“Fairey’s assertion that the AP itself violated copyright laws when it used a photo of the artist’s “Hope” poster without getting permission. In other words, he’s arguing that the AP can’t reproduce an image by Fairey that the artist himself appropriated from the AP.” Ughh. This is starting to get ridiculous. Here is my favorite rebuttal to Faireys Huffpost blog about this recent move. (Via LAT)
“The style of classic underground Hip-Hop music production is the best way to describe my work. The art of sampling from obscurity and life, then rearranging the placements in your own style creating something completely original.” Interview with LA Graffiti Draftsman Kofie (via jux)
So this whole hoopla over Shepard Fairey’s AP Case has gotten a bit of fuel from the man himself in a response to his detractors on his website. And the detractors come back with apparently both barrels blazing. Blam. Blam. Blam. Blam. This is shaping up to be a real showdown at AP corral. My take on it is that Fairey refuses to acknowledge the difference between “Art with social commentary” and a marketing campaign. Just because the financial beneficiary of this campaign was a political figure makes no more difference than if it was McDonalds. Actually there is a difference, McDonalds would have paid for the license on the image.
I need this – Metagraffiti Graffiti Art Films , It’s somewhat like a graff film festival at your house without the scribing on your mirror. That is unless you get down like that. (via ektopia)
“Fairey’s claims to questioning authority through guerrilla interventions in the public sphere are jejune. Obey Giant is now an industry, Hello Kitty with pretensions.” Christopher Knight joins the chorus of folks talking about the dissonance between what Shep say’s and what he does (via LAT)
“Suck my d**k Steve, It’s KET” The battle Royale between vandal squad and graff writers ended up being less bloodsport and more like group therapy (via wyw)
“Fairey’s willful pattern and practice is to repeatedly copy the works of other artists and photographers, While plaintiffs have attempted to cloak their actions in the guise of politics and art, there is no doubt that they are profiting handsomely from their misappropriation.” AP finally sues Shep Fairey over the Obama image. To make matters worse he is also getting hit with 29 other vandalism charges in Boston. I bet he wishes he didn’t brag about being more up than any graff writer in Boston. Also in an effort to save face, or protect his neck in this lawsuit business he has dropped his cease and desist case with the steeler baby.
Best style? Most respected? Outtakes from the seminal 1982 graffiti documentary Style Wars (via wyw)
“We all wandered into a country fair, where we could at least find some shade and cold drinks. I remember I took some pictures of Kurosawa walking around, including one that shows him in the midst of a Cajun band, the Louisiana Playboys.” Wim Wenders lazy sunday with Coppola, Lucas, and Kurosawa (via guardian)
There is a storm brewing over Shepard Fairey’s “referencing” of other artists work in his own pieces. Having been accused, with plenty of evidence, of plagiarism for years he is now being sued by the AP for his now (in)famous Obama “Hope” poster. Oh and his show at the ICA is boring. (via C-Mon)
Street artist Poster Boy gets hemmed up by the fuzz at his own art opening after a media blitz that included videos and interviews on various blogs. If you want fame you’ll get fame, this is the streets and not a game. (via The Art Collectors)
I’ve followed the Uganda Skateboard Union over the past couple of years and am always impressed with the ingenuity and devotion these kids have for the sport of skating. It seems that skateboards are the symbol of the USA that may help connect future generations across the globe. (via Club Mumble)
Interview discusses the debt owed to 60′s British TV series The Prisoner by todays fashion set.
Tamil musician and underground icon M.I.A. is making the most of her opportunities to share with us the fact that there is a genocide going on in her native Sri Lanka. She is doing interviews with print as well as TV outlets like Tavis Smiley (view) letting folks know whats going on. It’s great to see a pop star that cares for more than the newest Louis Vuitton release.
Rime a/k/a Jersey joe was asked to pimp out a trailer in New Jersey. He did and here is the documentation of possibly one of the funnest / weirdest painting sessions ever. kinda like Fellini goes to Edison. (via BunnyKitty)
There is an ongoing war between NYC’s graffiti writers and the “street artists” they feel are stealing their swagger. In Miami during Art Basel this war heated up to direct confrontation with WK Interact getting knocked out and Shepard Fairey getting dissed in a big way: (via Bombin’)
