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CINCINNATI— With all eyes on Ohio for the 2024 election, ArtWorks is teaming up with arts organizations across the state to re-ignite voter enthusiasm and drive participation. ArtWorks is organizing the nonpartisan “Get Out the Vote” mural project with renowned street artist Shepard Fairey, which will include the creation of a large-scale mural in Cincinnati and dozens of smaller, temporary wheatpaste murals in Cincinnati and Columbus this September.
The murals will be installed from September 15–21, 2024. Fairey and his team will work with local artists and apprentices ages 18–24. This collaboration emphasizes the importance of voting and empowers artists to engage in the democratic process. Up to 30 nonpartisan murals divided between Cincinnati and Columbus—will amplify the “Get Out the Vote” message, along with a permanent mural in Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, his first in Ohio.
Additional Ohio artists also will be involved, designing “Get Out the Vote” yard signs to be distributed across the state in key cities. Twelve artists, three each from Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Dayton, will create 18″ x 24″ full-color signs that will be provided for free to Ohio residents. A full list of arts organizations and locations where you can pick up the free signs will be listed on ArtWorks’ website in mid-September.
ArtWorks is working closely with statewide partners CreativeOhio, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and ArtsVote Ohio. Local arts partners include ArtsWave (the region’s primary source of arts funding), the Contemporary Arts Center, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and the list of partners is growing. In addition to distributing “Get Out the Vote” yard signs, many arts organizations will also be locations for voter registration with voter drive events, starting on September 17 and ending October 7, the last day to register to vote in Ohio.
“It’s an important moment in American politics, and it’s a moment to bring a get-out-the-vote message to the streets,” said Shepard Fairey. “I’m excited to be in Ohio right now to not only get art out there but also to be part of a movement to recognize the ideals of democracy. I believe that democracy functions most ideally when as many as possible participate,” Fairey said.
“Get Out the Vote” builds on ArtWorks’ previous voter engagement efforts, including its 2020 campaign “Hear Me Out,” which provided a mobile voter registration hub and guide researched and designed by young artists for young people in Ohio to inspire voter turnout amongst a demographic with historically low turnout.
“We’re excited to partner with Shepard Fairey, a pioneer in public art, to use new murals and wheatpastes to inspire citizens to vote,” said Colleen Houston, CEO and Artistic Director, ArtWorks. “Public art has the unique ability to inspire action across a large audience. This is one of the most ambitious public art projects we have worked on to date across the state of Ohio. Through this project, we hope to engage Ohioans in the democratic process and create a platform for the arts sector to increase engagement with the upcoming election.”
Support for this mural project is provided by ArtsWave and The Johnson Foundation, with additional support from individuals and 3CDC. To contribute to this initiative, please visit ArtWorks’ donation page. Donors at various levels will receive a limited edition print of Shepard Fairey’s “Get Out the Vote” mural.
To further amplify the project, Orange Barrel Media will showcase Fairey’s murals, along with the work of the 12 Ohio-based artists, across their network of IKE Smart City kiosks in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. This partnership expands the artwork’s reach across more than 180 digital screens in Ohio’s cities.
Seeking Walls for Wheatpaste Murals
ArtWorks invites Cincinnati property owners to host walls for Fairey’s wheatpaste murals, which are applied using a flour-and-water mix. Register your wall to be part of this project if you own a wall that could be part of this project. ArtWorks and Fairey will select up to 15 locations in Cincinnati for these murals, which can range from poster size to 8 feet tall. While wheatpastes are temporary, they can last anywhere from 12 months to several years, depending on the weather.
Fairey Speaking Engagements
On September 17, National Voter Registration Day, Fairey will speak to two audiences in Cincinnati. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fairey will speak in person to the next generation of creatives at the Art Academy of Cincinnati College of Art & Design. The event will be livestreamed to art students and audiences around the globe. During this engagement, Fairy will explore how street art can be a powerful force for social change. This exclusive session for college students will include a Q&A, offering a rare opportunity for them to engage directly with an iconic artist. Students will be encouraged to register to vote, participate in the upcoming election, and sign up for Youth at the Booth to work the polls on election day. A livestream link will be available to access at www.artacademy.edu.
Joe Girandola, president and CEO of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, said he’s looking forward to the connections this project will enable for students and their artistic learning. “Shepard Fairey has been an influential artist for young students in the creative fields to understand that art can be an impactful method for social and cultural change.”
Later that evening, at 6 p.m., Fairey will take the stage at the Contemporary Arts Center’s Black Box Theater for an inspiring talk open to the public. He’ll dive into his journey as an artist and discuss how public art can drive civic engagement and inspire communities. Both events are free, but space is limited. The public can reserve a seat for the Contemporary Arts Center event online.
Opportunities for Voter Registration
Voter registration resources will be shared as part of this program, with support from the Board of Elections and League of Women Voters. Voter Registration led by arts partners will kick off on September 17, National Voter Registration Day. Voter Registration will occur at each of the artist talks mentioned above and at additional locations throughout the week of September 15–21. The Contemporary Arts Center will be signing up visitors to vote at its front desk on September 21, 22, 28, 29 and October 5 and 6, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Art Academy will have a Voter Registration Booth onsite on September 17, 24, and October 1, from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Additional arts organizations are encouraged to participate.
Fairey’s History in Cincinnati
Fairey made waves in Cincinnati at the 2010 Contemporary Arts Center exhibition “Supply and Demand,” a 20-year retrospective of the artist’s work. At that time, the CAC organized installing Fairey’s wheatpaste murals on the exterior of buildings in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Northside, Oakley, Silverton, Madisonville and Covington. One of those historic wheatpastes can still be found at Arnold’s Bar and Grill, 210 E 8th Street in Over-the-Rhine.
About the Artist
Born in 1970, Shepard Fairey has been a major figure of the contemporary street art movement. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s with his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” campaign, which distributed posters, stickers, and murals featuring the eponymous wrestler around Providence, Rhode Island. Fairey’s iconic 2008 “Hope” campaign poster for President Barack Obama encapsulates a number of the artist’s recurring concerns, including propaganda, portraiture, and political power. Fairey’s work can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
About ArtWorks
Since 1996, ArtWorks has collaborated with community organizations and residents, businesses, governments, foundations, and nonprofits to create works of art that have helped to define Greater Cincinnati’s global reputation as an arts destination. Its mural program has made Cincinnati the #1 City for Street Art in USA Today’s 2024 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. By employing and training over 3,500 professional artists and engaging 4,000 teens and young adults, ages 14-24, ArtWorks is actively investing in the creative economy. Through job creation that supports local talent and mentorship programs that pair professional artists with diverse teams of young people, their programs foster the development of 21st-century career-readiness skills. ArtWorks has created a vibrant citywide gallery with more than 14,000 public and private art projects over the last 28 years. Among these are more than 300 permanent outdoor murals that contribute to Cincinnati’s rich cultural tapestry, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. ArtWorks partners with Hamilton County and Talbert House for seasonal apprentice funding. It also receives ongoing support from the City of Cincinnati, the Ohio Arts Council, ArtsWave, and individual donors.
