A Look at "Art for Obama" With Shepard Fairey

New York Magazine ^ | Oct. 1, 2009 | Miranda Siegel

[Dajjal]

Even though Obama's popularity has been sliding significantly, Shepard Fairey, designer of the viral blue-and-red Manifest Hope poster, thinks it's the perfect time to release a slick and comprehensive anthology of celebratory Obama-related artworks: Art for Obama, which he co-edited with Evolutionary Media Group founder Jennifer Gross, comes out October 2. In addition to getting a look at the imagery, we spoke with Fairey about Obama's approval ratings, how political art reaches beyond politics, and his thoughts on the artistic deification of our leader.

Watch the Slideshow

Siegel: Tell us about the idea behind Art for Obama.

Fairey: People undervalue the potential impact of art: It's different from what a slogan or a normal political logo can do. It has more of a depth, more of a connection. Even someone who doesn't dig Obama might be able to find some value in the art itself. For example, I'm inspired by historical art from the Soviet Union in the late teens through the early twenties

[Dajjal]

Art for Obama : Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change
edited by Shepard Fairey and Jennifer Gross

For more information about Shepard Fairey, go here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121506/posts
Obama’s Venomous Artist-Fundraiser

[hometoroost]

When he socializes us to the Soviet Union level Obama art will be more useful than the sandpaper-like toilet paper that will be produced.

[Dajjal]

Shepard Fairey ping

[hsalaw]

Well, that last one - Unite America - may come true pretty soon, but we’re all going to united AGAINST the Obozo.

[Charles Martel]

I’m not certain which one nauseates me most - but I’m thinkin’ it’s the last one.

[Dajjal]

BTW, remember Yosi Sergant?

He's the "Propaganda" guy who was forced to resign from the National Endowment for the arts.

Well, he just happens to be Shepard Fairey's publicist, working for Jennifer Gross' Evolutionary Media Group.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

[Yaelle]

I'm inspired by historical art from the Soviet Union in the late teens through the early twenties

Which reduces to

Being inspired by the ideas of communism

Which reduces to

Wishing for an utopia where we all are the same but having some people be the Controllers of that utopia (to KEEP it that utopia) and the rest of the people Subject To The Controllers

Which reduces to

I want us to be ruled by a dictator and yet worship him too

[BunnySlippers]

NO! This is the time to strike for the NEA infraction! Ack!

[Dajjal]

I'm inspired by historical art from the Soviet Union in the late teens through the early twenties.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121506/posts
Obama’s Venomous Artist-Fundraiser

excerpt:

The political messages in Fairey's art are:
1) Communist dictators are god-like supermen
2) The United States is a police state at home and an imperialist oppressor abroad
3) Capitalism is an evil system based on greed and exploitation
4) Ordinary Amerikkkan workers are guilty of blithely supporting an unjust system
5) The only good Americans are those who fight The System
6) The communist Peoples' Armies will soon triumph over Amerikkkan imperialism and bring peace to the world out of the barrel of a gun.

[Carl LaFong]

http://www.badpaintingsofbarackobama.com/

(click on image to change)

[dead]

I am very upset. I worked so hard, and he didn't include any of my artwork.

[TXnMA]

Shepard Fairey: campaigning for a MINISTER position...

in the Øbama regime?

[VeniVidiVici]

[Dajjal]

Shepard Fairey ping

... and apologies for mistyping your nick in my ping last night

[ETL]

From Barack Obama's official website:

“I wanted to make an art piece of Barack Obama because I thought an iconic portrait of him could symbolize and amplify the importance of his mission. I believe Obama will guide this country to a future where everyone can thrive and I should support him vigorously for the sake of my two young daughters. I have made art opposing the Iraq war for several years, and making art of Obama, who opposed the war from the start, is like making art for peace. I know I have an audience of young art fans and I’m delighted if I can encourage them to see the merits of Barack Obama.”

-Shepard Fairey

________________________________________________________

Note: if this original link doesn't work any longer, try the second one:
http://store.barackobama.com/Artists_for_Obama_s/1018.htm

http://students.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/external_organizing
________________________________________________________

See? It's all about "peace, love, togetherness", "Hope" and "Change".

Here are some of Fairey's other masterpieces. No joke. Most of his works are along these same lines (anti-American, pro-communist propaganda). Check the link.

Source: The Jonathan Levine Gallery:
Note: on 8/5/09, I discovered that nearly all of Fairey's images were removed from this web page.
http://jonathanlevinegallery.com/?method=Artist.ArtistDetail&ArtistID=F65EBB86-3048-28EB-92D55AA4FC996E31&GalleryID=82C33C59-3048-28EB-92DB386C8C733405

________________________________________________________

From Shepard Fairey's official website (ObeyGiant.com):

Check it out! I got a thank you note from Barack Obama. If he is elected, maybe I have a get out of jail free card. All kidding aside, I’m honored to be acknowledged by someone so important to the future of our country. Also, the Obama campaign asked me to do a poster illustration for sale on their site. It should be out next week on barackobama.com.-Shepard
http://obeygiant.com/post/check-it-out
________________________________________________________

Here is the 'thank you' letter Barack Obama sent to Shepard Fairey:
"Dear Shepard, I would like to thank you for using your talent in support of my campaign. The political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans to believe they can help change the status quo. Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign. I am privileged to be a part of your artwork and proud to have your support. I wish you continued success and creativity.

Sincerely, Barack Obama.'"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051601017.html

Source for letter image: Fairey's own website (ObeyGiant.com):
http://obeygiant.com/post/check-it-out

If the image of the letter should 'vanish' from Fairey's website, try this link:
http://www.notcot.com/images/obama_letter-to-shepard-fairey.jpg

_________________________________________________________________

Portrait of Angela Davis by Obama artist Shepard Fairey:

Angela Davis

Source: The Jonathan Levine Gallery (link given above)

Also here:
Angela Davis by Obey Giant, Shepard Fairey:
http://www.zimbio.com/Shepard+Fairey/articles/63/Angela+Davis+Obey+Giant+Shepard+Fairey

_________________________________________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetworks.org:
PROFILE: ANGELA DAVIS

* Communist professor at the University of California’s Santa Cruz campus
* Recipient of the Lenin “Peace Prize” from the police state of East Germany in 1979
* Provided an arsenal of weapons to Black Panthers who used them to kill a Marin Country judge in a failed attempt to free Davis' imprisoned lover, Black Panther murderer George Jackson
* Icon of the campus Left and frequent guest speaker at anti-war rallies
* Leader of a movement to free all criminals who are minorities claiming that they are political prisoners of the racist United States
* “The only path of liberation for black people is that which leads toward complete and radical overthrow of the capitalist class.”

Angela Yvonne Davis is a tenured professor in the “History of Consciousness” program at the University of California - Santa Cruz. A former member of the Black Panther Party, she is currently a “University Professor,” one of only seven in the entire California University system, which entitles her to a six-figure salary and a research assistant. This income is supplemented by speaking fees ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per appearance on college campuses, where she is an icon of radical faculty, administrators, and students. Davis has also taught at UCLA and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1303

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also by Shepard Fairey, Obama's personal icon artist...

http://www.duckywaddles.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=171
________________________________________________________

http://www.duckywaddles.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=744
________________________________________________________

"Stalin Lenin", Shepard Fairey,
limited edition silkscreen, signed
and numbered. 18"X24" *SOLD OUT*
Source: http://www.duckywaddles.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=429

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Check it out! I got a thank you note from Barack Obama. If he is elected, maybe I have a get out of jail free card"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

VIDEO: Obama icon artist, Shepard Fairey, discusses his numerous arrests (13!) in this May 2008 alternative media interview
(2:32 minutes):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozeTXRa7_zo&feature=related
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Street artist Shepard Fairey, who designed Obama 'Hope' poster, arrested for graffiti in Boston
[...make that *14* arrests!]

NY Daily News | February 7th 2009

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/02/07/2009-02-07_street_artist_shepard_fairey_who_designe.html
________________________________________________________

Also from the commie Fairey...

"Bush Hell"

Source:
http://www.thegiant.org/wiki/index.php/Special:Search?search=bush&fulltext=Search

[SparkyBass]

My name is "The Chosen One", and I approve this message...



How about inserting him into current media culture...



or into our vintage culture...

[ETL]

BTW: ALL of the images I posted in my previous were REAL (no photoshopping). Each is linked directly to its source.

[Dajjal]

For more information about Shepard Fairey, go here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2121506/posts
Obama’s Venomous Artist-Fundraiser

It seems that Obamaites have hacked into the above FR page and are trying to divert readers to "store dot barackobama dot com."

Could you please see if you can get rid of the hack?

[Dajjal]

Thanks for fixing that hack!