Is Shepard Fairey, the street artist famous for his Obama "Hope" image and Obey Giant campaign, a hypocrite?
Fairey fired back to the blogger with an angry email, saying "Your attempt to portray me as hypocrite was thinly veiled incitement for people to tag our building... Maybe the economy has made you desperate, or maybe you are always slime. Either way, you should be ashamed."
Fairey, who was recently arrested and convicted of graffiti vandalism, has built his reputation—and fortune—as a street artist who illegally emblazons his stickers and posters on city walls.
What do YOU think of Shepard Fairey? Hypocrite, or justified?
Read The Eastsider LA's blog here: http://www.theeastsiderla.com/2009/08/shepard-fairey-tags-eastsider-as.html
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M$2 Answers
Shepard is actually a friend of my sister-in-law's. Up until two years ago, my favorite pajama shirt was a unique t-shirt with a Shepard Fairey original graphic on it (one of a kind). And I threw it out 18 months ago for excessive wear (wish I still had it now!). See that Andre the Giant image in the pic above? I had that sticker of his on my discman from about 2000-2004. The famous Andre the Giant discman!
So anyway, my opinion is a bit colored, but even if he did apply anti-graffiti spray, I wouldn't necessarily say that's hypocritical. After all, with all of the publicity surrounding his case, many people will purposely and maliciously target him as a form of harassment.
What Fairey does - although bothersome to some people, granted - is not malicious or targeting any individuals (as far as I know). And I do think it's very inappropriate for a major blog to indirectly suggest that Fairey's residence is a distinct graffiti target.
So yeah, I'm on Shepard's side.
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M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
(BTW, just for fun I thought I'd post this pic of me....YEARS ago wearing the Shepard Fairey shirt. That photo is my favorite bookmark I use all the time - not because of the shirt, but because of my woolly husband)
He is undoubtedly a trail blazer—and an artist who has made his cultural mark. This incident does raise questions that are rampant in the graffiti/street art community, however: when and where is vandalism for art's sake appropriate? There are many strong opinions surrounding this question. What do you think?
I think that some of the best art from history *is*/*was* inappropriate. Appropriate art rarely makes history.
But, yes I'll agree that vandalism is not the medium I would choose, and I probably wouldn't be a happy property owner if he hit a place of mine.
As an art appreciator though, I'm completely rooting him on!