Normally, a cult sneaker collaboration is teased via leaked imagery or on-feet shots uploaded to tastemakers' Instagram pages. Not so for Lucien Smith, who elected to introduce his hand-painted adidas Forums with Fire Finder, a cheekily surreal seven-minute-long clip starring a whole host of the artist's peers and Smith, who appropriately wears a firefighter suit throughout.
Features come courtesy of Uncut Gems star Julia Fox, skater Kevin White, critic and artist Anthony Hayden Guest, photographer Tasmin Meyer Ersahin, and model Arsun Sorrenti, to name only a few. Over two-dozen folks have cameos, some — including that of famous grifter Caroline Calloway — only seconds long.
Of course, the guest appearances are window dressing, dudding up Fire Finder's subtle allusion to the all-inclusive nature of Smith's 501(c)(3), Serving the People. Specifically, Serving the People's anti-establishment purview is represented through brief comedic vignettes of art, music, and dance, reflecting the non-profit's intention to break down the barriers of entry to various creative fields. Though it was launched with a focus on fine art, Serving the People is expanding into other fields, hence the disparate talents seen in the short.
Smith's partnership with Sneeze Magazine and adidas Originals is at the core of Fire Finder, yielding 200 unique pairs of Forum sneakers. Each shoe was painted by hand utilizing the same techniques as Smith's Rain Paintings, guaranteeing that no two black-on-white shoes are alike. Proceeds from the sale benefits Serving the People's charitable aims.
All of Smith's painted adidas Forum sneakers launch on Serving The People's website June 10 for $250 apiece.
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