The Bessell Warhol Project in Support of Janie's Fund

LIMITED EDITION TIM BESSELL ARTIST SERIES SURFBOARDS FROM THE BESSELL WARHOL PROJECT FOR JANIE’S FUND:

On May 2nd, at New York City's Lincoln Center David Geffen Hall Janie’s Fund debuted a quiver of surfboards from the Bessell Warhol Project featuring iconic artwork from master shaper Tim Bessell who has partnered with the Andy Warhol Foundation to produce a limited run showcasing Andy Warhol’s work.

Recently seen on Exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, and the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.  Bessell’s Surfboards are released in limited editions, handcrafted from scratch and made available only a few times each year.  Once the boards have sold out, there will be no further reproductions, ensuring the value of the surfboard is kept high, as they have now become highly desirable collectable items of art.   

HISTORY:

Bessell who has hand shaped more than 50,000 surfboards has a unique history and connection to how he partnered up with the Andy Warhol Foundation to produce the line: Back in the late 1960s, Warhol filmed his "San Diego Surf" movie just down the street from Bessell's La Jolla, Calif., home, in Southern California.  Bessell who only was 10 years old at the time was already surfing everyday and hardwired to the contemporary art scene through his artist mother.  During his stay in San Diego, Warhol bought a pintail and an asymmetrical tail from local surfboard builder Carl Ekstrom, who would later would become one of Bessell's mentors in the shaping room.

Warhol's visit left a big impression on young Bessell, who later studied art and architecture at San Diego State University.  Years later in the mid-'80s at a party in New York, Bessell had the opportunity to meet Warhol and share his cherished memories of the artist's visit to La Jolla and their shared connection to his shaping mentor, Ekstrom. It’s opened up his relationship with Warhol and the rest is history, three years ago the Artist Series was born.

The models selected by Bessell for Janie’s Fund and charity event on May 2nd, are 6’6” boards 1.) “Skull”, Swallow Tail (Size: 6' 6'' x 20'' x 2.5''), 2.) “Money Carbon”, Swallow Tail (Size: 6' 6'' x 20'' x 2.5''), 3.) “Brandon 4” Swallow Tail (Size: 6' 6'' x 20'' x 2.5'') 4.) “Carbon Marilyn - Turquoise” Swallow Tail (Size: 6' 6'' x 20'' x 2.5'') and 5.) “Brillo” Next Gen (Size: 5' 10'' x 20'' x 2.5'') with prices starting at $8,400 for these high-performance collectibles.