GNY EP.172 | feat. Mike Giannattasio

Fundraising Skate Art Show and DIY Skate Space Plans with Activist-Artist Mike Giannattasio Host Noah Chrysler interviews Syracuse community activist and sculptor Mike Giannattasio about fundraising and placemaking through skateboarding, including plans to develop a DIY skate space designed with the city, community, and skaters and built collaboratively. Giannattasio promotes a year-four skateboard deck gallery show and silent auction at Stay Fresh Gallery in the Delavan Art Center on May 30 (6–10 PM), featuring 30+ artist-designed old-school decks plus raffles from local business donors; artists can contact him on Instagram (@supermisterg) for remaining decks. He discusses Syracuse-area skate parks (Eastwoods, Onondaga Lake Park, and a DIY spot near Ormond Spencer/Harvey’s Garden), what makes balanced parks, and community outreach models in Rome and Rochester. He also describes his public art fabrication background, including Syracuse bike racks and his role as SU School of Architecture fabrication manager. The episode ends with a May 20 skate trivia fundraiser at Salt City Market (6–9:30 PM) for the Kirk Park DIY Skate Park Initiative and a sponsor plug for Click Stream Studios. 00:00 Welcome to Good News York 00:15 Mike Introduces Himself 01:03 DIY Skate Space Vision 01:51 Deck Art Fundraiser Details 03:07 How the Silent Auction Works 04:28 Are These Boards Rideable 06:07 Syracuse Skate Parks Today 09:56 What Makes a Great Park 14:37 Pivot to Public Art Career 16:52 Bike Rack Projects Around Town 19:51 Fabrication Skills at SU 20:31 Process Driven Creativity 21:08 Running the Fab Labs 21:54 Helping Students Build Ideas 23:20 Balancing Teaching and Self 24:32 Airport Birdcage Fabrication 27:45 Why Make Things 30:43 Skateboarding as Creativity 33:19 Skate Culture and Community 34:47 Aging and Injury Risk 37:13 Health and Mentorship Benefits 38:56 Skate Trivia Fundraiser 40:19 Thanks and Sponsor Outro