Wendy Davis has a Posse!

A friend sent this to me today. I approve, and you should too if you care about women’s reproductive rights. If the name Wendy Davis doesn’t ring a bell, she’s the Democrat who filibustered for 12 hours to block an abortion restriction bill being pushed by Texas Republicans. Check out this link to learn more.

Cleon Peterson | There is a War | The Outsiders London

Cleon Peterson: There Is A War
Friday 5th July – Saturday 3rd August 2013
Private view: 6pm – 9pm Thursday 4th July 2013

Cleon Peterson’s nightmarish tableaux feature scenes of a barbaric holocaust, where might is right and the weak are merely souls with holes for the strong to torment and abuse. Deviance is the norm, and the displaced individual is forced to navigate this wicked world alone, finding hollow bits of pleasure and meaning in violence, sex, religion and drugs.
Although the 39 year-old California artist chuckles, “My work doesn’t just contain violence, there’s a humour to it – the images are so over the top.” A horde of uniform bad guys, at once ethnic, gothic and alien rampage through the works, sacking small the metropolis within and wantonly abusing its law-abiding residents. These bogeymen are so comically stereotyped as to infer that oppressors take many forms, throughout history to the present day, from slavers and plutocrats to bullies and witch-hunters.

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Don’t let the Koch brothers control public television

Last month, The New Yorker reported that public television backed out of its deal to air the documentary Citizen Koch—just because they were afraid of upsetting billionaire donor David Koch. David Koch has donated $23 million as a board member of two flagship PBS stations, WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston.

Public television was founded to support the public interest, not to cater to the private interests of wealthy donors like the Koch brothers.

DJ Diabetic x Friend Slash Lover

I’ll be DJ’ing an art show for my friend Josh Mintz, AKA: Friend Slash Lover, on Sat. His work is very entertaining, provocative, and clever. Check it out if you are in the ‘hood.
-Shepard

“It Was My Idea To Steal That Idea”

Come join Friend Slash Lover for a fine art exhibit and celebrate the release of their new single, HELLTHY.

The opening night party features special guest DJ Diabetic (Shepard Fairey, Obey Giant) and quirky, blippy, underground duo SSI! (John Goff from SSI remixed every song on Friend Slash Lover’s first EP.)

Fine art, prints, mirrors, stickers, t-shirts, tacos, booze, music.

Free and all ages!

At the world famous NOMAD ART COMPOUND
June 29th, 2013 at 7:00pm – 12:00am
1993 Blake Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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Russell Brand on MSNBC!!!!

I just got back from France where I was completely off the grid for the last part of the trip. Many of you may have seen it already, but I was very proud of my friend Russell Brand for how he dealt with the disrespectful hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe. Russell was on the show to promote his upcoming Messiah Complex stand-up tour for which I worked on the art with assistance from Cleon Peterson. Russell and I frequently talk about the reductive filtration of info through the distorted lens of most media, often focusing on the sensational and superficial. I’m ashamed of the state of most American news programs. I do like some of the MSNBC shows like Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews, but the Morning Joe crew insulted Russell and he schooled them without being malicious. The sad truth, and a credit to Russell, is that he is a better entertainer, better debater, better advocate of humanity, and more aware of current affairs than those MSNBC hosts. What he did was a classic demonstration of the Situationist concept of détournement: turning the machinery of capitalism or the media against itself.
They tried to reduce him to a caricature and he turned the tables. Check out the video.

On a related note, Russell brought up both Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden in his “interview” on MSNBC. I assume everyone knows, but just in case, Bradley Manning is a U.S. soldier who leaked thousands of classified documents and video of airstrikes in Iraq and Afghanistan to Wikileaks. He is being charged with aiding the enemy which could result in life in prison. I believe Manning was motivated by his conscience when he saw indiscriminate civilian killing by the U.S. forces that sickened him and he felt the U.S. public should be aware of such incidents. I do not agree with Manning releasing classified documents unrelated to the egregious behavior, but Manning is a misguided whistleblower at worst, and far from someone attempting to aid the enemy. Rather than the U.S. government prosecuting a whistleblower in the most severe way(Manning has basically been tortured in solitary confinement leading up to his trial) I think our govt. should be looking at the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan that kill civilians and fuel extremism. Those actions are the ones that aid the enemy far more than Manning’s. It is disgusting that Manning faces life in prison while the soldiers behind the reckless murder of civilians face no penalty. This is almost literally a case of “killing the messenger”. Check out and spread this video in support of Manning

Lastly, I’m disgusted by the NSA domestic spying program. Warrantless surveillance under Bush was extremely disconcerting, but not surprising in the post 9/11 climate of fear. The extent of Obama’s spying is unacceptable and I feel sickened and betrayed by someone I dedicated a huge amount of time, energy, and money to support based on the way he presented his views as the antithesis of Bush’s. The charge of Edward Snowden with espionage for exposing the Prism program only dims my view of the Obama administration further. Snowden, once again, is a whistleblower who felt that the American people needed to know their phone calls and emails are not private, so they can decide whether they approve such a universal loss of privacy in the name of safety. I would personally rather take my chances with terrorists than see the potential for abuse of such a program manifest itself in the ways Nixon or J Edgar Hoover types would corruptly wield it. However, what is crucial is transparency. If the citizens of the U.S. know about the program and approve it democratically I’d disagree, but accept that it was the choice of the majority. Secrecy is unacceptable.
People accusing Snowden of being a self-serving narcissist need to consider that he had nothing to gain, but much to sacrifice for exposing a program he thought most Americans would oppose if they knew… his job, ridicule from nationalists, and freedom in his own country. Saying that by fleeing to Hong Kong, Russia, Cuba, Ecuador, etc… that Snowden is cavorting with U.S. enemies, is absurd. Snowden clearly knew he would be arrested in the U.S. and would be extradited from any U.S. ally country. We, the U.S. are often the bullies, not the benevolent diplomats. I got choked up today thinking of the courage it takes to expose a horrible problem when you know you will be brutalized as a consequence. I see nationalism as falling in line with the govt. agenda regardless of how morally flawed it is, while I see patriotism as doing what pushes the country in a morally superior direction, even if it conflicts with govt. policy. We need more patriots and fewer nationalists.
-Shepard

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SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS X GOOD INTENTIONS OPENING SAT JUNE 22

SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS presents

GOOD INTENTIONS
Re-¬Imagining Rockwell’s Boy Scouts

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 22 • 8 – 11 PM
Exhibition Dates: June 22 – July 20, 2013

Good Intentions: Re-Imagining Rockwell’s Boy Scouts is a group exhibition presented at SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS, curated by Andrew Pogany and Ben Lee Ritchie Handler. The exhibition will feature original works by local artists who have sought to re-examine a selection of Norman Rockwell’s Boy Scout illustrations in meaningful, provocative, and socially relevant ways.

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Frank Zummo/ Street Drum Corps

OBEY Clothing Summer Sample Sale

The sale is almost here! As a reminder a few things have changed for this sale. First we are in a new spot. The sale will be at 2722 Michelson, Irvine. Second, we can no longer allow camping or overnight line ups. The areas surrounding the sale are gated and won’t allow you to hang out or wait. The parking gates will open 30 minutes before the sale starts. To try and ease the line we will be open longer on Saturday, with a 6 am start time. Police will be in the area so make sure to OBEY all the signs and laws.

Thanks for your support.

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