Selling His Soul or Selling His Art?

Salvador Dali is best known for a picture featuring melting clocks. Da Vinci is known for the Mona Lisa. Shepard Fairey, however, known for a picture of Andre the Giant. What was once seen as graffiti has since become a well-known piece of art. This has lead to both good things and bad things for Fairey. There is now an art exhibition in Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art featuring his work and he is the creator of the Obama “HOPE” posters. Such things are miraculous considering Fairey’s past.

Fairey is in essence a street artist. His “Obey Giant” campaign grew through the creation of stickers, posters and “graffiti” featuring the face and, later on, the word “OBEY”. The face can still be seen around Boston and Providence along with many other cities. Such debauchery is often punished as Fairey has found out the hard way several times. He has been arrested a whopping 14 times. His artistic bad-boy quality has lead to his large following of fans and the constant reproduction of his images.

This type of activity very rarely leads to commercial success but then again, very few street artists have produced a piece of art as well known as his face of Andre the Giant. Fairey has crossed over into the realm of the mainstream art in that he now has his ICA show. He also has his own clothing line and has been thanked publicly by the President for having created the posters now associated with the ‘09 election and for the support that he has shown. There is an entire website dedicated to buying his merchandise. Some fans of Fairey worry that he is going to far.

Its debated about whether Fairey has done what fans dread, sold out to the masses. They fear that he has lost his edge in return for the public’s applause and for art shows such as the ICA’s. The art has surely not suffered from this but the creation of a clothing line is a bit far from where Fairey began, creating stickers and using stencils to make people think. Others may argue that his track record with the police is proof that he would never let fame change him or his art. One thing is for sure, for someone who has been arrested 14 times for graffiti, Shepard Fairey has come a long way.

blink182 article

BLINK IS BACK
By Allie Fernandes
So by now it is likely old news that blink182 presented an award at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony on March 8th. It was the first time that the trio has shared a stage since they last toured in late 2004. Months after their tour ended the band announced to their fans that they would be entering a new area for the band: indefinite hiatus. All of that was ended at the Grammy’s.
Back in 2004, fans were understandably upset to find out that the band would not be recording or touring again for some time, if ever. Formed in 1992, the pop-punk band has gained millions of fans by using a mix of simple melodies, humor and angst that fans loved. They had several hit singles through their years together such as “What’s My Age Again?,” “the Rock Show,” and “I Miss You”. During their 12 years together, blink (as they are often called) released 5 studio albums to much acclaim. Then what was seen by many to be the worst thing imaginable happened, they announced to fans that they were taking a break.
While on break, the members of blink182 have gone on to form new bands. Guitarist Tom Delonge started Angels and Airwaves while bassist Mark Hoppus and drummer Travis Barker created the band Plus 44.
Years have passed and a hope of the band reuniting has dwindled for many. That is, until now. The announcement that they will present at the Grammy’s sparked rumors of the trio planning on touring again or even that a new studio album may be in the works. Then finally, after years of waiting, at the Grammy’s the band confirmed all of the rumors. They have reunited after an almost 5 year hiatus. Blink is back my friends. Blink is back.