Smells Like Teen Spirit — Adolescent Artists Create New Reebok x Artists For Humanity Collection
There’s no denying that art is a powerful outlet for self-expression — whether wielding a paint brush, deftly maneuvering a can of aerosol paint, massaging a mound of clay and shaping it into a sculpture, examining the world through a camera lens, toying with notions of light and shadows using a pencil and sketch pad, or using technology to create digital masterpieces, the world of visual arts provides a means through which to unleash one’s creative energy, release emotions weighing heavy on our hearts, explore ideas, and expand one’s consciousness. The Boston-based non-profit Artists for Humanity (AFH) is built on this very notion of art being an empowering force for young people. The organization offers under-privileged teens mentorships and access to studios where they can explore their artistic potential. It also, in turn, provides low-income teens with opportunities to create commissioned works of art for major clients such as Bank of America and Ipsen Bioscience— and get paid for it, thereby supporting a model of creative entrepreneurship. Most recently, Artists for Humanity collaborated with Reebok, offering a group talented teens the opportunity to design their own limited-edition sneakers.
The Reebok x Artists for Humanity collection, then, consists of three limited-edition designs. Pictured below is one of the three designs, a unique take on Reebok’s Workout Plus designed by Thornton “Sparticus” Nguyen. Featuring misty bursts of red, orange, and pink along the sides, the sneaker was inspired by the idea of a rocket ship launching and setting off to explore the often mysterious and turbulent world of adolescence. The colors, then, are meant to represent the “struggle clouds” emitted during the fiery launch, and the deep navy sole touches upon the enigmatic elements of outer space.
Next, below, you’ll find pictures of a fun take on the Reebok 80s Club C tennis sneaker designed by Jonathan “Pineapple” Tejeda and Kathleen “Kat” Canola. The history buffs found inspiration for their design in 11th century England: their red, blue, and yellow color palette was inspired by William the Conqueror’s coat of arms, which consisted of a red flag with two yellow lions featuring sharp blue claws and tongues. The uppers, then, include hand-painted yellow sections (particularly along the toe area), and the Reebok labels have been reinvented to incorporate yellow lettering, while the soles feature a blue splatter paint effect, and the laces are adorned with red flag-shaped accessories. The sneaker’s blue-and-white lining, meanwhile, features a Tudor rose motif. To complete the design, the year “1066” was stamped on the heel of the sneakers as a nod to the Battle of Hastings, when William the Conqueror, then the Duke of Normandy, defeated an English Army and hence claimed the throne, officially beginning the Norman conquest of England.
Lastly, there’s Jonathan Vergara’s spin on the Reebok Classic Leather sneaker. The design nods to the two most important geographical locations in Reebok’s history: Bolton in Northwest England, where the brand was born, and Canton in Massachusetts, where the company is now based. To represent the vast Atlantic ocean separating England and the United States, Vergara hand-painted the uppers in deep blue shades, making sure to capture the waters’ ripples and waves, as well as the rays of sunlight being reflected off its surface. Subtle contour lines on the heel and toe, meanwhile, represent the two continents, while ripples adorn the tongue in keeping with the ocean theme. The “1405” number on each shoe represents the height of Winter Hill, Bolton’s highest peak (in feet, of course), while the “6829” digit embossed on the heel alludes to the height of New England’s Mount Washington.
All three sneaker designs will be available at Reebok Classic retailers starting this Friday, April 7th.
