Sneaker Museum Boston Display Pays Tribute to Shoe Culture, Art and Air Jordan's
BostonInno October 2012
Sneaker heads in Boston are lacing up their kicks to attend an event that pays homage to the world of unique shoe apparel and his “airness,” Michael Jordan.
Starting Wednesday, the “Sneaker Museum,” an exhibit that gives attendees a glimpse into the sneaker-collecting culture, lifestyle and the music and art that it inspires, will be on display at Revere Hotel’s Emerald Lounge.
Hosted by Future Boston Alliance’s ASSEMBLE! program, and curated by YES. OUI. SI., the “Sneaker Museum” will showcase the shoes owned “solely” by Rick Kosow, who has amassed a collection of Air Jordan’s since the inception of the brand in 1985.
“The Sneaker Museum aims to elevate the Air Jordan brand and sneaker as fine art and showcase the collection as a catalyst for culture,” according to event organizers.
The display will include collectables from Michael Jordan’s career and artistic work inspired by the Jordan legacy.
Sneaker enthusiasts like Oliver Mark, co-owner of Bodega, a high-end apparel and shoe retailer, said the museum is good for the growing shoe-collecting trend in the Hub, and the overall culture.
“Anything for the culture is always good. Hopefully it will be enough content to be able to communicate the story [of Jordan’s brand] and why it’s such an important thing,” said Mark. “Jordan is separate from Nike to a certain degree. To be able to show the significance of that would be important for kids on the come-up.”
Mark said the “Air Jordan” craze, where people spend hours in line to buy a newly released pair of shoes, is “so entwined with city culture and hip-hop.”
“Museums are always a good educational institution, so if it’s able to communicate the power of the design and the story of the brand, it will be successful,” he said of the museum exhibit. “It’s a specific fashion subculture and specific look that goes with the culture.”
Self-proclaimed sneaker addict and local hip-hop artist Nabo Rawk said Jordan's are popular based primarily on their designs and the fact that the basketball legend wore many of the early models during his career.
Rawk said a designer by the name of Tinker Hatfield “is responsible for a lot of the famous and most beloved Jordan's.”
“Hatfield doesn't always get the credit he deserves. He came up with so many exotic and futuristic details for basketball sneakers and running sneakers that people never saw before,” said Rawk. “I think he was the first person to really look at the job of being a shoe designer as an artist.”
He said the shoe culture, which he has been part of for 23-years, has changed with each generation.
“New designs and technology continue to make it fresh and interesting,” said Rawk.
Future Boston Tweeted on Tuesday that attendees who wear Air Jordan's to Assemble! on Wednesday will receive free raffle tickets at the event.