Called by The New Yorker art critic Peter Schjeldahl "the most efficacious American political illustration since 'Uncle Sam Wants You,'"Fairey created a series of posters supporting Barack Obama's 2008 candidacy for President of the United States, including the iconic "HOPE" portrait. He also created an exclusive design for Rock the Vote. Because the HOPE poster had been "perpetuated illegally" and independently by the street artist, the Obama campaign could not risk any direct affiliation with it. Although the campaign officially disavowed any involvement in the creation or popularization of the poster, Fairey has commented in interviews that he was in communication with campaign officials during the period immediately following the poster's release. Fairey has stated that the original version featured the word "PROGRESS" instead of the word "HOPE," and that within weeks of its release, the campaign requested that he issue (and legally disseminate) a new version, keeping the powerful image of Obama's face but captioning it with the word "HOPE." The campaign openly embraced the revised poster along with two additional Fairey posters that featured the words "CHANGE" and "VOTE."Fairey distributed 300,000 stickers and 500,000 posters during the campaign funding his grassroots electioneering through poster and fine art sales. "I just put all that money back into making more stuff, so I didn't keep any of the Obama money," said Fairey in December 2008. In February 2008 (ten months before Election Day), Fairey received a letter of thanks from Barack Obama for his contribution to the campaign. The letter stated:
"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 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. -- Barack Obama, February 22, 2008"
In January 2009, the "HOPE" portrait was acquired by the US National Portrait Gallery and made part of its permanent collection. It was unveiled and put on display on January 17, 2009.
...Shepard Fairy appropriated this image from an associated press news release photograph...A large percent of Fairy's works originally start out as images that he is culling from TV, newspapers, magazines, and advertisements. He then takes the images and makes stencils by enlarging and then tracing them. The stencil is then used as a template where he spray paints through it to leave the image where ever he may choose. Fairy comes from a graffiti background, where this process was used for "tagging".
In February of this year, Shepard Fairy is opened his first ever major solo exhibition at Boston's Institute of Contemporary Art.
Does Shepard Fairy's use of images from the media change how we see him as a legitimate artist? Does Mr. Obama's comments in his letter to Fairy help legitimize this way of working?How So?
Are images from the media open to change and public use?...by changing them slightly, are they now different images or "new" works then?
Artists throughout history studied their subjects and looked at objects when painting them...If current theory says we encounter life through fragmented reproductions, then is Shepard Fairy doing what simply comes natural for an artist today? Take a position and explain...
Personally I do think that images from the media are open to change and public use because these are images we see alot and are left open to our own interpretation. I also believe that by altering them slightly it does create something new and gives the image a new meaning. Even by doing something simple, change is change and in turn alters the meaning.
ReplyDeleteIf the current theory is true then yes, I think that Shepard Fairy is doing what simply comes natural for an artist today. I mean, look at some of the pop art that is around, a Campbell's Soup can, and even enlarged safety pins. Aren't those reproductions themselves?
I agree, contemporary or pop art to me is all about extending the already broad scope of what is considered art. Any new way an artist like Shepard Fairy can change or create a piece of work from something so subjective and opinionated like polotics and media, makes for a great piece of contemporary art. Although the changes Shepard Fairy made to the Obama pictures were simple, I think he did a great job of really capturing the overall feel and message of Obama's campaign as well as himself. This new meaning he created worked well for Obama, portraying him in a savior like way, but I think contemporary art that dares to travel to the other end of the spectrum, is open to more attention as well as criticism.
ReplyDeleteI feel images are open for public use if the meaning of the work is changed. I dont think someone can just take an artists work and modify it a little and use it if they do not change the meaning.
ReplyDeleteTo me an artist creates art. Fairy created images for whatever reason, but inspired a lot of people to vote for Obama with those images, whether that was his main purpose or not. The media recognizes this and helps support his work. I do not believe that diminishes his artistry, if anything I would say it intensifies it.
ReplyDeleteI believe Obama’s letter to Fairy would signify as an honor to an artist. I do not believe this would make his artwork less legit. People who admire art are the people who make it art, but for themselves alone. If a person walks through an art exhibit and does not find any connection with the pieces around them…is it still art? To that person, maybe no, but Obama helps legitimate Fairy’s images by just enjoying them, making them art to him. The 500,000 copies sold also legitimate the images.
I believe the media changes artwork all the time. How many pieces of art do we see thwarted in commercials alone. I personally can’t count the number of times I’ve seen The Mona Lisa’s smile changed and animated. Yes, I do believe this changes the artwork. Even the Media projecting pictures of artwork is changing part of the artwork. Many artists paint or place their art in a spot to be viewed in person. Art work that is outside in any place looses it feel right away when you view it as an image on your TV. Can you really view the Sistine Chapel from your computer or TV? Even artwork like the Mona Lisa should be viewed in person. How would you understand its real size when it’s spread out or your big television? I believe the media does alter art, and desensitizes us as a human race. However, as I said before with Fairies images, the media can help art as well. Fairies artwork was meant to be viewed as an image, and posters. That is how it was portrayed, and the media helped him sell more, which helped spread how the artwork was meant to be viewed. Like all things, the media has its goods and bads Fairies artwork is just another way of creating art. He found a way for many people to view his artwork and be inspired by it. He expressed his art by his choice, and through the popular demand by the American nation.
The media's opinion wouldn't really change my view on his work. Though I've never really seen other pieces from him, I think I would like them regardless of what the media thought because I liked the Obama piece. Obama sending a letter to the artist is more of a compliment to him than anything, I don't think just because he sent a letter, that it means he's going to become a word renowned artist. We could never hear of him again, it was his art that helped, not just the letter and compliments. Media is always trying to change art. But I think the only way you can change artwork is by changing the meaning, appearance's aren't always everything. If you change the words in the Obama posters, It change's the appearance, but not the entire piece. And by changing them slightly I don't think it makes them "new". Just because someone wants to revise something or make it look better or more modern doesn't make it new, it just give's it something more to look at. I think Fairy is doing art that he believe's in, which is technially natural in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI believe that just because Fairey gets his works from media,and popular images that it doesn't illegitimize him. As an artists u use your creativitity to express things no matter where the insipration comes from. Yes he took from something that was already created, but in the end he still made it into his own expression(not the original piece). Which to me that is legitimized artwork,anything that is taking "your own" creativity and idea an turing it into something even though it stemed from another! Your known as a professional and u create "your own pieces", can't get more ligitimate than that. An Obama's letter to fairey did help legitimize his work, because not only is he someone of honor, but he's the main focus of the artowk an is thanking him for the piece.In yes i think that images from the media can be changed, and are public use. I just think that if its illegal then get the permission to use it before you make it into something of yours. Anytime you change something wether it be slightly or great it becomes different, so yes the image becomes new! An Fairey is only doing what is natural to any artists or average joe for that matter, using what u see and processing it an coming up with your own conclusion of it, is natural human behavior. Fairey just does it professionally.
ReplyDeleteI want to agree with nicks comment when he said "I dont think someone can just take an artists work and modify it a little and use it if they do not change the meaning." This is because it wouldnt be their "modifyed"art if the meaning hasnt changed.
ReplyDeleteit would still be the other artists. I also I do not think that we see fairy any different other than a legitimate artist because his art work his great and his own style.
ReplyDeleteHis art work is legit even though he gets it from the media. To me there is no such thing as illegitimate. After seeing the piece you showed us with the urinal and the anime cartoon of a guy masturbating, i feel that this is way more legit than either of those. Having obama comment on his work shows how much of an effort he puts in advertising his art work and I think that's why he is a successful artist. I guarantee more people recognize his art than most artists because he makes the effort to show it to america. If other artists started doing this with their work, then I think we would understand art a lot better and the artist would become more successful.
ReplyDeleteI personally don't believe that this particular art work won the election. I think it worked well with Obama and Shepard Fairy it was a good choice. But the people did not vote for the artwork they voted for Obama as a person. I like the way Fairy creates his artwork and I think he adds meaning to a different kind of work.
ReplyDeleteContemporty art work to me means changing it and creating a whole new meaning or artwork. Our project was a perfect example of this by changing one object we created something new.
I think that pictures from the media are open to change and public use. By taking a piece that was already created and altering it, I believe that it does create a new piece of art. The smallest changes to a piece can change the context and the understanding or meaning of the piece. So, I would still consider Shepard Fairy a legitimate artist.
ReplyDeleteBy saying we encounter life through fragmented reproductions, and then I would say that yes Shepard Fairy is doing what is natural for an artist. For example, we talked about Arturo Herrera using recognizable images to take the viewer down a new path. I think that Shepard Fairy was doing the same type of thing.
Yes I think it changes the outlook on him. Before he was looked at just as a vandelist who had nothing better to do than illegaly put his art work on things he should not have. Now since he did somehting that it seen everywhere and people liked the picture he is considered famous. Mabey he has now finally relized to put his talents to a good legal use and make himself for the good. People will idol his work if he keeps drawing his attention to things that people enjoy or are proud to see.
ReplyDeleteFairy's use of the media does not change how people should see him as an artist because his still being creative and expressing himself. The letter showed that Oboma knew the poster made an impact on the public. Images from the media are open to change and public use and when they are changed slighlty they become new works. Fairy is just doing what comes natural to an artist because today the media is a big part of everyday life and that's what he builds off of.
ReplyDeleteIf your a real Fairy fan it shouldn't change the way you feel about him. It the media that made it such a big deal because he was using already made things to create his work. I like the picture personally and think everyone has the right to make their own version of things famous or not.
ReplyDeleteI dont see Fairy any differently than I did when he was just creating works on the sides of buildings. I believe that with or without his drawing of Obama, he should still be viewd as a legitimate artist. He created works that inspired that masses, long before his picture of Obama.
ReplyDeleteTo me reguardless if you take a piece of artwork and change just the littlest of things underlined meaning. In my opinion if you take a work of art already made n tweak it a little then its basicly plagarism(sp?)! Basicly what im trying to say is do your own work, dont take art already made and change it just a little.
ReplyDeleteI feel that when ever you find a picture or artwork in public, on television, The Internet or other media, you have the right to take the image and change it. Especially in my country (The Netherlands) we have freedom of speech and expression and (just about) everything is permitted. You can take any image, change it and say that you have made it. I think there should be more rules about this. For example, at least having to state the source.
ReplyDeleteBut I think if you change a piece of artwork, you can see that as a completely new work.
In my opinion, I think Shepard Fairy's art piece of Obama is really neat. I don't think Fairy's use of images from the media changes how we see him as a legitimate artist because he just took a plain picture of Barack Obama and spruced it up. I mean I guess there's no reason why he couldn't of just asked the photographer for his permission to alter the picture. I mean any person would be crazy not to let Shepard Fairy spruce up their picture. It is cool how he takes the images and makes stencils by enlarging and then tracing them. I think artsy graffiti is beautiful.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that the images we see everyday should be allowed for us to change to create a new message or meaning behind it.
ReplyDeleteI consider Fairey to be an artist. Just because his method of art is different from other artists, it does not mean he isn't.
Media is open to change. The reason it is put out there is for people to see and interpret/manipulate it anyway they want. If you buy a newspaper, the pictures and everything else in it becomes your on property. who cares wether you wipe you a** with it or change it into a piece of artwork.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Shepard's artworks that are based on/from the media are nothing but art. Taking a picture and simply changing simple aspects about it are nothing but legitimate art works. By changing just one word on the picture of Obama, and of course changing the color scheme and shapes, makes the original picture of Obama a whole new peice with a whole new meaning. Obama even praised this in his letter by stating "The political messages involved in your work have encouraged Americans to believe they can change the status-quo. Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign (Obama)." He is saying that Shepard's simple yet exceptional artworks can have a great impact on the public and one simple change to a photograph can change the whole status-quo. The images from the media are open to change and public use. They are used for the public everyday in billboards, newspapers, magazines etc., and everyone interprets them differently. By changing an image slightly it is a "new" work because it can have whole new meaning. To me Shepard is doing what come natural, esp, since he is a graffiti artist. He is not studying and looking at an object before or during his creations.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a fairy fan then it shouldn't change your opinion of him. He made a piece of art and it is your decision to decide if you like ot or not. The Media took a side and decided to make a big deal about it. Each peson is entitled to their own opinion, some like it and some don't. I personally like the piece. I think it says alot for one piece of art.
ReplyDeleteFairy made the picture of Obama for his own reason, but it might have helped to get Obama more votes. The letter from Obama shows that the President respects and very much appreciates what the artist has done. I do not think this would make his artwork less legit.
ReplyDeleteI believe every artwork is unique even when it is slightly different from the original piece. But I agree on what many people said: the message or the original context is changed. The Mona Lisa on the postcard with the mustache is not the same Mona Lisa you can see it the Louvre.
Not really, though he may be making a new kind of art he is for sure an artist. Using the media is a smart way to put yourself in the art field, and get your artwork viewed. Thousands of people have viewed Fairy’s artwork of Obama and I can imagine that not that many people knew that it even was a work of art but rather just another way to get to voters. Therefore, using the media doesn’t necessarily change how we see him but it does express a knew way to put art in society. In addition, that art can be used for pretty much anything including expressing a point to thousands of people, as Fairy did with his Obama piece.
ReplyDeleteIts hard to say about media being open to change, you for sure can change it but whether its legal to do so in another thing. And even if changed slightly it still has a lot of the old piece structured within so you really have to be careful. I think that changing them does make them “new” but I guess its similar to taking an old car and putting a new part on it. It’s still the same car just with different tires. However, if you take that old car and redo everything from the paint to the parts but leave the same body; it becomes a brand new car with the same framework as the old one.
The Media's opinion really wouldnt change fairy's artwork. Art is about expression and how u posssible see things in your own way. I think Fairy is free to do what ever he want with is artwork. The letter from President Obama is signifying that he likes what Fairy did and is showing his appreciation on that.
ReplyDeleteShepard Fairy’s use of images from the media do not affect at all the legitimacy of the artist. And the fact that Mr. Obama commented so positively on his art in fact promote the idea that his art is as legitimate as any other. More importantly, his art completes the functions of being visually appealing and having an important relevant cultural meaning.
ReplyDeleteAny image that is out there in public, is available to be changed and altered to create art. The creation of a “new” piece of art would come from an artistic alteration to and image, and so new art is created whenever this is done. Many of the art that we do encounter today come in the form of an alteration of a previously existing image or work, which is natural as we are tremendously exposed to it. Shepard Fairy and many other great graffiti artists do this magnificently to create very strongly opinionated statements through art.