As most of you know Shepard Fairey is one of my favorite artists. I bring this up because OBEY Giant released the red, white and blue print Obama today, a portrait of Senator Barack Obama. While it might sound random, Fairey has often made portraits of other important, influential people in history. The print is very striking and of course includes the obligatory Giant face included somewhere in the picture. The print is 24” x 36” and only 350 were made. As with most OBEY Giant prints, each one is hand signed and numbered by Shepard Fairey.
Shepard included with the announcement of his latest print his ringing endorsement of Obama for President. On the OBEY Giant website Fairey stated:
I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself www.barackobama.com. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a large statewide poster campaign.
Thanks. - Shepard
Anyone interested in helping out please email info@obeygiant.com with OBAMA as the Subject Title for instructions.
Over the weekend Senator Obama received another more prominent endorsement from daughter of President John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy came out in support of Mr. Obama stating that “he could inspire Americans in the same way her father once did.” (link) Ms. Kennedy wrote in an op-ed posted on The New York Times website January 27th that “Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president – not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.” (link)
What do all of you think, do you agree with Ms. Kennedy? Or, do you even care what Caroline Kennedy thinks? Why is her opinion given so much weight, because her father was a former U.S. President? It’s strange that because her last name is Kennedy this op-ed is given so much credence and publicity. Up until now the only three things I knew about her was who her parents were, who her brother was, and that the song “Sweet Caroline” was written about her.