S.O.S.

From HOPE to May Day

Comments (0) By Araceli Cruz Tuesday, Apr 27 2010

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Said Barack Obama regarding Shepard Fairey and his now-legendary "HOPE" image: "Your images have a profound effect on people, whether seen in a gallery or on a stop sign. I am privileged to be a part of your artwork and proud to have your support." In other words, if Obama weren't so busy doing president stuff, he'd definitely go to tonight's opening party for Fairey's exhibition May Day (which, by the way, will sadly be the final show for Deitch as its fearless leader, Jeffrey Deitch, is closing up shop in New York to take over as the new director of L.A.'s MOCA). "May Day" features new portraits of radical icons, including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Woodie Guthrie, that seek to inspire a sense of urgency to take action in the same way the "HOPE" image did. Said Fairey: "By now, we thought we would be in post-Bush utopia, but we're still having to call attention to these problems. If we stay silent, there's no hope, but if we make noise, if we put our ideas out there, then maybe we can make a change like the people in the portraits have done." Plus, Fairey's OBEY Clothing company has a pop-up shop from April 30 to May 16 at 151 Orchard Street
Mondays-Sundays, 11 a.m. Starts: May 1. Continues through May 29, 2010