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Shaw Boyz photo essay, aedy miller

Back and forth, back and forth, Odie the mutt runs across the Shaw Skate Park at the corner of 11th St. and Rhode Island Avenue NW, leaping over angry, rebellious graffiti to catch a tennis ball. The blur of brown and white fur cuts through the empty playground of decorated concrete, wood, and metal.

“He loves it here,” his owner said.

A skateboarder named Chester poses for a portrait at the Shaw Skate Park. He sports a custom beanie and shirt from his clothing brand, Cherry Amour Apparel.
Another skateboarder, Chris, poses for a portrait in one of Chester’s shirts. His bright yellow top and big smile convey the joy hidden behind his attempt at a tough exterior.

The two pose together for one more portrait before taking to the playground and expanding their world of creativity beyond the fenced-in collection of ramps, rails, art, and other prompts.

Chris manuals a grind box, his neon board matching the graffiti below his wheels. Behind him and two fences stands a temporary construction trailer.

“It’s real a fun trick,” Chris shouts to Chester, pointing at the grind box.

Chester tries and bails. He tries again. Fails. He keeps trying, each time inching closer to either landing it or relying on his beanie to be the only thing between his skull and rapidly oncoming concrete. The former occurs, and he moves on, distracted by the prospect of trying another trick.

Chester collects his board after bailing on a different trick. A crane towers over him and the construction site just behind the fence of the park.
Fighting momentum and gravity, Chris lifts off from a box ramp.

Fighting momentum and gravity, Chris lifts off from a box ramp–again.

Red, white, black, blue, and gray graffiti adorns the back of a kicker ramp. Chris and the crane peek out from behind the artwork.
Chris flip tricks the kicker; Chester gazes from the background.

Rubble, pickup trucks, and construction machines loom in the distance as Chris skates past, preparing for another attempt at a trick.

No limits. Joy.
Chester nails a grind; Chris gazes from the background. More folks trickle into the park as the sun pierces the clouds, lighting the mid-day party about to take place.
Created By
aedy miller
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