Living Proof Tompkins Square Park 40 Years Book | Product Spotlight

Get an inside look at the new 'Tompkins Square Park 40 Years' Book from Living Proof as they take us deep into the history of one of New York's most legendary parks.

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It's no secret that Living Proof and New York City go together like skateboarding and beer, having recently treated us to countless incredible photo books diving deep into the city's subcultures and folklore. However, their latest offering may just be their most educational as they take us on a lengthy stroll down memory lane, exploring 40 years worth of history at the one-and-only Tompkins Square Park in the new 'Tompkins Square Park 40 Years' Book. Find out more about below!

First opened back in 1834, Tompkins Square Park has long been a central feature of Manhattan's East Village. However, in the last four decades or so the space has taken on a whole new meaning, serving as a cultural hub for the neighbourhood's various fringe subcultures, including artists, skateboarders, punks and hippies; a stage for political demonstrations and live concerts; and a proving ground for countless legendary skaters, artists and cultural icons.

From the brutality of the Tompkins Square Park police riot in 1988 through to the more wholesome community rally to save the space in 2019, Tompkins has seen more than its fair share of action over the last 40 years and the Living Proof 'Tompkins Square Park 40 Years' Book covers all of it. Spanning the squatters movements and riots of the 80s, the imprint of skating in the 90s, and the countless art and music scenes which call the park home today, the book features some of the space's most significant moments as well as the more everyday instances of life and culture in between.

Compiling the perspectives of five distinct lenses from across the generations, the 'Tompkins Square Park 40 Years Book' tells the story of Tompkins from those immersed in the action. Featuring images from Canadian multi-media artist and long-time NYC resident, Clayton Patterson; previous Living Proof collaborator, Cheryl Dunn; legendary New York photographer, Alain Levitt; artist, photographer and skater, Adam Zhu; and Nolan Zangas, who's been making some serious waves in the scene recently, it'd be pretty difficult to get a more comprehensive history of the last 40 years of the space.

Given the diverse nature of Tompkins history, the photos featured inside are equally diverse in their nature, capturing the full spectrum of the space. These include behind-the-scenes images from various protests and demonstrations; legendary skaters like Mark Gonzales and Jason Dill in the glory days of the 90s; more recent icons like Sage Elsesser, Jesse Alba and Stu Kirst; and plenty of everyday lurkers and characters who inhabit the Square.

That's enough chit-chat though. Click here to shop more from Living Proof Magazine and buy now from CSC. Or, find out more about the latest skate product on the CSC Blog. Safe.