OBEY so nice!

I'm too poor to get his new book Supply and Demand but I felt compelled to say something about Sherpard Fairey's work and the genre in general. You can check out a preview of his book at Turntablelab. They have a crapload of design and street related books on tap and nearly all of them have some great previews. Check 'em out. The sell music or something like that too...

I find myself drawn to anything he does, but also to nearly any type of work in this street art milieu (it's fun to say pretentious art words isn't it?). I'm guessing that it's obviously a mix of a couple different elements that intrigue me.

First I'd have to give a nod to the nefarious nature of its existence in the first place. Its genes started w/ billboards and ads that are commercial in nature as well as more recently the infestation of movie and music posters, but it's the slut named Graffiti that the above hooked up w/ after a malt liquor soaked night of debauchery that gives it a keener sheen. The angle of it being illegal puts it in different realm altogether. Getting it up is the drive for all this art, regardless of how or what it is. Seeing the perfect spot and not resting until you've hit it is an addictive energy that fuels the creative drive.

Second would be the content. In my case, pieces, murals, burners, whatever never really spoke to me as I was creating them. I loved other artists work, but never had the desire to put in the time and work to perfect it. I'm guessing that is due to my fine art background and my need to say more than just my graff name. That's why I quickly morphed into stickers and pasters as my street medium. Now I could use nearly everything in my arsenal w/out any thoughts of what people would think. It was basically a free pass to create! You obviously didn't want to step on anyone's toes, but even if you were close in style to someone, it was more of nod of appreciation instead of biting. Unless of course you were outright dissing (ancient word: v- talking bad) someone, but that would only be the jerk-offs in your city.

It's the second that truly excites me. There are some truly innovative artists out there. Here's a small list and their links of those I think know what they're doing making the rest of us look like pretenders. There are plenty more on the Wooster Collective. These guys work hard at what they do, so pay a visit.

OBEY
BANKSY
BASK
D*FACE
WK INTERACT
SPACE-INVADERS

Like I said, a small list; I have my own work to do besides paying homage to these guys.


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