Friday: Shepard Fairey

My favorite contemporary artist, Shepard Fairey, will speak tonight at the Corcoran. His work is an experiment in phenomenology, which "seeks to reawaken a sense of wonder about one's environment, and enable people to see clearly something that is right before their eyes but obscured; things that are so taken for granted that they are muted by abstract observation." This is highly ironic (and humorous), I think, considering the number of gay men I've met who wear his "OBEY" image on t-shirts because it abstractly signifies something "cool" or "subversive," yet these men have never heard of Fairey or know about his sociological experiment intended to reveal conspicuous consumption and mindless conformity in society.


I recommend his coffee table book, Supply and Demand, if you want to learn more and chart his progress as an artist.

From The Corcoran Gallery:

Internationally celebrated contemporary artist and graphic designer Shepard Fairey has always marched to the beat of his own drum. Known for creating eye-opening artwork which focuses on provocative social and political themes, Fairey has become one of the world’s most influential street artists. His most recent work, “Hope,” a stylized, three-color print of Barack Obama, quickly became one of the most iconic images of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Acclaimed contemporary sculptor, Al Farrow, continues to push the envelope with his artwork. Exhibited in major museums throughout the world, his striking sculptures - made from gun parts, bullets and human bone - evoke themes that challenge the status quo and question widely accepted social norms. Shepard Fairey and Al Farrow discuss their innovative work and reflect on the social and political issues that inspire them to create. Sarah Newman, Curator of Contemporary Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, moderates. A reception follows the program.

Both artists’ work will be featured in the politically charged exhibition, Regime Change Starts at Home, with works by Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky), on view at Irvine Contemporary, October 18 - December 6, 2008.



Friends Link ($15 Friends)
Members: $20
Public: $25

Date:
Friday, October 17, 2008
Time:
7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location:
The Corcoran Gallery of Art
Street:
500 Seventeenth Street NW
City/Town:
Washington, DC