Shepard Fairey is one vector artist who has proven that images can change the world. He is most famous for The Hope poster he created for the Obama Campaign. That image, crystallized the feelings of a generation.
His Obey brand is also a very recognizable signature that has secured it’s own place in vector art culture.
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Vector Barack Obama
Infographic – The First Lady's effect on the fashion industry
David Yermack of The Harvard Business Review has put together some interesting statistics regarding Michelle Obama‘s effect on the fashion industry. Click on the smaller image below for an enlargement of this well crafted info graphic.
Is it factual data or merely coincidence? You decide.
Vectorvault + The New York Times = Awsomeness
Imagine my delight when I came across this article on The New York Times: The Shop Talk on Marthas Vineyard: The Obamas. One of our very own Obama illustrations was spotted in the town of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vinyard in the form of a t-shirt.
This Obama portrait retails for only $12. So according to my calculations – The genius who made these t-shirts probably made a zillion dollar profit. Does that “tick me off”? Actually, I’m thrilled! It shows me that Vectorvault lives up to the hype. It saves time and generates money for those who use it.
Read more about how savvy entrepreneurs like this one are capitalizing on “Obama-fever“, even though he’s only vacationing there.
AP Shepard Fairey Counterclaim Filed
NEW YORK
The Associated Press countersued an artist Wednesday over his famous image of Barack Obama, saying the image’s uncredited, uncompensated use of an AP photo violated copyright laws and signaled a threat to journalism.
The artist, Shepard Fairey, sued the not-for-profit news cooperative last month over his artwork, titled “Obama Hope” and “Obama Progress,” arguing that he didn’t violate copyright law because he dramatically changed the image.
The artwork, based on an April 2006 picture taken for the AP by Mannie Garcia, was a popular image during the presidential campaign.
According to the AP lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan, Fairey knowingly “misappropriated The AP’s rights in that image.” The suit, which also names several companies Fairey uses to market his work, asks the court to award AP profits made off the image and damages.
“While (Fairey and the companies) 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,” the lawsuit says.
Fairey’s lawyers and representatives for the companies had no immediate response.
The red, cream and light-blue image depicts a pensive but determined-looking Obama gazing upward, with the caption “HOPE” or “PROGRESS.” It became a familiar sight on buttons, shirts and other items, garnering Fairey a thank-you letter from Obama and more than $400,000 in profits, according to published reports.
Fairey’s lawyers acknowledge the image is derived from Garcia’s photograph, made at the National Press Club in Washington while Obama was a senator.
Source: The Huffington Post
Obama 'Hope' poster artist arrested in Boston
By Milton J. Valencia and Mark Shanahan
Shepard Fairey, the controversial street artist riding a roller coaster of publicity with his red, white, and blue posters of President Barack Obama, was arrested last night on his way to DJ an event kicking off his exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art.
Fairey, a 38-year-old known for his countercultural style, was arrested on two outstanding warrants and was being held at a police station, according to a police official with knowledge of the arrest who requested anonymity.
Police could not describe the nature of the outstanding warrants last night, but said they were based in Massachusetts.
Fairey has been arrested at least 14 times, he has told the Globe.
The artist was arrested at about 9:15 p.m. as he was about to enter a sold-out dance event at the Institute of Contemporary Art on Northern Avenue, known as “Experiment Night.” The event is geared toward a younger-age crowd, with techno-style music, and more than 750 people were waiting for him, some of whom had bought tickets for the event on Craigslist for as much as $500.
Fairey was supposed to appear as a guest DJ for the kickoff of his exhibit, Supply and Demand, which will run through Aug. 16. He was scheduled to go on stage at about 10:30 p.m., and an hour later organizers reported to the crowd that he was arrested.
“We’re very disappointed,” said Paul Bessire, deputy director of the Institute of Contemporary Art.
“Shepard Fairey is a wonderful artist who created some positive work and we were very pleased to present his work here and around the city. We feel he is an influential artist.”
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