Shepard Fairey: Propoganda

    

     Shepard Fairey has a strong reputation as one of the greatest contemporary artists of our time.  With many pieces of his work portraying propaganda, Fairey uses mediums of illustration, photography, graphic design, and print work to capture his audience's eye.  Based on his autobiography "Obey: Propaganda," most of his work involves a totalitarian-styled basis which spreads a subliminal message of how his art can be as powerful as government in control.  Although his artistic designs display many communist dictators and political advocates, his main purpose is not to spread a socialist idea, but more of a strong message to get the viewer's attention to his propaganda.  

     He began in Boston, MA, posting bills of Andre the Giant with the slogan "Andre has a posse" as well as "Obey" written with an image of Andre himself.  Although it began as a joke at first, it spread as a strong wave of getting his movement out there.  Eventually over many years, he used George Orwell's "1984" as inspiration to fuel his totalitarian styled artwork.  "Big Brother Is Watching You," a quote from Orwell's novel is based on a political figure in a totalitarian, Marshall law government who watches your every move, punishing individuals for doing the slightest thing which goes against political order.  In his clothing, he uses Big Brother as well as soldiers and political advocates to spread the idea that his message is all around us through his artwork and clothing, just as much as Big Brother watches his everyone in his government in "1984."

Document by: James Rivas

Ron English's "Popaganda"

Photograph by: James Rivas

Photograph by: James Rivas

     Pop iconoclast Ron English paints, infiltrates, reinvents and satirizes modern culture and its mainstream visual iconography on canvas, in song, and directly onto hundreds of pirated billboards. English exists spiritually somewhere between a cartoon Abbie Hoffman and a grown-up, real-life Bart Simpson, delivering a steady stream of customized imagery laden with strong sociopolitical undertones, adolescent boy humor, subversive media savvy, and Dali-meets-Disney technique. Dedicated to finding the sublime in the everyday and breaking the momentum of the didactic approach to art and life, English offers up an alternative universe where nothing is sacred, everything is subverted, and there is always room for a little good-natured fun.

STATUS FATORY BY RON ENGLISH (OPERA GALLERY)
382 West Broadway, New York NY 10012
www.operagallery.com/ny

The Creative Process

James Rivas created Srgnt Ruffles as a way to communicate with the extreme sports lifestyle, opening doors for those whom he films, as well as maintaining a well organized entrepreneurship for his clothing.  He will soon be collaborating with Juan Creighton, creator of "Doze Off Society" (http://dozeoffsociety.blogspot.com/), on a separate project based on art in the matters of textile, urban, and contemporary design.  Both artists bring something different to the table, making the creating process a lot more unique and original.  Although Srgnt Ruffles focuses more on extreme sports and design, James Rivas plans to incorporate more of an artistic feel into the collaborative process.  In addition to his collaboration, his main focus involves re-introducing the original intent of art and how it has been forgotten.  Using a contemporary, modern feel, he plans to express his passion for the arts using subliminal messages in his clothing, artwork, & designs.

JAMES RIVAS THROWAWAY

Used and unused SLOPPY nonsense. More to come on http://www.youtube.com/user/SrgntRuffles
(THIS IS A THROWAWAY, NOT A PART)

NEW TEES AVAILABLE NOW!

 

Printed on high quality AMERICAN APPAREL slim fit styled tees.  Available in multiple colors: Cardinal Red, Heather Gray, Eggplant Purple, Asphalt Gray, Turquoise, and Pink for the ladies.