Lastnightstony

Change is Overdue

8 years after the theft of a nation happened in Florida we are on the verge of a new reality. I remember rolling up Polk street and when I got to the intersection of Bush I noticed the street signs had been changed to say “Puppet”. It was done with the same font that the street signs use and looked as if it had been officially changed. Now after 8 years of a bullshit war on terror and the dignity of a nation thoroughly dragged through the mud, it is time for change. 

Sheppard Fairey has exploited propaganda and the graphic style of it for years. His first candidate that he supported was Andre The Giant. The phenomenon that was “Andre the Giant has a Posse” has literally became a cultural movement.  Starting small and making it big is the whole story of Obey in a nutshell. With a crappy little sticker to an evolving graphic style to the incredible zenith of entire gallery shows selling out before the openings, Shepard’s work has come a really long way in a relatively short period of time, and spurred by a fictitious client. With the Hilary and Barrack hitting the campaign trail hard for our votes, picking teams is now serious business. Sheppard Fairey has made a series of posters that have caught on fast with people. Street level communication can create change and inspire people to take action. If you are in the Portland area in the next few days, so will Mr. Obama. And if you so happen to be at work on Friday, there might be the next President of the United States available to give you a bit of his time. Just maybe.