"What initially disturbed me about the art of Shepard Fairey is that it displays none of the line, modeling and other idiosyncrasies that reveal an artist’s unique personal style. His imagery appears as though it’s xeroxed or run through some computer graphics program"HA!
Now that we understand Mark Vallen's definition of machine art doesn't count as art, (sorry Louis Daguerre, Paul Strand, Cindy Sherman) and anyone who can't (or chooses not to) draw is also not an artist, (sorry Marcel Duchamp, Bruce Nauman, Chris Burden, Barbara Kruger), I can predict this article will be annoying, self-righteous, and seeped in jealousy over Fairey's success.
First of all, "expropriation" has the stated purpose of establishing social equality, which Vallen professes to have stake in on his own website with his "I've been creating socially conscious artworks since I can remember." Not that I agree that Fairey is expropriating anything. Hasn't Vallen heard of Appropriating? The Conceptualist movement, Surrealism, Fluxus? And how does he know Fairey's intentions, background, personal history, and knowledge base? Furthermore, how can he hold History up on such a high pedestal? History is written by the victors, the top dogs, and is therefore subjective. I have found meanings of images and language to shift radically in my own lifetime, from one decade to the next. Meaning is never fixed, it is constantly changing and adapting, like everything else.
Shepard Fairey is an artist expressing himself with materials and found images that move him. He has added to general public consciousness, and brought out art and important historical figures through the ages that would have not been seen by so many otherwise. He has especially contributed to all of us with his work for the Obama campaign. Mark Vallen claims on his own website: "I have faith in the ability of art to heal, transform, educate, and uplift." Really? His seething criticism of another type of artist other than himself disproves this statement.
Super Touch does this topic more justice than I ever could. And thanks to Jörg Colberg's weblog Conscientious and C-Monster for bringing the whole debate to my attention.
