Icons and popular culture in street art

Do now:Describe the demographic(s) you

belong to.Demographic: A particular categorization of consumers

Andre the Giant

(1946-1993)

Professional wrestler

Actor (The Princess Bride)

Suffered from acromegaly, which is a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, causing excessive largeness.

Obey• To conform• To accept• To follow orders from a person with greater power.• We obey:

– Our parents– Teachers– DA’ MAN. the people in charge of everything. – Or the idea of a greater power– God / Religion– The Law– Social Codes (not doin’ strange things randomly)

• To obey depends on the authority figure….and how much power they have.

• .

Obey• To Follow.• To listen.• To be obedient.• To be dependent

• Servants obey. Disciples obey. Followers Obey.

• My dad, my Mom, and God. • Teachers. And Robocop. • Social Constructions: gender norms, Socio-economic Class

divisions • .• .

Obey

Obey Demographics • Marco, Kendell, Gyaban, Azalea.

• Kellyah: Young people buy this stuff 13-21

• Cool with good designs, cool hats, • TEENS, Sk8ers,

– Sam: It’s like Thrasher…it used to be ska8wear, but now it’s more mainstream. It’s become boring and passé.

– Kendell: My older bro and cousins used to wear a lot of SUPREME, but OBEY is MUCH cheaper….

Obey Demographics • Rich people• Rebels• Liberals• Millenials• TEENS• ZUMIEZ people.

• Cass: A blue t-shirt • Michael: I own a white hoodie• .• .

Obey is…

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey is the man behind OBEY GIANT, the graphics that have changed the way people see art and the urban landscape. What started with an absurd sticker he created in 1989 while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design has since evolved into a worldwide street art campaign, as well as an acclaimed body of fine art.

Shepard Fairey

Andre The Giant Has a Posse1989While at Rhode Island School of Design

What is wheat paste?

Water, flour and sugar (and copper sulphate to make it insect resistant)

Keeps for about a week

Shepard Fairey

Andre The Giant Early 1990’s

Kent Ave, Williamsburg,

Brooklyn

Shepard Fairey

Andre The Giant Early 1990’sKent Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn North 6th and Berry street

Williamsburg, Brooklyn - 2013

The next iteration…

Similarities? Differences?


Azalea: The focus is on his face, thre’s no more name or upper body. No more details.

Nila: The specifics (height, weight) all the text is missing.

Tatiana: The lines are more concise. The early one is really “feathery” and the newer one is less detailed.

Daymoni: The older one is nicer…it focuses more on him as a person. The newer one is more of a symbol. It’s not a person anymore.

Christian: The quality of the art is different. The earlier one has more dots (texture) and the newer one is BOLDER.

Gyaban: Those MENACING SHADOWS!

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Sakin: The Smile-lines (dimples) are the same in both.

Michael: in the recent version, everything is zoomed in and more defined.

Marco: There’s no writing. Only a closeup of the FACE. No shading, just black or white.

Magda: More symmetrical (if you cut it half, it’s the same on both sides)

Prince: The first one resembles Andre the Giant more…he has straps and clothing. The newer version is not as much “Andre the Giant” it’s “anyone’s face.”

Mariama: The eyes are darkened around BOTH images.

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Shepard Fairey

OBEY GIANT “Icon face”Circa 1992

Shepard Fairey

From THEY LIVE1988

Shepard Fairey

Shepard FaireySam: He sees the idea of corporations and the government controlling what you think…but he (Fairey) has sold his shirts to corporations ....His product is openly telling you it’s FAKE.Moh: We are living with our “glasses off” He wants people to see the truth in things. Kellyah: He wants you to notice what companies are doing. Marco:

Nila:Dakota: ..

Do now: Write down the qualities of pizza.

Awful Needs Improvement

Acceptable EXCEPTIONAL

Too thin, unhygenic

ingredients.Still frozenOLD pizza

MoldySoggy with too

much sauceRaw dough

Burnt.. When the pizza

falls apart.

Warm cheese, but with cold

sauce.Lukewarm, not

fully cooked, but not raw.

If the crust is too small to hold.

Greasy and saggy

When you pick it up and the

The 2 Bro’s $1 pizza cheese is a

bit salty...

Sauce is not too watery.

When you fold the pizza and the

crust cracks a little bit and the cheese

is stretchy. “Cheese-pull

factor” Rollin’ lava of

marinara, it binds with the cheese

and crust.

Qualities of Good Conversation.Awful Needs Improvement Acceptable EXCEPTIONAL

When nobody is talking or being forced to talk. When you say

random stuff, or cold calling.Awakward

silence.Not a lot of eye

contact, staring at the ceiling or

floor. When it’s 1-sided.

Or audiences don’t listen attentively.

When someone asks you a

question and pretends to care,

but they really don’t. They’re just waiting for

their turn to talk.

Mainly quiet, but still a bit of talk with each other.

Easy flowin’. It’s like with

someone you’re aquainted with but don’t really know too well. It’s not super deep. It’s like

small talk. It’s polite.

Kinda busy but they wanna talk

and respond. Making a bit of time for you.

Continuing to ask questions that are

related and make you want to keep talking.

It’s so deep and personal that you lose track of time.

When you can disagree, but it’s not an argument. It ends

with mutual compromise, laughter, and

passion. It’s euphoric and relatable.

Diverse participation.

Artan: Think for yourself (Kozak: Question authority.) Don’t let people in power control you. Promia: Our generation is concerned with dismantling old traditions. This may appeal to our generation because this shows it’s okay to disagre with authority.Sakin: That’s like so freaky.Adrianna: This work is meant to challenge what we think is norma…to inspire us to be our own person.Danisa: It’s ironic because everyone that wears OBEY clothing is super basic and a hype beast. No offense. Adrianna: Whatever meaning it DID have is now just for profit. Prince: It’s like he’s trying to tell us NOT to obey, to NOT be obedient. Promia: It looks like propaganda1984 by George Orwell.

Qualities of Good pizza.Awful Needs Improvement Acceptable EXCEPTIONAL

Crust is too dry, burnt, stale, old,

and it’s too tough.or too wet.

Higher than $6 = autofail.

No cheese!Ketchup instead

of sauce. Dough is too dense/thick

Too many toppings, the

slice falls down.TOO HOT.

Not cut properly, you have to cut it

yourself. Or an uneven

distribution of slice size. Too saltyToo much grease /oilToo much

sauce/dough.

The Slice is editable

Extra cheese?

The pizza has aspirations for

greatness, but it’s alright.

It looks good….but tastes below expectations

Free pizza

Evenly warm. Thin crust

The herbs/spices have been infused

into the crust.A good sauce-cheese ratio. Good bang for

buck. (cost-quality)

Good crust, it’s like when you finish a roller coaster ride and you are celebrated with whipped

cream.

Qualities of Good Conversation.Awful Needs Improvement Acceptable EXCEPTIONAL

Single word answers (yes/no)

Narrowmindedness, if nobody is

listening, what’s the point? (look away, nod absently, talk

over you, immediate change

of topic)Awkward Silence

Someone talks over you...and they DON’T STOP.

Argumentative / ignorant

Narcissistic convos.(mocking laugh)

Avoiding yes/no questions.

Talking about unrelatable

thingsSame questions “whatcha been

up to?” “how’s life?”

“weather”(fake laugh)

People who are carrying on the

conversation and keep going, but may not include

others.Reasonable Eye

contact? Listen for

familiarity in language/accent .

The convo doesn’t get deeper than

the surface. (pity laugh)

Bringing up contradicting responses...

something that we can debate, and we end up

with more insights and less ignorant.

We’re all more openminded now.

#BeLikeMohBody language - leaning in, facing

you.Mutual respect

(belly laugh)

Shepard FaireyYeva: its clear a message on how advertisements and authoritarians take advantage of gullible peopleTatiana: I like his underlying message. It makes you ask yourself, “While we’re so busy spending money on trivial things, what’s really going on in the world? Is consumerism blinding us as a society?”Delani: He's basically saying that we have a naive mind for trusting these people without knowing there true intentions. Shepard coveys his message by referencing to the film The Live he's telling us that we need to be aware of what is being said to us and need to start putting on our glasses Marco: when he started to sell t-shirts with the obey print his message was way clearer, but as time passed and the business expanded, the message became more obscure and then vanished. Now Shepard Fairey's message is basically non-existent and Obey has become a main fashion brand across young adults.

Engineering (Propaganda), 2008, 29 x 40 inches Silkscreen & Mixed Media Collage on Paper

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey

Burmese Monk, 2009, 44 x 60 inches, Stencil & Mixed Media Collage on Canvas

Shepard Fairey

Burmese Monk, 2009, 3 or 4 stories high, near 3rd Ave / 4th ave / Bowery intersection

Shepard FaireyGuns and Roses, 2007, 30 x 44 inches, Retired Stencil & Mixed Media Collage on Paper

Shepard FaireyGuns and Roses, 2011, Copenhagen Denmark

Shepard Fairey

On Mercer Street (near Grand and Broome) in SoHo

Shepard Fairey

“I can express myself…and I feel that everybody should have the ability to express themselves…as long as what they’re doing isn’t hurting someone else.”

1970-Video!

Shepard FaireyAzalea: I thought he’d be younger. How you look and present yourself affects the way people think of you.

Jaylieen: The way he looks doesn’t affect what he does…but people are judgemental. I think he’s a great artist. His appearance doesn’t have anything to do with it.

Marco: Usually people in their 30s and 40s don’t wear OBEY clothing…you’d think a 20 year old would be behind this.

Daymoni: I didn’t really think about what he looks like….But we see this person’s art and learn about them through their art...we build them up to be someone or to look a certain way.

Christian: His aesthetics appeal to Teens. But the origins of his brand are very old…..so he has to be old, right?

.

1970-

Shepard FaireyAbdul: Everyone should be able to do what they want without others interfering. .

Adrianna: “I respect your opinion as long as it doesn’t disrespect anyone’s existence.”

Sarah: He’s caring and thoughtful. Some artists may not care…but he does.

Danisa: What do you mean caring and thoughtful?

Sarah: You can tell. From his art, from his words. He’s not a liar.

Nita: But everyone has different opinions…you don’t know what hurts who...What if you offend someone by mistake?

Mariama: Like the OBEY icon face, it may be considered rude to Andre the Giant:

Katelyn: It may be about conveying POWER....people may think they’re being put in a position without a choice.

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1970-

Shepard Fairey

Commanda2007

18x24 screen printedEdition of 350

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey

Williamsburg Hall of Music (brooklyn)

Shepard Fairey


Shepard Fairey


Shepard Fairey: On Our Hands

Jacob Lewis Gallery521 West 26th Street, 4th FloorFine Art!


Jacob Lewis Gallery521 West 26th Street, 4th Floor

Fine Art!


Jacob Lewis Gallery521 West 26th Street, 4th Floor

Fine Art!

Shepard Fairey

Obama Poster2008

Shepard Fairey

Obama Poster2008

Azalea:You can tell that Shep has positive vibes towards Obama by the American colors, the text, there’s no distractions here. Kellyah: It made me believe in Obama even more. It made me feel good inside.Gyaban: It went with the “yes we can” catchphrase. The concept of One America is in this.Tatiana: Christian: It’s inspirational. If you saw this while walking down the street, you’d be inspired. Vraj: connections to the American flag.

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Is this propaganda?YES. This is using media to send messages to people, (brainwash!!)

Shepard Fairey

Obama Poster2008

Sakin: Associating this man with hope/progress, he’s portrayed positively.Marco: I think Fairey actually believes in this politician. He’s endorsing Obama.Danisa: I hope that he wouldn’t do this for Trump. Noume: He’s portraying Obama as trustworthy, a good leader.Nita: TOTES AGREE. The choice of words have positive associations. Promia: Using the colors to make it more appealing to the eye.Sarah: It’s our flag’s color…Obama is standing up for our nation.Aidan: Color choices combine the democrat and republican colors......

Is this propaganda?

Work (or an ad) that is used to influence opinions of the public. It’s biased.

vs. (Shepard Fairey)

On February 4, 2009, the Associated Press announced that it determined "that the photograph used in the poster is an AP photo and that its use required permission."

In January 2009 photographer and blogger Tom Gralish discovered that the poster was based on an Associated Press photograph by freelance photographer Mannie Garcia.

vs.

On October 16, 2009, Fairey admitted that he had based the poster on the AP photograph and had fabricated and destroyed evidence on an old hard drive to hide the fact that he stole the image.

(Shepard Fairey)

Obama Poster2008

vs. (Shepard Fairey)

“I said, ok, I’ll pay the licensing fee. And [the AP] said, no, we want to claim damages. I said damages? Because of my poster the Mannie Garcia picture is now worth more than it ever would have been.”

-Shepard Fairey

vs.The AP and Shepard Fairey settled out of court in January 2011. In a press release, the AP announced that the AP and Fairey "agreed to work together going forward with the Hope image and share the rights to make the posters and merchandise bearing the Hope image and to collaborate on a series of images that Fairey will create based on AP photographs. The parties have agreed to additional financial terms that will remain confidential."

(Shepard Fairey)

OBEY Clothing was formed in 2001 as an extension of Shepard's range of work. Sales have slowly risen until 2009-2010 when they peaked, and have remained somewhat steady since.

Selling OBEY…Selling out?

Do Now: 5 min. To share with classShepard Fairey has amassed a great variety of work over the past 25 years. Of all his work, which FORMAT speaks strongest to his ideas about Empowerment, Rebellion, and Solving World Problems?

Illegal Street Art?Commissioned Murals/piecesFine Art?Clothing Line?

Fairey steeps his ideology and iconography in self-empowerment. With biting sarcasm and reverse psychology, he goads viewers to “OBEY” so that they can be more aware of propagandistic people

that will bend the world to their own agendas.

• V for Vendetta combined with “Hope”

• The face from “The Purge”• The hacker group “Anonymous”• Levy: Obama didn’t do anything

when the banks messed up the economy. ONLY ONE GUY was held accountable.

• Moh: He’s taking one negative thing (the Guy Fawkes mask) and mixing it with the economic crisis to make….a larger negative thing?

• Jaylieen: Two wrongs don’t make a right!!

• Delani: Isn’t Shep contradicting himself??? He’s critizing obama with the classic obama image...

Catholic dissident Guy Fawkes and 12 co-conspirators spent months planning to blow up King James I of England during the opening of Parliament on November 5, 1605. But their assassination attempt was foiled the night before when Fawkes was discovered lurking in a cellar below the House of Lords next to 36 barrels of gunpowder. Londoners immediately began lighting bonfires in celebration that the plot had failed, and a few months later Parliament declared November 5 a public day of thanksgiving. Guy Fawkes Day, also known as Bonfire Night, has been around in one form or another ever since. Though originally anti-Catholic in tone, in recent times it has served mainly as an excuse to watch fireworks, make bonfires, drink mulled wine and burn Guy Fawkes effigies (along with the effigies of current politicians and celebrities).

Final Thoughts??How have you seen Shepard Fairey’swork change over the years?

• Adiba: He’s contradicting himself in his work. Maybe his work is a bit threatening??

• Moh: Aside from the Obama piece, he’s a great artist…..his work conveys a lot and makes his viewers feel certain types of ways.

• Gyaban: I don’t think Art should be used as a weapon…it should be used as a tool to promote peace.

• Dakota: He’s ok. I’m not sure how much I support all his types of art…but the street art is more raw. It shows his beliefs in a more legitimate way.

• Levy: He’s a great artist, but I lost respect for him when he sold his work at Zumiez. You can pretend to be anti-corprorate and do that.

• Christian:Other than the Guy Fawkes piece, I think he’s a great artist. He’s using his art to pose solutions to social problems.

• .

Final Thoughts??How have you seen Shepard Fairey’swork change over the years?

• Cass: I like his designs…but he’s a bit too political for me. I get the need for political work, but it’s not for me.

• Theresa: Some of his work loses it’s value when it’s commissioned. It’s not as personal as some of his other work. Same as the clothing line

• Danisa: TOTES DISAGREE ½ way tho. The commissioned work doesn’t lose value, it’s just as strong. The clothing line though? It’s pretty bad. I didn’t realize he was an artist.

• Ingrid: I don’t see connections between all his art….it’s all over the place. But with Swoon or Lady Pink...there’s a common thread with their work. Not so much with OBEY.

• Adrianna: It’s like he’s just making things to make them.

• .

Anyone Recognize this artist?

Cope2

Cope2

Initial interpretations

Sarah: The letters are bubbly and curvy. Not “edgy”Aiden: the meaning of “cope” doesn’t correlate with the bubbliness of the letters.

Sarah: DISAGREE….Maybe seeing bubbly colorful letters could help you cope???Nita: The colors are great, they “pop out.”Marco: Usually it’s just one color….but there’s happiness here.Danisa: It’s just a tag….drawing it big and bubbly.

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Cope2

Initial interpretations

Kellyah: This looks like my grandma.Azalea: He’s EXTRA. Why so many times?Kendell: This looks like a Williamsburg store. Like he’s paid to do this.Tenzin: Very colorful, it looks nice. Moh; He obviously doesn’t keep his identity a secret. ..

Cope2“I was born in the South Bronx.

The home, the motherland, the Mecca of hip hop. I started writing graffiti back in 78-79. Influenced by my

cousin Chris. He tagged Chico. He wasn’t a huge writer, just a local. I

remember him always having a huge marker called a Pilot. He always had it in his drawer. At times I would take it when he wasn’t home, go under the

stairs or the rooftop of my grandmothers building and just tag

my nickname (Nano). Then in 1979-80 my cousin took me on the

subways… “

The 4 train was in my neighborhood. I remember taking the back car from Mosholou Parkway to the last stop (Woodlawn

Rd). As soon as the doors would close he would make sure the last car was empty and just start tagging all over the train. On the ceilings, the doors even the subway maps. I remember seeing other tags on the insides. Writers like Ban2, 2Rape, Ojab, Die, Lie, Duro, Dondi, Duel, Base2, Zephyr, Fuzz

one, just to name a few…

Thanks, Abdul!

Cope2

Cope2My mother and I traveled quite a bit on the subways and I was always looking at the outsides, seeing huge names really blew my head. The writers I remember were Fritos, Mark198, Dr. Pepper,

Killer56, Comet, Blade, Popeye, Tracy168,

Deli167 (who was Ban2), Lee, Seen, Pjay,P-nut2, Medisco92 and my idol Mitch77. That’s what

really inspired me to get deeper into graffiti

Cha-cha-cha-cha-changes!!

Cope2 installing his work at El Museo del Barrio

The artist

Nita: It looks a bit messy.Artan: He wants you to feel like you’re on the street. Like it’s on a real wall. Ingrid: The El Museo piece doesn’t let you appreciate the individual parts, compared to his other work. Destiny: The point of this is to express his ideas…it’s not for the viewers to necessarily understand.Michael: I don’t love it. I don’t hate it. It’s like a timeline of when he started to where he’s ended up. How he’s grown as an artist. Danisa: I don’t know where to look when seeing this. I’m trying to eat my sandwich here…..not get a a seizure.

Moh: There’s several styles of graffiti on the wall. Throwups, wildstyle, several motifs, and MOREAzalea: It’s all mixed up together, similar to the multiple (COPECOPECOPE) images we’ve seenKendell: It’s looks kind of like a memorial. With the picture of him as a kid. It’s like the highlights of all his street art.Marco: SUPER VIBRANT COLORS.Benz: THOSE COLORS THO. The work is stacked and layered. Like graffiti on top of graffitiHerbert: Lots of collage, it seems personal.

More Installation shots…Cope and his assistants

Why “Our World?”

Moh: This doesn’t make sense. It’s just him tagging his name and eh. That’s it. Tenzin: Maybe this is saying that humans are messy? It’s “OUR” world.Gyaban: Maybe it’s not the actual location, (museum) maybe it’s his creation of his own world in his art.Jenn: Maybe this is all the styles that you see on a daily basis. Mattia: Maybe this is referring to graffiti artists in general?Tenzin: Despite all the different countries and races, we all live in the same world. Christian: I think he’s referring to NYers, this is OUR world. This is what we see when we’re being social.

Why “Our World?”

Promia: He’s trying to show “our” city.Prince: All the colors give me some positive and happy feelings. I guess he’s trying to say we should be giving off positive energy?Aiden: This could be people he connects with, his background, his community, his neighborhood…. Marco: It’s relevant that he chose to write it in SPANISH and not ENGLISH. Sakin: Maybe he’s talking about Graffiti artists??? It’s EVERYWHERE.Sarah: Maybe he just wrote it in Spanish because it’s in…Spanish Harlem?? At “El Museo del Barrio”....Ingrid: maybe to connect it back to the “Museum of the neighborhood” this is our little neighborhood world.

Cope2 at Wynwood Walls!

In 2015

Cope2 collaborations…

Bronx Mural 2010

Cope2

Cope2 and Buff MonsterMiami 2011

Cope is also represented by Azart Gallery on West 27th street in Chelsea…in 2014, when he had an exhibition called Under The Influence

At the same time as this show, Cope was also offered a chance to paint the Bowery Mural…some of his followers on twitter responded very strongly to this though. While this opened his artwork up to totally new audiences, it also was criticized by some of his older followers.

Cope2 reacts to twitter…

Cope is also represented by Azart Gallery on West 27th street in Chelsea…in 2014, when he had an exhibition called Under The Influence

At the same time as this show, Cope was also offered a chance to paint the Bowery Mural…some of his followers on twitter responded very strongly to this though. While this opened his artwork up to totally new audiences, it also was criticized by some of his older followers.

Cope2 reacts to twitter use Vandalog

Responding to the haters…

When asked about them, Cope2 emphatically told us, "I'm not homophobic," adding, "I have many gay friends." He did admit, however, that "it's wrong to use those words."

Final thoughts on Cope2?Nila: He lets his name get to him and his pride means a lot to who he is, and dosent really put others as a first. Delani: His work has no meaning..it’s just his name. He’s kind of narcissistic. Azalea:Regardless, it’s still wrong. He said it! Jenn: A lot of people do this. They use words like this but when people get called out, they say they were ’just kidding’ Maybe he apologized as a way to make himself look good.

Moh: I don’t like when artists reveal their identity...People start looking at your more carefully.....

Kendell:Maybe he never thought his work would get to this degree of fame. Sam: Everyone makes mistakes....let’s look at him like a human being....

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Final thoughts on Cope2?Aidan: In response to the tweets, I think he’s just passionate. People on twitter just like to bring people down. Danisa: DISAGREE. Even if you’re passionate. The words are in your face…they don’t just slip out....the “i have gay friends response” is NOT how it works....Nita: Theresa: I think his graffiti is personal. It’s just for him….it’s not for giving viewers a message. Promia: Agree with Danisa….If you don’t like people on the internet, just block them!! He seems immature. Cass: He’s probably NOT homophobic…but he just seems like a mean person. If you’re that famous, you should be used to it.......

Questions FOR Cope2?Mattia: Why do multiple tags on a wall rather than one large piece? Tatiana: Where’s the 2??Christian: Why cope? How did you decide on this name?Levy: When did you start calling yourself an artist? Moh: If you never picked up a spray paint can, what do you think you’d be doing now?Dakota: Who do you think is your ideal audience? Jaylieen: What are your next steps as an artist? Daymoni/Moh: If you have kids, would you allow them to do graffiti/street art?Mattia: How do you handle people who are critical of your work?

Brian Donnelly, or KAWS, is originally from Jersey City, New Jersey. While much of his style began as street art and graffiti, he has quickly risen to fame as a pop artist and designer.

His work includes repeated use of characters and motifs, some dating back to the beginning of his career in the 1990s.

“Ad Disruption” was a series of work by KAWS that began in the 1990s. These works focused on subverting the images on bus shelters, phone booth advertisements, and billboards. Soon after his notoriety and popularity reached heights never before expected and these ads became increasingly sought after by the public.

3D work…

In Tokyo, he began producing collectible toy figurines, started his own brand (Original Fake), and collaborated with fashion houses, of which the most notable was BAPE, a label that was the apex of desirability for a certain tranche of hip and rarefied consumer.

Original Fake

KAWS’ clothing/toy company, Original-Fake operated from 2006-2013.

Commercial work

Despite the closing of Original Fake, KAWS has made a name for himself by designing limited edition toys and clothing. While his art stands somewhere between fine art and global commerce, KAWS moved beyond the sphere of the exclusive art market to occupy a more complex global market. What advertising/promotion tactics do you think he uses?

“As far as the commercial sort of collaborations, there’s some I want to do such as the toys and OriginalFake products. But, there are some times when we may reach out to Disney or Warner Bros. – I actually have one project coming up with a company and I actually had to go out and talk to them and explain my interest. But, a lot of times for projects like Hennessy or Ikepod, it just sort of happens naturally or they approach me. It has to make sense to me and the work.”

“There’s definitely a connection between my personality and my artwork. I mean, it’s just sort of the work I’m making at the time or getting a feel for the kind of the mood I am at during the time. Like if there are periods in life that are chaotic, this will be reflected to some degree in my work.”

Final thoughts on KAWS? • Mattia: I wouldn’t consider him a street artist

anymore….he’s more of a designer now.• Christian: I like him. He uses his art to express his feelings.• Tenzin: I like his work as well. He was very successful in his

career choices. Very few get to make their art into a business like this.

• Kendell: He’s almost like a kid....capitalizing on every opportunity, he’s jumping on everything he finds.

• Moh: He’s an “ideal artist” with an “ideal career.” He’s doing what he loves, and his work is speaking for him.

• Delani: His designs are cool, but I can’t judge him on his graffiti. – Gyaban: His message is “Buy my stuff.”

• Levy: This guy is different from Obey….he sells his work really exclusively. And he’s not claiming to be some godly like anti-commercial figure...

• Yeva: Most Graffiti artists aren’t successful like this. • Benz: He could basically be swapped with any other graffiti

artist we’ve talked about….

Final thoughts on KAWS? • Sarah: <3. He doesn’t just put his work on walls or

streets. He makes objects. He makes THINGS. • Sakin: He makes clothes as well. Why were we

hating on Obey?? KAWS is doing the same thing. • Prince: His work puts you in a happy mood. It’s

bright! Since his work is a reflection of what he’s feeling, I’m not sure what the message he’s promoting is…other than to be happy.

• Ingrid: You can see a connection between the artwork and the toy brands. With Obey, there’s less connections….

• Danisa: We’ve only seen his products, really. • Promia: His work appeals to me! I like the bright

colors and the style. • Dest: I like that he’s able to make a living off his art. I

don’t think he’s oblivious to what’s going on. I think it helps people cope (haha!) with what’s going on.

Marco’s KAWS collection…




Delani: I would just sell it. Why would I keep it? All I see is dollar bills that I can spend.Tatiana: Art is a really good investment…because it rises in value so quickly.Moh: I would keep them....it’s really cool to have a work of art....and maybe when you pass away, you give them to your kids...and then they sell them?Tatiana: The value is from the NAME, the brand.Sam: The definition is what someone will pay for something. Moh: The value is based on the demand as well. The more it’s wanted, the higher the value. AND, as time increases, the demand may increase as well. Benz: It’s still his work...the money doesn’t change the integrity of his ideas. Jenn: The money doesn’t matter. Some art is worth a lot, but it’s not that super meaningful, or promote strong feelings...there’s a lot of crappy artwork out there. Chrsitian: Maybe if you look at the work and see the financial value, you may find more to look into with his artwork.


Abdul: When we first looked at it, the financial didn’t matter. But because it’s so much closer to us now….it feels more in your reach and gets us thinking what you “do” with it. Danisa: I enjoyed the aesthetics of it, It would look great on a desk. But there’s like a whole drawer of it...and that’s thousands of dollars.Artan: Before we knew the FINANCIAL value, we apprecaited it differently. Also...we KNOW Marco! And some of these are just sitting around...Julio: Agreed with Artan. I guess if you’re best buddies with an artist...you might get some free art.

Hugo Rojas was born in Mexico City, the second son of Oscar Rojas and Bertha Godinez. During his early years, he moved to a small village called Congregación Almoloya in Oaxaca, Mexico, where he grew up. Hugo Rojas currently lives in New York City where he has been exploring photography, video and street art as a means of intervention. His photography has been exhibited in Mexico, United States and Spain. Hugo currently teaches Spanish and Media Arts at the Urban Assembly Media High School in New York City, and is completing his graduate degree in Media Studies at The New School.

Hugo Rojas participated in this the 2012 DUMBO ArtsFest and created a series of installations inspired by animals in the wild of New York State. “This piece aims to revive the real New Yorkers, creating live visuals of the animals that lived in this area for centuries, in the form of moss graffiti,” says the description on the festival site. It also says “he has been exploring photography, video and street art as a means of intervention”.

Who are the “real New Yorkers?”

• There’s no such thing! You become a new yorker…by living in one of the 5 boroughs, eat at a deli 3 times in your life...and visit times square, and own Pair of Tims

• Someone who’s born in NY, • Or RAISED in NY. • Native Americans• New York is an attitude. It’s a

constant-energetic-anger.• Correct use of slang too.• Deadass, B, etc.

• .• .

Who are the “real New Yorkers?”• Native Americans• People raised here. • Someone who owns a metrocard.• Someone who can sit, smell pee, and

not squirm.• Someone who can witness a drug

deal?• Jay Walkers. • Promia: He’s trying to show that we

need to rehabilitate the city before humans settled here.

• Adrianna: Even before the native Americans settled here, this was WILD LAND. We’ve increasingly destroyed the wildlife here. There’s efforts to save these animals, but we’ve robbed them of their habitats.

Final Thoughts??Tenzin: He’s a genius. I’ve never seen art that grows out of the wall. Nature’s pretty cool.Azalea: It’s really creative…he didn’t stick to just paint and spray cans...he changed it up.Sam: He’s introspective about how NYers feel about nature. Most NYers won’t engage with nature like this…he’s “renaturalizing” the city. Benz: He’s got me in deep thought...his work living on the wall and dying on the wall. Herbert: Before I came to this class I thought Art was just drawing on paper....I didn’t know this kind of thing existed. It’s really cool. Moh: How do you compensate if the moss grows out of control?Christian: How’d he come up with the idea??

Final Thoughts??• Artan: He’s not my type of artist. He seems like a

normal person….• Danisa: He seems too much within reach…• Aidan: There’s this idea in our generation that rarity

makes things better. I’m not crazy about his art either. It’s very creative though.

• Ingrid: I imagine it takes so much time and dedication….we’re downgrading him so much, what’s up with that?

• Katelyn: This work is something that actually takes EFFORT.

• Prince: His work is intriguing to me. It discusses issues that regular people aren’t privy to. Sometimes it’s easier to talk about things like racism (immediately affecting us) but not the environment. It’s easy to ignore that.

• Sakin: His work is really powerful….but if he wasn’t so available to us…then we may be more attacted to it.

Ron English 2011April Fool’s Day on the Border

OBEY is sometimes viewed as an example of ”culture jamming,” a tactic used by anti-consumerist social

movements to disrupt or subvert mainstream media and pop culture. Culture jammers perform acts like….

Ron English 2011April Fool’s Day on the Border

OBEY is sometimes viewed as an example of ”culture jamming,” a tactic used by anti-consumerist social

movements to disrupt or subvert mainstream media and pop culture. Culture jammers perform acts like….

IntersectionalityCulture Jamming

Describe a social problem in our culture

you would want to “jam.”

Education

Icons and popular culture in street art