Abandoned Church Becomes a Sacred Space for Skaters

This is different: 

A church that used to be a spiritual center for the working class in northern Spainhas been repurposed for a completely different kind of community.

After sitting abandoned for decades, a church in the Spanish town of Llanera has been converted into a skating park, complete with a fresh coat of brightly colored paint.

Madrid artist Okuda San Miguel, who covered the church’s walls and ceilings with his work, said in a video interview that he believes this piece may be one of the most important in his career. He was intrigued by the challenge of using the same classic blank canvas — the interior of a church — that artists throughout history have used to create masterpieces.

“It’s like my personal Sistine Chapel,” San Miguel, 35, told the arts website Restos De Cultura earlier this month.

Check out the link for pictures, video and more history.

Photo: Elchino Pomares / Huffington Post