At Grain Surfboards, on the coast of southern Maine, the workshop is small but the vision is big. Run by a tight-knit group that shares a passion for friendship, surfing, innovation, and sustainability, they aren’t just building boards at Grain, they are building community. Each Grain board is a work of art, expertly hand-crafted from locally harvested Northern White Cedar, setting them apart from the mass produced boards made from synthetic materials and toxic chemicals.
As I explored Grain’s workshop on a quiet Sunday morning, there was an energy about the physical space that gave me a feel for Grain culture and the spirit of those who work here. Even with most of the crew absent, the space was infused with a sense of playfulness, humor and creativity that balanced out the seriousness and precision essential for crafting world class wooden surfboards. This is a space where friends who share an authentic love of surfing, nature, art, and life, gather to do good work while genuinely enjoying each other’s company. My photos aim to tell the story of crafting fine wooden surfboards, while also revealing glimpses of the playful spirit of the makers.
Big thanks to Randy Gaetano for making time on a weekend to show me around Grain and sharing his insight and wisdom as an artist.