We hang out with Michelle Pezel, the one-woman powerhouse behind Vancouver’s skate store come community hub and arts centre, Antisocial, as part of our global tour in search of stories for our Skateboarding Special Volume II, in collaboration with Levi’s Skateboarding,
Michelle opened Antisocial in 2002 at a low-point for skateboarding in Vancouver. A few other stores had closed their doors and Michelle realised there was nowhere that supported the culture of art and creativity that goes hand in hand with skateboarding. So she picked up a copy of Business for Dummies and together with co-founder Rick McCrank stepped in to fill a gaping whole in the city.
Michelle seems to find a whole load more hours in the day than the rest of us. Alongside meeting with the city council to advocate for more skateparks, jumping on her motorbike to go hiking and camping on her days off, jamming with her band and hitting art/music shows, Michelle has put in over a decade of hard work to make Antisocial something really special – and she still finds time to skate most evenings.
Antisocial hosts book launches, music shows and artists such as Ed Templeton and Todd Francis have exhibited at the store’s gallery space. But above all, it’s become a social centre for Vancouver’s skaters. “We want to hang out with everybody!” Michelle says.
In this video, directed and shot by Benny Zenga, Michelle shows us around the store, cycles us to some killer Vancouver skate spots (including a cheeky mini ramp in her backyard) and explains why there’ll never be enough hours in the day to do everything she wants to do.
You can find The Skateboarding Special at select skate stores around the world and a selection of stories and videos inspired by the issue will be published at huckmag.com over the next month.
Latest on Huck
This erotic zine dismantles LGBTQ+ respectability politics
Zine Scene — Created by Megan Wallace and Jack Rowe, PULP is a new print publication that embraces the diverse and messy, yet pleasurable multitudes that sex and desire can take.
Written by: Isaac Muk
As Tbilisi’s famed nightclubs reawaken, a murky future awaits
Spaces Between the Beats — Since Georgia’s ruling party suspended plans for EU accession, protests have continued in the capital, with nightclubs shutting in solidarity. Victor Swezey reported on their New Year’s Eve reopening, finding a mix of anxiety, catharsis and defiance.
Written by: Victor Swezey
Los Angeles is burning: Rick Castro on fleeing his home once again
Braver New World — In 2020, the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. Now, while preparing for its exhibition, he has had to leave once again, returning to the mountains.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Ghais Guevara: “Rap is a pinnacle of our culture”
What Made Me — In our new series, we ask artists and rebels about the forces and experiences that have shaped who they are. First up, Philadelphian rap experimentalist Ghais Guevara.
Written by: Ghais Guevara
Gaza Biennale comes to London in ICA protest
Art and action — The global project, which presents the work of over 60 Palestinian artists, will be on view outside the art institution in protest of an exhibition funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai
Ragnar Axelsson’s thawing vision of Arctic life
At the Edge of the World — For over four decades, the Icelandic photographer has been journeying to the tip of the earth and documenting its communities. A new exhibition dives into his archive.
Written by: Cyna Mirzai