In 2005, John McCambridge opened Mollusk in San Francisco as a tiny surf shop with a small backroom gallery, and hired local surfer and artist Serena Mitnik-Miller to work one day a week. Three years later, Mollusk has locations in Venice Beach and Brooklyn, and Mitnik-Miller is the gallery director and den mother for a like-minded group of artists known as the Mollusk Family. "The surf shop artists represent a wide variety of characters," Mitnik-Miller says. "A lot of them are connected through surfing, and even when their work isn't directly about it, there's an underlying theme of life in and around the ocean." On February 6, Mollusk opened a show at Gallery Space at Space 15 Twenty, featuring the work of Thomas Campbell, Jeff Canham, Alex Kopps and Todd St. John, amongst many others. "The 'Family' represents a group of artists who have been active in the shop since it opened," Mitnik-Miller says. "If they're creating T-shirt designs, participating in art shows, or just lurking on the couch, everyone brings something unique to the shop. The show at Space 15 Twenty is just a highlight of what's being created within it." Here, Mitnik-Miller takes us inside the show and its opening night.
Click a photo to view
Nathaniel Russell working on his window installations.
From the Mollusk Family Poster Show: Works by Nat Russell, Jay Nelson, Thomas Campbell, John McCambridge, Jeff Canham and Rachel Kaye.
The Mollusk Logo painted by Nathaniel Russell.
Old photographs and surfboards from Kirk Putnam's garage.
The crowd opening night.
Skateboards (from front to back): Solitary Arts Pocket Horn graphic by Geoff McFetridge; Two Birds Fly re-purposed skate hand drawn by Serena Mitnik-Miller; Solitary Arts Piano Pinner graphic by Geoff McFetridge; Two Birds Fly re-purposed skate hand drawn by Mason St. Peter; Solitary Arts Big Red graphic by Geoff McFetridge.
The gallery entrance.
Mollusk, boards and books.
Sweety Baby (window display) by Nathaniel Russell.
From the Mollusk Family Poster Show: Works by Christopher Gentile, Kyle Field, Serena Mitnik-Miller, Todd St. John, Alex Kopps, and Geoff McFetridge.
Blocks by Serena Mitnik-Miller.
More people at opening night.
Fifteen hulls from Kirk Putnam's collection—each of the boards tell a story, many can no longer be ridden because they have been broken or damaged. The ones with wax he still rides, and Kirk has influenced shapers such as Brian Hilbers of Fineline, Greg Liddle and Marc Andreini.
Nathaniel Russell
The Hand Of Now (window display) by Nathaniel Russell
Nathaniel Russell hard at work.
Owner John McCambridge talks to Tyler Manson at the opening.
Honda Spree, Study in Temporary Autonomy by Jay Nelson
