Fairey Obama Time's cover

[smallbylo]

I don't know if it has been posted but... Obama, person of the year... and Fairey cover of December!



one point for street art!

[jamesreeve5]

Where is that "Who's number 2" thread? Obviously we all know now... it's Banksy!

[pfffffffffft]

I saw in interview this morning on the news with one of the people from Time magazine and they said that image was pervasive during the campaign and that was the Obama image the staff liked best so that's why they chose it. It didnt even appear the guy from Time knew Sheps name as he referred to him as "a famous artist"

[meatbag]

caps off a pretty amazing year for Shep.

[Grubster]

woop woop.. hella props to SF

[doublehelix]

That's a pretty amazing achievement for Shep!

[Gentle Mental]

When's the last time a cheap "print" made an impact this big?

Not bad for a street punk.

[easycraig]

Dec 17, 2008 20:13:01 GMT 1 jamesreeve5 said:

Where is that "Who's number 2" thread? Obviously we all know now... it's Banksy!

^^^ -quite funny... I enjoyed this... thanks! peace... ec

[snausages]

Dec 17, 2008 20:13:01 GMT 1 jamesreeve5 said:

Where is that "Who's number 2" thread? Obviously we all know now... it's Banksy!

If Banksy illustrated the cover of a major corporate magazine, especially for a political candidate, I'd burn all my Banksy prints on the spot. (unless of course he did it in complete irony)

[Dead Elvis]

Dec 18, 2008 4:23:07 GMT 1 @snausages said:

[
If Banksy illustrated the cover of a major corporate magazine, especially for a political candidate, I'd burn all my Banksy prints on the spot. (unless of course he did it in complete irony)

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Heaven forbid Banksy believing so strongly in a political movement that he creates a piece of art to help propel it...

[snausages]

True, if Banksy endorsed a 'truly' groundbreaking candidate that would be fine, but I'm sure he would do it in a much more interesting way.

But my statement is no more ridiculous than a supposed anti-corporate, anti-establishment "street artist" building a corporate empire and endorsing political figures firmly entrenched in the establishment.

[jamesreeve5]

Dec 18, 2008 5:39:47 GMT 1 @snausages said:

True, if Banksy endorsed a 'truly' groundbreaking candidate that would be fine, but I'm sure he would do it in a much more interesting way.

But my statement is no more ridiculous than a supposed anti-corporate, anti-establishment "street artist" building a corporate empire and endorsing political figures firmly entrenched in the establishment.

I will agree with snausages here in that the actual inherent Fairey designed image itself is not all that intrinsically great. But, the pervasiveness of the image within the public's consciousness as a symbol of one of the most poignant moments in modern history is both fascinating and spectacular.

[kahuna]

The image is admired by all the non-street art collecting friends I have shared it with. The MoveOn stickers of this image sent with my christmas cards have been very well received.

After 8 years of W's polarization politics, the unification of the represented by the red and blue shown on Shep's image is most welcome.

[Francis]

Dec 18, 2008 5:39:47 GMT 1 @snausages said:

True, if Banksy endorsed a 'truly' groundbreaking candidate that would be fine, but I'm sure he would do it in a much more interesting way.

But my statement is no more ridiculous than a supposed anti-corporate, anti-establishment "street artist" building a corporate empire and endorsing political figures firmly entrenched in the establishment.

snausages....reading your posts, I see that you have a very narrow-minded and stubborn view of most things.

Here's what Shepard Fairey has to say to people like you:

“People like to categorize—it makes for better posturing—and not to engage. They say ‘Oh, if voting made a difference then it would be illegal,’ but someone like Obama can infiltrate the system. A government, like capitalism, can be ethical. If I only criticize but don’t try and get a candidate into the system then I have no justification. I have an opportunity to help change the system.”

[Gentle Mental]

i like what shep's doing, because he's not afraid to do the "uncool" thing. he's not a snob.

There is more to lose than gain for an artist to support a politician, most artists would hide and duck the moment they're asked to take a stand, citing "it's all BS, that's like, sell-out, dude, blah blah blah...anyway."

remember if obama turns out to be a huge failure, shep will lose a ton load of cred he's earned over the years - he has a lot at stakes here - and he took major career risks when he needn't too - now that is cool.

[smallbylo]

I could not agree more with Fairey.

Copied from omg posters:

Starting today, you’ll be able to pick up Shepard Fairey’s newest Barack Obama illustration on almost every newsstand in the world. He has created the image for the cover of Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” issue. Here is what he had to say about his involvement with the project:

“Tomorrow my illustration for Time Magazine’s “Person of The Year” hits the newsstands. While I’m very honored to be validated by a periodical that is nothing short of an American institution, the moment is bittersweet because I’m very disappointed by Obama’s appointment of Rick Warren to deliver his invocation during Obama’s inaugural address. Rick Warren is against gay marriage and reproductive rights, and he does not believe in evolution (maybe he offers himself as proof of lack of evolution). I understand that Obama is trying to appeal to conservatives and evangelicals, but this move is symbolically a slap in the face to many people. Warren is not a uniter, but a divider… he is intolerant in many of his views. I still think Obama is the best choice for president, but I can’t condone Warren’s involvement in Obama’s inauguration, no matter how insignificant it is. While I’m on the subject of gay marriage, I will be donating a chunk of the proceeds from an inauguration poster of Obama I was asked to create to the movement to overturn Prop 8. At first I was considering pulling my inauguration poster, but I think re-directing funds from it to put into a cause I care about is actually more constructive. Plus, I wouldn’t want withdrawing the image to come across as a blanket boycott of Obama. I’m sure I will ultimately disagree with Obama about many things, but I think I will agree with him on more. I think it is important to speak one’s mind, but also to not let the narcissism of petty differences sabotage our unity and progress.”

[doublehelix]

Didn't take long for him to fall out of love with Obama then!

[daveart]

i hate politics. and i hate it more on an art forum . but .. for the heck of it .. the .. 'we love Obama as long as he is doing EXACTLY what we want him to' is just not going to work. He cannot be a 'uniter' (is that a word?) unless he ..uhh... 'unites' people of different opinions. let the guy find his way.. and dont dismiss people that simply share some different opinions. for art lovers -- you probably dont want to know what Warhol's views on minorites were. and if you have some Warhol's and his opinions offend you.. i will take them off your hands REALLY CHEAPLY for a quick sale so you can get them out of your house :-)

Shep needs to enjoy the messy splendor of the process. give obama some time.

[mose]

I find it all very funny, this shock and horror at Warren being chosen. Back in 2006, Warren invited Obama to a forum on HIV. Many church members were livid and the anti-abortion forces were in a tizzy due to Obama's pro-abortion views. Protests, angry calls, angrier letters. They were asking Warren, "How can you invite someone like this into our church?" His answer was that the church's goal is "to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other."

Isn't that part of the whole message Obama has been saying since the beginning? Bringing people together neccesitates moving beyond ideological differences. For some reason, many liberals seem to have assumed that Obama would be a left-wing incarnation of Bush, bringing people together only if they support the same issue positions as him, much as the Bush/Rove strategy did with rightwing America. For all their talk of moving beyond partisan politics, all they really seem to have wanted is their views imposed on the masses. Now, they are hurt because revenge for the past 8 years doesn't seem to be on the menu.

[jamesreeve5]

Obama is trying to infiltrate the Orange Curtain!!!

[rosstierney]

www.time.com/time/specials/2008/personoftheyear/article/0,31682,1861543_1861856_1867342,00.html

[kahuna]

Dec 19, 2008 14:30:35 GMT 1 daveart said:

you probably dont want to know what Warhol's views on minorites were.

Warhol's view on minorities and the real Bing Crosby story, what is our world coming to.

If you want to stop your granny from driving you crazy by playing White Christmas incessantly, make her watch this Jackie Beat video :-)

[jamesreeve5]

Thumbed through the issue of Time magazine today... inside it also has a few pics of the Date Farmers' Obama piece as well.

[Guy Denning]

I can understand the initial Obama-mania - but (and god, I hope I'm wrong) I think Fairey's right to have reservations now. If Obama really was a radical he wouldn't be where he is now. The machinery is too ingrained to permit serious dissent.
"Change you can believe in" was the slogan wasn't it? So he's appointed Hillary Clinton (voted in favour of the attack on Iraq), Robert Gates (previously Bush crew secretary of defence), Madeline Albright, John Brennan, Lawrence Summers...
Change eh? More of the same I reckon - but with a very, VERY, competent front-man.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2008 0:26:23 GMT 1 Guy Denning said:

I can understand the initial Obama-mania - but (and god, I hope I'm wrong) I think Fairey's right to have reservations now. If Obama really was a radical he wouldn't be where he is now. The machinery is too ingrained to permit serious dissent.
"Change you can believe in" was the slogan wasn't it? So he's appointed Hillary Clinton (voted in favour of the attack on Iraq), Robert Gates (previously Bush crew secretary of defence), Madeline Albright, John Brennan, Lawrence Summers...
Change eh? More of the same I reckon - but with a very, VERY, competent front-man.

sounds about right? But that bush was a muppet, after him the only way is up (yazz)

[Deleted]

I remember launching into Fairey for his decision to involve himself in party politics. It profoundly angered me at the time and even more so as the following weeks saw other artists jumping on the bandwagon. (with pathetic results). I said at the time that it was naive at best to expect a single man to bring real change in a country in which the power lies in the shadows of corporations and vested interest. Bush spent a too much time and effort moving government towards the christian right for one man to come in and have it all his own way.

Artists are by their nature outsiders and comment on the world from that perspective and that is when they are at their most powerful. No good can ever come of an artist aligning him or herself with politicians of any party. Fairey will always be making excuses from now on. Time to grow up I'm afraid.

[alsbabar]

Dec 18, 2008 4:42:47 GMT 1 Dead Elvis said:

Dec 18, 2008 4:23:07 GMT 1 @snausages said:

[
If Banksy illustrated the cover of a major corporate magazine, especially for a political candidate, I'd burn all my Banksy prints on the spot. (unless of course he did it in complete irony)

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Heaven forbid Banksy believing so strongly in a political movement that he creates a piece of art to help propel it...

what you mean like Ken Livingston and donating the original canvas"Sketch of Essex Road" to his re-election campaign, which ironically people are framing and hanging the print on their walls?

[RBK]

Dec 20, 2008 2:20:48 GMT 1 @alsbabar said:

Dec 18, 2008 4:42:47 GMT 1 Dead Elvis said:

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Heaven forbid Banksy believing so strongly in a political movement that he creates a piece of art to help propel it...

what you mean like Ken Livingston and donating the original canvas"Sketch of Essex Road" to his re-election campaign, which ironically people are framing and hanging the print on their walls?

I think that got him the Cans tunnel alsbabar

[snausages]

Dec 20, 2008 2:20:48 GMT 1 @alsbabar said:

Dec 18, 2008 4:42:47 GMT 1 Dead Elvis said:

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. Heaven forbid Banksy believing so strongly in a political movement that he creates a piece of art to help propel it...

what you mean like Ken Livingston and donating the original canvas"Sketch of Essex Road" to his re-election campaign, which ironically people are framing and hanging the print on their walls?

Is this the image you mean?


This is exactly what I meant and what I like about Banksy, political reference and without relying on a portrait that not only lacks concept but is also not, à la Fairey a reverent, praising portrait that does more to build the idea of the politician as a cult-like messiah figure.