies; Max, Vova, and Masha. That\u2019s actually when I first fucked my knee, six months into skating.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mia next to her artwork – ‘Quarantine City’<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Okay. What kinds of art do you make?<\/h1>\n

I do all sorts of things. I make paintings, I write, I screenprint and paint on clothes.<\/span><\/p>\n

I film for Map Studio Caf\u00e9 and also work as a photographer. <\/span><\/p>\n

I kind of dabble in everything and then combine bits of everything in my work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is Slacker City?<\/h1>\n

Slacker<\/a>\u00a0is a brand but it’s a kind of creative collective. I started it when I first injured my knee in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t skate so I was more painting on clothes and one day my homie said \u201cyo…you should sell this\u201d so I made more and advertised it all on my art page.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now it’s run by myself, Merryn Garner<\/a>, and Yolanda<\/a> but I encourage my homies to get involved so the people organising and contributing is always changing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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@slacker.city<\/a><\/p>\n

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Why did you choose to call it Slacker?<\/h1>\n

I watched the film \u201cSlacker\u201d by Richard Linklater and that\u2019s when the name Slacker City became a thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was then asked to do a pop-up by my musician friends Skinnyville, Cale and Zander, at Map Studio Caf\u00e9 which is where I got the idea to host my own events. <\/span><\/p>\n

We did an event at Map a few months later where Lava, Bone Slim, Bebeluna, and Skinnyville all performed.<\/span><\/p>\n

I designed and made clothing and two-piece outfits for all of the performers and also sold my work at the event. <\/span><\/p>\n

We turned the rest of the space into an exhibition where friends put up their paintings, photography, poetry, clothes, and art. It was honestly amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That’s great. So what is the concept behind Slacker?<\/h1>\n

The ethos is all about uniting creatives and \u201cslacking\u201d societally but also I guess inverting that meaning, politically. <\/span><\/p>\n

Society is programmed to make us feel like our creative dreams and endeavours are futile and wont get us anywhere, but I want Slacker to be a space that says \u201cHey you have so much potential, let\u2019s turn it into something, you\u2019re welcome here and all our resources are yours\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

Because I see so many creative people who just don\u2019t have the confidence or motivation to really put themselves out there and make a living off what they enjoy doing and it\u2019s the saddest thing. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s given myself and a lot of people I\u2019ve met on my journey a feeling of purpose and I kind of just want to share that with everyone who gets involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Right. So do you create all of the designs and artwork?<\/h1>\n

No. Almost everything is a collaboration. <\/span><\/p>\n

Luke Vincent, Aiwa Laurel, and Jasmine Darlington have done a lot of filming and editing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elif Gonen, Rose Meggle, and Natalia Bjerke have done a lot of the photography.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remi Sayers has designed countless logos and backdrops. <\/span>Merryn Garner recently made her own slacker collection.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0I\u2019ve also worked with Dorothy Dee, Mia Tiomosoli, Rainer Pits, Alisa Paikina, Bebe Luna, Bone Slim, Remi Sayers, Joost Janssens, Lewis Bell, and Lou Salasca on different designs and projects. <\/span>I do a little bit of all of those things too.<\/span><\/p>\n

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That’s cool. So where can people purchase Slacker clothing?<\/h1>\n

When SB Skateshop<\/a> lands in Waterloo then Slacker will have a permanent home there. <\/span><\/p>\n

Right now you can get it at Cheap Hotel Skate Shop in Peckham or on our Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Do you have any upcoming plans with Slacker?<\/h1>\n

\u00a0We\u2019re working on new ideas and are organising some projects and events right now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that the pandemic is over Slacker is going to return to that original idea of recurring mini-festivals and events to promote and inspire creatives. <\/span><\/p>\n

Over Lockdown Slacker became more of a skate brand. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now we are focused mostly on making T-shirts and hoodies, using art and photography from the creative people around us and it was briefly sold at the SB Skateshop pop-up. <\/span><\/p>\n

I guess it\u2019s a space and a platform and a creative movement all at the same time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Where are you skating most at the moment and who with?<\/h1>\n

\u00a0I\u2019ve been skating mostly at Queens Road, Mile End and Southbank but also quite a few other spots lately, filming and shooting with different homies.<\/span><\/p>\n

I mostly skate with Merryn and Yolanda, they\u2019re my best friends and my main crew, but I also skate with a lot of other people. <\/span><\/p>\n

My SB crew is Merryn, Rose, Ryan, Ainsley, James, Tommy, and Sadaaq. <\/span><\/p>\n

I have homies at every spot I go to so it\u2019s hard to name everyone. <\/span>I often just go places on my own and skate with whoever is there.<\/p>\n

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What tricks have you learned most recently?<\/h1>\n

I recently finally got Nollie Heels, Nollie Frontside Bigspins and Switch Backside 180\u2019s. <\/span>I\u2019ve learned so many tricks this year.<\/p>\n

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What creatives in skateboarding do you look up to and why?<\/h1>\n

Pia who runs Loutre.co<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>She makes the best pants I\u2019ve ever skated completely out of sustainable materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s also designed a pint pocket that perfectly fits my pints of Stella. I fucking love what she does. She collabs with a lot of other creatives and has made some really unique jackets and trousers out of curtains and has worked with a lot of artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

I look up to Liisa Chisholm<\/a>, a South London based skater and artist who just oozes positivity and good vibes. <\/span><\/p>\n

I also really like what the Always Do What You Should Do<\/a> guys are doing. I love their designs and the overall positive message of their brand is so sick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to more well known creatives in skateboarding though I guess the first name that jumps into my mind is Spike Jonze. <\/span><\/p>\n

From working as a photographer for Transworld, filming Video Days and founding Girl.<\/span> Then shooting music videos with artists like The Beastie Boys, Weezer, Daft Punk and Kanye to then <\/span>directing Being John Malkovich, Where The Wild Things Are and Her. <\/span>His journey has been so sick, he\u2019s been a huge inspiration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His story really embodies how amazing skateboarding is as a creative culture and how infinite the possibilities are within it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your favourite thing about skating flat?<\/h1>\n

How endless the learning process is for me. I love a challenge and I am pretty good at deciding I want something and getting it. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a really satisfying feeling and I love how many different tricks you can do with the board and how creative it can get.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mia, Switch Barrier Wallie, Southbank: Shot by @c.e.foulkes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your favourite thing to skate at Southbank?<\/h1>\n

I really don\u2019t know, it depends on how I\u2019m feeling. <\/span>I really like the ledge, it\u2019s really fun to Noseslide. <\/span><\/p>\n

I think my favourite thing about Southbank in general is how fast paced it is as a spot. When I go there I block everything else out and just really send it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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@c.e.foulkes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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How did you get on to Tranquil Skateboards?<\/h1>\n

I skated Folkestone Gardens Skate Park in Deptford a lot during the pandemic because ‘Deppy’ was one of the only parks that wasn’t being policed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Mark Rollinson<\/a> and Adam Aulaqi<\/a> who run Tranquil<\/a> were there and we skated together and they really supported my progress. <\/span><\/p>\n

A few months ago they reached out and asked if I wanted boards from them and if I wanted to skate for them and I said Hell yeah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What\u2019s your favourite thing about skating for Tranquil?<\/h1>\n

The guys are so down to earth and a part of the local South East London community. They’re also amazing skaters. <\/span><\/p>\n

They\u2019re both so technical on their boards and I get so inspired watching them skate and learning from them. <\/span><\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t gotten to properly skate with them yet and I guess since I\u2019m injured it\u2019ll be a while but I\u2019m stoked to be repping their brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mia, Queens Road: Shot by @fulltimeliability<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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You skate at Canada Water a lot, why do you like that spot?<\/h1>\n

I first skated at Canada Water with Aiwa and the girls I started with so I had most of my first skate memories there. I learned so many of my tricks there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve lived next to it for two years and it\u2019s become my local spot. I don\u2019t skate it that often anymore but it\u2019s a pretty important spot to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I saw your working on a new Canada Water skate spot regeneration scheme, what’s it about and how did you become a part of it?<\/h1>\n

Basically, Skateboard GB and British Land reached out asking Bedir Bakar, Adam and I to help them to position these massive planters at the spot. <\/span><\/p>\n

This was to make it so that they get in the way of skaters less but since we were meeting with the suits we thought we\u2019d try and get something out of it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then they also mentioned they may be potentially giving the spot away to various vendors and markets and taking it away.<\/span>So it was then we decided we had to work with them to save the spot. <\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve suggested a semi permanent skate plaza project with skateable sculptures and an exhibition, and they seem on board. <\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve still got a lot of things to discuss before it really gets moving properly though.<\/span><\/p>\n

For now the plan is to keep meeting with them and discussing terms and negotiating. We\u2019ve even gone as far as to suggest a curfew as a compromise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Canada Water: Shot by @c.e.foulkes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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How can other skaters help to get involved?<\/h1>\n

For now there\u2019s not much you can do unless you have ideas or useful presentations and statistics on the benefits of skateable sculptures. <\/span><\/p>\n

We used the Malmo and Bordeaux skate projects in our presentation but yeah if anyone out there has any ideas don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Are you working on any new projects you want to mention?<\/h1>\n

My homie Jonty has a crazy sick wood work studio and we recently built a ledge there.<\/span><\/p>\n

So it reminded me that when we moved another ledge from Queens Road to Canada Water, during Lockdown, although it lasted a few days before getting taken away by the police, those few days were so amazing.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone came down from everywhere and had the best time regardless of how short it lasted. <\/span>So I\u2019ve actually started working on a transient ledge project. <\/span><\/p>\n

We’re planning on building a ledge every two to three weeks and dropping it off at random spots around the city and then announcing it to people at random like \u201chey there\u2019s a ledge at \u2026\u2026 go enjoy it\u201d and then just keep on building them from there. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure some will be taken right away but I\u2019m going to paint them and make them look nice so there’s a chance that maybe some places in central will be like oh hey this is actually kinda cool. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be a fun experiment and project to to explore while I’m injured I guess.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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For sure. So do you have any advice for girls who want to skate?<\/h1>\n

I guess try your best to not give a shit what people think. <\/span>I know that\u2019s easier said than done but most people really don\u2019t care and aren\u2019t judging you. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wear whatever you want, skate however you want, do whatever you want, you\u2019re amazing just for being out here doing it. <\/span><\/p>\n

Just have fun, and learn from the people around you, the community is so welcoming.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Who are the women in skating that you look up to?<\/h1>\n

Alexis Sablone<\/a>. I think I\u2019ve watched her last part like 100 times. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always thought Alexis was the sickest. Graduating from MIT and working as an architect while also skating for The United States? What the Fuck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breana Geering<\/a> has the illest style and vibe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also Cher Strauberry<\/a> has insane style and is a massive inspiration, infinite respect for what she\u2019s done for skateboarding.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What skate videos are you watching right now?<\/h1>\n

Going Nowhere<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00e9S Terminal 001<\/span><\/p>\n

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