OBEY GIANT - WORLDWIDE PROPAGANDA DELIVERY

Interview: Why Shepard Fairey is not a Sellout

Peter Simek did an interview with me in Dallas and asked some questions that were challenging. I think the conversation is worth a read. There have been a couple questions floating around that were not addressed in the interview. I’ve heard rumors that I was paid to do the murals and paid to DJ in Dallas. Neither is true. Dallas Contemporary paid for some of the costs, but a lot came out of my own pocket. I do street art because I think it is important for public expression and discourse. In fact, I lose quite a lot of money doing street art, but I can afford ambitious street projects by selling art and posters. Street art is free for the public, but costly to the artists. There seems to be a strange and unrealistic standard for street artist. If a street artist’s model could be compared to a rock band’s, it would be like saying a band does their version of street art by touring cities and playing free public concerts, but then their audience is appalled if they sell CD’s or tee shirts to pay for those free concerts, and if they do, their good will in playing free concerts is dismissed as an evil marketing scheme to sell more CD’s. I look at myself as someone who wants to empower artists(including myself) and so I refuse to subscribe to a dysfunctional standard toward street artists that does nothing but hold us back. I’ve been called a sellout for using platforms for my art other than just the street, but I think there are many valid ways to share one’s art with the public and many valid ways to solve the difficult problem of surviving financially as an artist.

-Shepard

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posted February 9th, 2012

Cowboy Country – OBEY Dallas Recap

The crew and I just got back from an action packed mural mission to Dallas facilitated by the Dallas Contemporary Museum. We did 5 painted murals in 6 days working long hours. I brought along the razor sharpish LA Squad of Z Bomit, Nic Bowers, and Dan Flores, and we were additionally supplemented by some great folks in Dallas like Dalton aka Roadhouse, Mack Simpson, Elissa, and Beatle. I did a well attended lecture with Pedro Alonzo, and rocked a DJ set at the museum. I talked to a bunch of school groups too which made me wonder when I made the shift from a bad influence to a role model? I think there is still some room for debate there, but there is no room for debate when I say Peter, Erin and the rest of the Dallas Contemporary staff took great care of us. Southern hospitality was generally abundant…thanks y’all. Jon Furlong shot a bunch of great photos. Here are some highlights, but check out the links below for the full story of the work and play .
-Shepard

Dallas: The Pilot (Part 1)

Dallas: The Cliffhanger (Part 2)

Dallas: The Finale (Part 3)

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posted February 8th, 2012

LA Mural Ordinance Community Discussion

New Mural Ordinance Community Discussion with Shepard Fairey and Saber
LALA Gallery
1335 Willow St.
Los Angeles, CA. 90021

This is your last chance to make your voice heard… Public Comment on the new LA Mural Ordinance will end soon. The Dept. of City Planning, LALA Gallery and the Arts District BID want to celebrate our policy momentum with a final public discussion and chill event on February 7th.

Please familiarize yourself with the Draft Ordinance HERE.

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posted February 6th, 2012

Haul the Kochs before Congress!

Billionaire oil tycoons Charles and David Koch continue shunning transparency. What are they hiding?

The Koch brothers have refused to answer fundamental questions about how they stand to gain financially from the Keystone XL oil pipeline, a 1,700-mile long boondoggle that will make the Kochs richer.

Rep. Henry Waxman has invited the Koch brothers to testify before Congress, but the Kochs’ allies in Congress are dragging out the process.

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posted February 3rd, 2012

Dallas Contemporary x Shepard Fairey

Dallas Contemporary has invited Shepard to create a series of murals throughout the city with a focus on West Dallas. Shepard and the OBEY GIANT crew will be in Dallas the week prior to Feb 4th. If you are in the neighborhood be on the look out for the OBEY GIANT experience and please show your support to the Dallas Contemporary.

In celebration of the mural project, on Feb 4th, the Dallas Contemporary will host the first annual PHENOMENON, an over-the-top, neon-inspired dance party. Shepard will provide the music for guests in the Dallas Contemporary galleries, just days after completing his murals. A Limited Edition Print, Posters, and other collectibles will be available at the contemporary. For the tickets and more details on the week’s events please visit, http://dallascontemporary.org/

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posted January 27th, 2012

Unit 44, UK X Philip Lumbang X Solo Works

My friend and former co-worker Phil Lumbang is having his first UK show in Newcastle on Feb. 3. If you are in the area I’m sure he’d enjoy meeting you and sharing his characters and character(both of which he has in abundance). Cheers mates.
-Shepard

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posted January 27th, 2012