Old School

2026

Salvaged boat (1958 Hawk II by Feather Craft, made with aluminum recycled from World War II aircraft) from Marina 59, Rockaway Beach; salvaged walnut tree from Long Island; acrylic urethane paint; epoxy resin; steel; concrete

22’(L) x 8’(W) x 9’(H)

Commissioned by Public Art Fund, New York, NY; currently on view at Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY (Beach 67th Street). Curated by Gabriela López Dena.

Old School is a sculptural, functional ping-pong table in which a boat is grasped by a giant sea monster. Inspired by maritime legends such as the Scandinavian Kraken and the Japanese Akkorokamui, the work reflects humanity's attempt to confront the mysterious and uncontrollable forces of nature. Fukuyama carved the monster's tentacles from a reclaimed walnut tree and finished them with vivid automotive paint, transforming salvaged materials into an alluring, otherworldly presence.

The overturned boat, once celebrated for its innovative 1950s design, exists between destruction and rescue. Named Old School by its previous owner(s), the title evokes a longing for quality and permanence while suggesting how nostalgia often resists change.

Through mythology, nautical imagery, and play, Old School explores preservation and transformation, offering humor, optimism, and connection amid an uncertain world.