The whimsical and surreal works of artist Drew Brophy will visit the Ocean Beach Pier on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., as part of a tour of beaches and skate parks along the California coast. The free Surf Art Tour is sponsored by Togo’s, a sandwich shop franchise with roots in surf culture.
“This event is an opportunity to promote Drew Brophy’s art work and help bring an element of surf culture to the beach,” said Barbara Caruso, public relations representative for the event. “And for people who wouldn’t ordinarily be exposed to that kind of art, the tour allows the art to come to them at the beach.”
Brophy’s prolific original art work “” he averages up to 100 new pieces a year and has been producing artwork for almost 20 years “” appears on surfboards, T-shirts, greeting cards, beach towels, fabrics, tattoos, skim boards and skateboards.
“As a kid, I loved surfing and the beach,” Drew Brophy said. “I always painted my own surfboards. Overtime, people began asking me to paint their surfboards. Then companies started asking me to paint surfboards and design shirts, towels, etcetera. I fell into a groove with the surf industry.”
He continues to travel around the world and surfs. He brings back those experiences and is able to convert them into art.
“I enjoy traveling to experience nature and see different beaches and oceans,” added Brophy, whose works are greatly inspired by nature. “It’s hard to escape the noise and visual pollution of people, cars and helicopters. It’s important to realize that there are still places that are not like that.”
Brophy said he hopes that his art will encourage art-loving kids to pursue their dreams.
“I want kids to know that art is a viable career and that artists are important people,” Brophy added.
In addition to a Volkswagen Vanagon outfitted with Brophy’s work, guests will have a chance to test out a surfboard made by shaper Barry Vandermeulen.
“There will also be a surf wedge that people can borrow and test out on the water,” added Caruso. “It is a vest that has a wedge piece on the chest so that it helps keep backs straighter and more upright when surfers paddle out to the ocean.”
Surf art enthusiasts can also sample Togo’s newest creation: the Bocana Beef sandwich, named after a famous estuary surf break near San Jose Del Cabo in Mexico.
For more information about Togo’s or the Togo’s Surf Art Tour, visit www.togosstartedbysurfers.com.