Surfing U.S.A.
Multitalented Australian surf pro Andrew Kidman's book tour rides into Ventura
By Mollie Vandor 01/10/2008
A native of Australia, Kidman has devoted his life to pursuing his passion for surfing while simultaneously capturing its culture via a variety of artistic endeavors. His first film, Litmus, has become a cult classic in the surf world, and his more recent movie, Glass Love, showcases the way a love of surfing connects different generations in the famous Curran and Purchase families.
Kidman's musical career is just as successful, and he has released soundtracks to his own films as well as a series of recordings with collaborators such as Neal Purchase Jr., Mark Sutherland and Paul Brewer. In the meantime, Kidman has been painting, writing and traveling - capturing the stories of the people who shape surf culture by building the boards, forming the fins and, of course, riding the waves. Now, Kidman has combined his creative pursuits into a new book, Ether, and he is heading to Ventura's own WetSand Surf Shop on Jan. 11 to show it off.
VCR: Tell me a little bit about Ether.
Andrew Kidman: It's a collection of works basically, like stuff from 1986 to 2007. It's just sort of photography and some art that I've made from a couple of films, and I've taken frames of the films and I've made art with them. And there are some paintings in the book, and there are about 60 pages of interviews with surfer shapers that I've photographed in the book. So you're coming across a photograph of, say, [Australian pro surfer and board shaper] Mark Richards and there's an interview with him later in the book that puts into context who he is.
What do you hope that people will take away from the book?
I hope they enjoy it. I was trying to show how rich the [surf] culture is. That's what I try to do with the photography. It's mainly based around the shapers and craftsman who work within surfing.
What was the most rewarding part of the creative process for you?
Just seeing these people that often aren't seen within the surfing world have a voice. These people are not surfing heroes; they're just pretty much the people behind the scenes. They're the craftsmen that make the boards or make the fins. But their experiences go into giving everyone the joy they have.
What do you find to be the most rewarding outlet for you and which of your many pursuits do you find to be the most challenging?
I sort of enjoy them all pretty much equally. They're all sort of part of the same thing. If you're working on something creative, it's all the same. I really enjoy the music a lot because you work with other people, and it doesn't just come to you to keep it all going. The photography is probably more of a solo thing that you do by yourself. You can't really rely on anyone else to do the photography. Honestly, I don't find the photography all that challenging. It's something I learned quite young, I was probably about 13. ‘Im just trying to get a photo that truly represents a person, which, if you spend time with the people, you will get.
Have you been surfing in Ventura County before?
Lots of times. It's good. Silver Strand is good. I have good friends around there, in Ventura and Rincon, and it's great. I took some beautiful sunset photos there one night when the surf was kind of small. I have spent a good bit of time in Ventura.
What are you working on now?
Signing books. [ Laughs. ] I don't really know. It's hard because we put a lot of work into getting this tour organized and getting the book finished. This is really the work part of it, when you're touring, traveling and setting up shows. You don't really have time to think at all. We have some new records that we've already recorded, but we haven't released them. I'm just trying to give people the attention they deserve on the tour.
Andrew Kidman's book tour stops at WetSand Surf Shop on Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. 446 E. Main St., Ventura. For more information on Kidman, visit www.litmus.com.au.
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