Though skating at Philadelphia’s LOVE park was technically illegal by the 90s, the space had already cemented its status as a skateboard mecca. Serving as a backdrop for countless skate videos and photography, the space was even immortalised in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2.

Sadly, the park met its demise in 2016 due to renovations that will permanently remove the opportunity of skating from the plaza – aka that inevitable wave of gentrification that ignores the community who call it home.

American photographer and skater Jonathan Rentschler’s latest book, LOVE, documents the final three years of the park, photographing its local skateboarders and park dwellers. What began with Jonathan honing his photography skills by shooting his friends soon became a visual tribute as the park’s fate was announced in early 2016.

The book’s 176 pages chronicles the somewhat bittersweet story of the park in black and white photography, from happier times in 2013 capturing the rebellious of the Philly youth to the more melancholic final days, with skaters enjoying a last hurrah of legal skating before its demolition. Here Rentschler talks us through his project and discusses the damaging impact of gentrification done badly.

Florentine Gilt Bronze Sculpture of Centar (C16th-17th) $18,000

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