On Sade:
Lovers Redux from Steven Lopez on Vimeo.
With Erykah Badu:
Erykah Badu and Artist Steven Lopez collaborate for social change from Steven Lopez on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
favianna rodriguez
don't you wish you could throw down like this? 'cause i do.
"Pasandola de Avión en Avión" (Going from Plane to Plane)
"Raw"
"Separación"
via favianna. see more images here.
favianna rodriguez is an artist and activist based in oakland, calif. she founded the east side arts alliance in oakland in 1999 and is probably iller than you.
"Pasandola de Avión en Avión" (Going from Plane to Plane)
"Raw"
"Separación"
via favianna. see more images here.
favianna rodriguez is an artist and activist based in oakland, calif. she founded the east side arts alliance in oakland in 1999 and is probably iller than you.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Shepard Fairey's Past (and Future)?
Shepard Fairey is many things: a world-renowned street artist, successful clothing entrepreneur and acclaimed graphic designer. But is he also an obsessive plagarist?
Many of his fellow street artists think so.
He came to fame in the early '90's and has since become one of the most recognizable -- and profitable -- street artists in the world. He's mostly known for his OBEY GIANT street art and a clothing line by the same time. Most recently, he's gained acclaim for his iconic Obama posters:
Fairey eventually struck a deal with the Obama campaign and the posters became official Obama '08 artwork, selling millions of copies and becoming synonymous with Obama's political ascension and the political hopes of a generation.
Unfortunetly, Fairey has a very troubled past in the world of progressive printmaking. Oakland-based printmaker and political activist Favianna Rodgruez recently pointed out that, contrary to his aim to forward social movements in the US and abroad, Fairey's most noticeable artistic trait is plagarism.
In fact, in an article by artist Mark Vallen, co-reasearched by Rogriguez and two other artists, published to coincide with Fairey's Los Angeles solo exhibition in December 2007, numerous examples of Fairey's alleged plagarism come to surface. You be the judge:
But of course Fairey's actions aren't racist. He's friends with Chuck D!
Many of his fellow street artists think so.
He came to fame in the early '90's and has since become one of the most recognizable -- and profitable -- street artists in the world. He's mostly known for his OBEY GIANT street art and a clothing line by the same time. Most recently, he's gained acclaim for his iconic Obama posters:
Fairey eventually struck a deal with the Obama campaign and the posters became official Obama '08 artwork, selling millions of copies and becoming synonymous with Obama's political ascension and the political hopes of a generation.
Unfortunetly, Fairey has a very troubled past in the world of progressive printmaking. Oakland-based printmaker and political activist Favianna Rodgruez recently pointed out that, contrary to his aim to forward social movements in the US and abroad, Fairey's most noticeable artistic trait is plagarism.
In fact, in an article by artist Mark Vallen, co-reasearched by Rogriguez and two other artists, published to coincide with Fairey's Los Angeles solo exhibition in December 2007, numerous examples of Fairey's alleged plagarism come to surface. You be the judge:
[ Left: Political power comes from the barrel of a gun - Artist unknown. 1968. Chinese poster from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution period. The title of this poster quotes the famous pronouncement made by Mao Tse-Tung. Right: Fairey's plagiarized version titled, Guns and Roses. The Chinese poster's central motif of hands bearing machine guns was plainly digitally scanned without any alteration. Fairey, or his assistants, then applied a modified sun-burst background, placed clip-art roses in the gun barrels, and released the imitation in 2006 as a supposed original work.]
[ Left: Black Panther - Pirkle Jones. Photograph. 1968. Portrait of an anonymous Panther at a political rally in Oakland, California. The Panther photos of Ruth-Marion Baruch and Pirkle Jones are internationally famous and have long been available in book form. Right: Fairey’s street poster, which neither credits Pirkle Jones nor makes any mention of the Black Panther Party.]
[ Left: Liberate Puerto Rico Now! - Young Lords Party. Silkscreen poster. 1971. Right: Fairey’s rip-off, "Wage Peace: Obey", which neither credits nor makes any mention of the Young Lords Party.]
[ Left: Libertad para Angela Davis (Freedom for Angela Davis) - Félix Beltrán, Cuba, 1971. Original silk-screen print created by Beltrán in solidarity with Angela Davis when she was a political prisoner in the US. Right: Fairey’s plundered version as a street poster, which neither credits Beltrán nor identifies Angela Davis.]
read more.
But of course Fairey's actions aren't racist. He's friends with Chuck D!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Uh oh, Ye.
Kanye West debuted his new video for Love Lockdown on Ellen this week. And some diehard Kanye fans aren't pleased.
The reason? In the video, Kanye juxtaposes a modernist white background against representations of African warriors, percussionists and nude women. Loin clothes and spears, galore.
See the video:
And then, my friend Salim's response:
So, let's hear it. Did Kanye cross the line this time? Is this just art for art's sake? Or is he making a subtle artistic critique?
Friday, November 16, 2007
(Untitled)
Can I blog a painting? This is the reason I haven't posted in over a month. I've been working on finishing up this 1.5 year work in progress. For all my transgender/genderqueer Hindus out there, this is for you :). 
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Awe
Awe: an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
or in this case in awe of a great artist.
I have watched this particular artist develop his style and technique for the last twenty years. I remember how out-of-control and outside the lines his drawing and coloring was. Not nearly as beautiful as my drawings of the Little Mermaid and perfect inside-the-lines coloring. I remember later when his third grade teacher saw something in him and encouraged him and taught him how to explore his talent. I remember realizing that there was something more than I had thought. I remember his doodles next to the computer that made me stop and stare at the complex shapes formed by his pen and wonder how someone could possibly make such intricate designs. I remember the high school art projects and then the larger canvas paintings and the graffiti art. I remember it all and with each step I am in awe of his raw talent, his mind, his heart and his soul.
Painting by Adam X. Garner.
(The photo may not be used without express permission
or in this case in awe of a great artist.
I have watched this particular artist develop his style and technique for the last twenty years. I remember how out-of-control and outside the lines his drawing and coloring was. Not nearly as beautiful as my drawings of the Little Mermaid and perfect inside-the-lines coloring. I remember later when his third grade teacher saw something in him and encouraged him and taught him how to explore his talent. I remember realizing that there was something more than I had thought. I remember his doodles next to the computer that made me stop and stare at the complex shapes formed by his pen and wonder how someone could possibly make such intricate designs. I remember the high school art projects and then the larger canvas paintings and the graffiti art. I remember it all and with each step I am in awe of his raw talent, his mind, his heart and his soul.
Painting by Adam X. Garner.
(The photo may not be used without express permission
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