BNE X SHEPARD FAIREY
I first encountered BNE’s (BNE.org) work through his graffiti in San Francisco in the late 90’s. At that time he was up huge in some daring spots. A few years later I started seeing a massive number of his stickers in cities around the USA, Europe, and Asia. I was, and am, incredibly impressed by his proliferation of his stickers, if for no other reason than his work is proof that one person has the power to literally change the landscape of many cities! I think BNE may be the most “up” sticker bomber on the planet. Whether or not you appreciate or hate graffiti/street art, it requires tenacity and risk taking. It is easy for me to recognize guts, passion, and dedication in BNE, and unlike most graffiti artists, he is not using his notoriety solely for personal glory, but has put his infamy toward a very worthwhile cause… clean water. The print we have collaborated on benefits CharityWater.org… A NYC based NPO that has helped over 3.1 million people get access to clean, safe drinking water. They are radically transparent and use 100% of donations for actual water project costs. Check out the video below:
Water Changes Everything. from charity: water on Vimeo.
BNE shot the photo I illustrated from in Indonesia and he and I have both signed all of the prints. The print is $60 and comes with four BNE lip balms worth $16 and two BNE stickers (priceless). All profits go to CharityWater.org
Click here to join our campaign to help bring clean, safe drinking water to India.
Also, help spread the word!
BNE started with water as his cause, but is expanding to produce organic and environmentally responsible products that raise funds + awareness for the world’s greatest charities.
Thanks for caring!
-Shepard Fairey
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Tremendous turnout at the Kai & Sunny opening
The Kai & Sunny opening Saturday night was a huge success. There was a tremendous turnout and we sold out of the collaborative prints we had reserved for in-person sales. If you missed it that night it goes for sale online at ObeyGiant.com later this week. My friend Paul Banks from Interpol stopped by and brought his friend The RZA aka Bobby Digital, the multi-talented rapper, producer, actor, and writer/director. He was very nice and I threw on some Wu-Tang in his honor since I was DJ’ing. I was flattered that he picked up my book! Interpol is working on a new album which I’m looking forward to.
Keith Morris prints
18 x 24 inch screen prints, signed by Shepard Fairey, Glen E. Friedman and Keith Morris. Three different colorway versions available.
Release date: Tuesday September 10, 2013 at a random time between 10 and 11am PST in the PRINTS page of the store. Limit 1 version of each colorway per person/household.
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Subliminal Projects presents KAI & SUNNY: CAUGHT BY THE NEST
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 7 • 8 – 11 PM
Exhibition Dates: September 7 – October 5
SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS is proud to present new work by artists Kai & Sunny. Bridging the gap between fine art and design, the duo is inspired by imagery from nature. Natural forms are reduced to geometric patterns and figures then translated into large-scale installations, hand-pulled screen prints infused with copper and stardust, and unique letterpress prints. The exhibition will also feature a collaborative print by Shepard Fairey and Kai & Sunny!
“Sunny and I use nature in our work to connect with people, to provoke
thoughts and memories. We like the idea of showing something you can’t
actually see and ask bigger questions. We use nature-based images as
a metaphor for other feelings.” – Kai (2013)
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New “We Are Still Here” Mural in Downtown LA
I met Stephen Zeigler at my friend Stuart Noble’s memorial and he mentioned that he was working on a project to turn Indian Alley in downtown LA into a series of interlaced murals focusing on human rights and Native issues. He knew I had done some work for the American Indian Movement and the Honor The Treaties initiative, and asked if I’d be interested in painting a mural in the alley of the “We Are Still Here” piece I collaborated with Aaron Huey on. I was enthusiastic about doing it because I love the image and I am focusing on the Honor The Treaties initiative with my Obey Awareness Program this season through Obey Clothing. All profits from the T-shirts go to support Native art and awareness initiatives. Check it out at http://www.obeyclothing.com/awareness/honor-the-treaties/
Shepard Fairey x Kai & Sunny Print Collaboration
We are showing Kai & Sunny this weekend at Subliminal projects and their work is amazing. I was fortunate enough to do a print collaboration with them and it turned out very beautifully. There are two color ways in the screen print edition: black and silver, and black and light gold. The metallic is more luminous than most and has to be seen in person. The print is on premium rag paper with deckled edges and there is an embossed Kai & Sunny logo in the lower right. The prints are signed and numbered by Kai & Sunny and me. The whole Kai & Sunny “Caught By The Nest” show is gorgeous and is a must see. I hope to see you Saturday!
A limited quantity of both editions will be available at the Opening Reception for in-person purchases ONLY. OBEY GIANT will be releasing the full editions online on September 12th, 2013 at a Random Time. Each print is $125 and will be limited to 1 print per person/per household. For more information please visit the OG website.
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Endless Power
The “Endless Power” poster is about a few things… power, wishful thinking, truth in advertising, and the environment.
I designed this print to feel like a vintage ad celebrating the abundance of America and the bright future of the American Dream. A lot of shrewd advertising has been created to suggest that things we want are also good for us and society. Perfect examples are the ads celebrating the health benefits of liquor and cigarettes. My inclusion of the badge stating “with lung tonic” is a humorous nod to the absurd health claims historically made for harmful products. The claim that petrol provides an unlimited future is a snapshot of the overly-optimistic wish that oil is unlimited. Though oil is finite, our reliance on it is so extreme that the power wielded by those who control oil is virtually unlimited, a situation that inspired the title ‘Endless Power”. Oil and gas companies and the car manufacturers who profit heavily from gas powered engines used their power and influence to overturn a zero emissions law in the state of California, effectively delaying electric cars arriving on the market accessibly for ten plus years. It is dangerous for an industry to have that much power. Scientists hired by fossil fuels corporations represent the minority of the scientific community who claim oil stocks are endless and that oil and gas don’t contribute to climate change. These are the same scientists who, if paid, would claim that smoking cures asthma or gas fumes are a cure-all lung tonic.
Though oil may have originally seemed to be endless, we now know the world’s oil reserves will run out eventually. Estimates range from 10 years to 200 until accessible oil is depleted. The oil was formed by natural geological processes which occurred over millions of years. Oil consumption presently exceeds 25 billion barrels a year and demand continues to spiral upward, out of control. The outcome is inevitable.
In the 21st Century we rely on oil and gas for transport – cars, ships, aircraft – as well as a lot of electrical power. Our lifestyle cannot survive without oil and gas, and when the supply runs out, the great engine of Western civilization will be in trouble. We are heading for an event that will be remembered as one of the great disasters of human history, and life is going to get harder for everyone unless we cultivate renewable alternatives.
-Shepard
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BLOOD, DEATH & SABBATH
Amanda and I along with a few of the Obey crew went to see Black Sabbath last night. I was able to do the tee for the tour crew so we got to say hello to Ozzy and watch the show from the stage. The band sounded great and I lost myself in head-banging world for a while, only to look to my left and see Sen Dog from Cypress Hill rocking out. It was cool to say hi to him since I’m a big Cypress Hill fan too. Special thanks to Big Dave for making all the arrangements for our VIP access! Also thanks to Jon Furlong for the great pics. Catch Sabbath if you can!-Shepard
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Honor the Treaties Stickers are here!
My friend Zoltron from Sticker Robot is always down to support the activism and causes I believe in and I’m very grateful we have shared ideals. He has printed these stickers to benefit HonortheTreaties.org. We believe in empowerment and communication through art, and if you do too, pick up a sticker or t-shirt because the proceeds go to support a native artist. Thanks for caring.
-Shepard
Joan Jett The Runaway
Blondie guitarist and primary songwriter Chris Stein and I became friends when I was working on a portrait of Debbie Harry for my MAYDAY show in 2010. Chris studied photography at SVA in NYC and has an amazing body of work. We talked about doing a collaboration and this print of Joan Jett from 76 or 77 is the result.
Chris had an opening of his photography at the Morrison Hotel gallery at the Sunset Marquis and Joan happened to be in town. We all got together in Debbie Harry’s hotel room and signed the prints. It was pretty surreal for me because Blondie and Joan Jett are two of the earliest bands whose records I bought . Check out the other photo from 76 or 77 of Joan and Debbie from the same evening as the shot of Joan I illustrated from. It was a great time in music.
If you missed Chris’ show at the Sunset Marquis, you can check out the amazing photos of his friends and contemporaries here . You can also view and purchase Chris Stein’s work at morrisonhotelgallery.com.
All of the Joan Jett The Runaway prints are signed by me, Chris, and Joan, but some have a slightly bent corner due to being shipped to New York and back. If you don’t want to risk getting one of these we will have some APs for sale too but they will only be signed by me.
Blondie has a new album in the works and will be touring with X this fall which is sure to be amazing. Check out www.blondie.net for info.
-Shepard
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