Shepard Fairey - 7/8 release: AMERICA’S FAVORITE

[Baurmann Gallery]

obeygiant.com/headlines/americas-favorite

AMERICA’S FAVORITE

I have been an environmental advocate and supporter of clean energy and conservation for many years, leading me to make several art pieces dealing with these topics as well. In my “May Day” show I wanted to address current issues and also celebrate some of my favorite artists, musicians, and activists from the past. With my flag series I was referencing Jasper Johns, other images reference Warhol and Rauschenberg. This “America’s Favorite” gas station image was created before the BP spill as a way to comment on our addiction to oil and suggest that it should be in its twilight, but also to pay tribute to artist Ed Ruscha and his beautiful “Standard Station” series of paintings and prints. There is an emotional sense of nostalgia and Americana conjured by an iconic gas station, maybe even a sense of freedom and exploration. However, we all know that nostalgia can be the enemy of progress. Oil extraction is a dead end. I was just in Portland Oregon for two weeks, and that city is proof that people can change their energy and consumption habits. Yes, there was a bit of self-righteousness to some of the environmentalism, but withstanding that, the place overall is very healthy, friendly, and conscientious. Aside from not being able to get Equal for my coffee (I’m type 1 diabetic, and sugar is bad for me) I did not find my lifestyle at all compromised by Portland’s environmentalism. In the wake of the BP spill the “America’s Favorite” gas station image is even more relevant. I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from this print to an environmental/clean energy charity. I am researching and have not decided which one yet. I will also be releasing a couple prints inspired by the Gulf of Mexico spill and will be donating to charities helping with the cleanup there. Look out for those in coming weeks. If you don’t know Ed Ruscha’s work check it out. www.edruscha.com

-Shepard

Release Date: 7-8-2010 At a Random Time. Limit 1 per person/household. $50 each.

[graffoto]

love love love it - first one in a while - what time (UK) have drops been of late...?

[Rsyok]

Tis very good, The canvas caught my eye in the show photos. Could I place the original artist ? Could I Fairey !!

Edit: actually JR has done a fine version...

[danmuppet]

is it 400 of each colour or 200?

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2010 21:21:27 GMT 1 danmuppet said:

is it 400 of each colour or 200?

400 of each colourway

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 6, 2010 21:21:27 GMT 1 danmuppet said:

is it 400 of each colour or 200?

It is 400 of each:

AMERICA’S FAVORITE (SILVER)
18 x 24″ Screen Print, Signed Edition of 400. Limit 1 per person/household. $50
Release Date: 7-8-2010

AMERICA’S FAVORITE (RED)
18 x 24″ Screen Print, Signed Edition of 400. Limit 1 per person/household. $50
Release Date: 7-8-2010

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 6, 2010 21:27:00 GMT 1 Joe Valentino said:

Jul 6, 2010 21:21:27 GMT 1 danmuppet said:

is it 400 of each colour or 200?

400 of each colourway

beat me to it as I was posting

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 6, 2010 20:59:51 GMT 1 @graffoto said:

love love love it - first one in a while - what time (UK) have drops been of late...?

Though "randomly"...they have been closer to 10am PDT (or 6pm over in the UK)...also, they could possibly be up at any time, though they are "often" earlier than later over here in the states.

As a disclaimer though, like that first Obama screen-print he put up in the middle of the night (though it was earlier for you guys over in the UK), you never know

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 6, 2010 21:15:58 GMT 1 Rsyok said:

Tis very good, The canvas caught my eye in the show photos. Could I place the original artist ? Could I Fairey !!

Edit: actually JR has done a fine version...

I agree completely on that JR...I'd never seen that piece of his. Love his work and I really dig seeing his homage!

[Baurmann Gallery]

Or this one is not bad either

[Winter]

Love JRs version, I used to have it as my computer desktop

[publicsquare]

Jul 6, 2010 21:46:34 GMT 1 Baurmann Gallery said:

Or this one is not bad either

Easily one of my favorite Ruscha works! (only beaten by LACMA on Fire, 65-66)

[nah]

Quite like it, second colourway seems kind of unnecessary though... is there anyone that would choose it over the red version?

[nah]

Btw thanks for the heads up

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 7, 2010 0:24:56 GMT 1 nah said:

Btw thanks for the heads up

No problem...my pleasure!!!

[Baurmann Gallery]

Jul 7, 2010 0:24:02 GMT 1 nah said:

Quite like it, second colourway seems kind of unnecessary though... is there anyone that would choose it over the red version?

I definitely like the silver in addition to the red...as in my opinion, it was a great further reflection/exploration of the original series by Ruscha (which like the flag series by Jasper Johns, was much more dynamic and powerful as a whole by the exploration and utilization of different mediums, methods and/or applications of a singular subject matter).

Here are some additional Ruscha “Standard Stations” images (compiled):

[graffoto]

Alec Soth

[Happy Shopper]

Also, Skullphone (who's his mate):

[Strange Al]

Liking this week's effort from Shep.

While we're on the theme, here's Slinkachu's take:

[OutsideIn]

great slink photo...great!

[Cedric Mnich]

Painting by French Painter, Laurent THOMAS.

2.bp.blogspot.com/_KAaX07HoIsM/Sh5TwESBNCI/AAAAAAAAB58/e56iQFaM46Y/s1600-h/hell+01web.jpg[/img]
galerie-annecy.blogspot.com

[Cedric Mnich]

Painting by Laurent THOMAS



2.bp.blogspot.com/_KAaX07HoIsM/Sh5TwESBNCI/AAAAAAAAB58/e56iQFaM46Y/s1600/hell%2B01web.jpg

Damn, WTF can't post it in the message

[Cedric Mnich]

and here's my contribution to that series :

instantoilspill.com/?url=http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/STAGING/global_assets/images/press/mr_bp_service_station_night_poland_2700x1800.jpg

[highinla]

I'm good on having a digitized picture of a gas station on the wall... But thanks for the heads up, I guess.

[Karl Read]

Jul 7, 2010 16:13:37 GMT 1 highinla said:

I'm good on having a digitized picture of a gas station on the wall... But thanks for the heads up, I guess.

digitized?

[highinla]

^ lol.... your right. Photoshopped!

its very early here in California.

[rosstierney]

red or silver? will silver be silver like the wk print or basically just grey?

[pezlow]

Great thread, I do love Ed Ruscha's work.

Here's Graham Crowley's take on the theme:

[at0mic]

Jul 8, 2010 17:35:09 GMT 1 @rosstierney said:

will silver be silver like the wk print or basically just grey?

[lifeonwalls]

Silver up now.