Protect Yourself Obey Giant 08 Orr

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trkr2007
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:54 am

Get over it if you dont like the guy and go on .... I like some of his stuff and will continue to purchase .... To each his own.

(for the record i like some of sheps stuff too)
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whyhoo
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:17 am

trkr2007 wrote:Get over it if you dont like the guy and go on .... I like some of his stuff and will continue to purchase .... To each his own.

(for the record i like some of sheps stuff too)
IMO this thread has much less to do with his art than his actions.
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guyforget
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:41 am

Flimby wrote:
ColdSoreSuperstar wrote:There's DEFINITELY more than one practicing this craft - they just don't get the attention that this dude is getting. What I SHOULD do with him is not say anything; ignore it like I do the rest of the "artists" that do the same thing as he. Alas, my mouth and ego get the best of me, and I say something.

If you're willing to put yourself out there and get press, attention, C&D letters, blah blah blah - which this dude was AIMING to do so that his forgettable stuff would be given a few double-takes - then you have to be willing to take the flak that comes with it.

And I'm sure he is willing. Hell, you WANT me to say this, right Bax? More comments to feed the PR machine.


(Again, note that I don't collect and/or really care for any of Shepard Fairey's work, so I'm not coming from the "I will defend Obey" standpoint.)
bingo. while i wish baxter well with his art, this piece is parody imo. if you didn't know the andre image, this piece would make no sense.

if i start an "Ahoy Matey!" series and put an eye patch on the andre face, will it get me some attention and maybe a C+D? probably. does it make great art? i think not.

baxter has potential as an artist, but this one is more about attention than creativity
This is exactly what Ive been biting my tongue over for the weeks that this has been getting attention. Its pure mockery and its not even clever.

So, whats the intention behind this piece, besides attention for Baxter? I havent found one yet...

I think some people like it because it is mockery. Some folks actually like the smart-assedness of the piece. Whatever. If spite drives you and brings you enjoyment, then I probably should feel sorry for you.

Im sure some people actually think that this is making a statement about how Shepard appropriates images and photoshops them and makes prints out of them. But we all already know this about Shepard Fairey. Its not news, and its not even new to bash him over it. Baxter has claimed to be a fan of Fairey's, so I dont see how putting out a mock image drawing attention to the whole image appropriation issue is helpful fandom.

I do collect Fairey prints. I dont collect them all. My collection is pretty concise, and centers around one theme. There are many, many more Shepard Fairey pieces that I dont like than I do like.


But, I cant compare Shepard taking this; a Chinese gov't propaganda poster that says "Government is Established by Guns!"

Image

and turning it into this:

Image

to what Baxter has made here. Theyve both "appropriated" images to create their own to make some sort of statement. I get the statement Shepard is trying to make there, and I think its clever, even if the art isnt "original." In the instance of Baxter here, I dont get the statement, unless the statement is "I need some attention." If the statement is "Shep appropriates images" then what is the significance of the SARS mask? How does that push the point? If that is the point, then I think you need a more clever way to establish that w/ the viewers, the SARS mask comes off as simple mockery, and the point isnt clear. As Flimby said, we could all start editions w/ Andre w/ an eyepatch, Andre w/ a doo-rag, Andre w/ a teardrop tattoo under his eye, Andre w/ a sequined gypsy hat, Andre w/ a sombrero, Andre w/ gold teeth, Andre w/ a parasol, etc, etc, etc. And, we could all claim that our intention is to expose Shepard as "unoriginal." Whoopeee, theres a hundred articles on the internet about it already. You cant say w/ a SARS mask what has already been said in type.
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MJBuck
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:53 am

Andre w/ a parasol = cracking my fudge up....
out and perfect.
norelation wrote:quit with the sniveling and just sell the damn poster. i don't care about your life story, we all got problems. just tell me about bent corners, or if your cat has used it for target practice.
mistersmith wrote:That means I'm going to touch you.
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baxterpop
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:24 am

this is my last comment on here, too much drama, dont need it. Part of the point I am trying to make is that underground movements like this get so big over time that:

1) they lose their meaning (aka get watered down) so the idea of the mask is the idea of Protecting Andre or keeping him alive and not having him end up on a cereal box or a road bike, oh wait :roll:

Image

2) The Obey Giant movement has gotten so big and its because it is built on this idea that you are a part of it. If you are really part of this thing why cant you make (and sell) your own stuff based around it? Isnt it about the movement? are you not part of it? where is the line? If shepard built an art commune how many people would quit their jobs and show up, I guarantee at least 50 people, and that is pretty damn scary.

I encourage you guys to do Parody prints, they all sound like good ideas, I did it as a homage and to make a statement on where I thought Andre and this street art culture is going, never thought I would get this much press for it. My site has gotten like 5,000 hits this week. :lol:
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guyforget
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:57 am

I, at least, appreciate the insight, even if I disagree w/ parts of your point, Baxter. Thanks.
baxterpop wrote:Part of the point I am trying to make is that underground movements like this get so big over time that:

1) they lose their meaning (aka get watered down) so the idea of the mask is the idea of Protecting Andre or keeping him alive and not having him end up on a cereal box or a road bike, oh wait :roll:
So... to keep Andre from getting "watered down" you've mocked him in print, and released this print as an open edition? And this "protects" this iconic image somehow?

baxterpop wrote:2) The Obey Giant movement has gotten so big and its because it is built on this idea that you are a part of it. If you are really part of this thing why cant you make (and sell) your own stuff based around it? Isnt it about the movement? are you not part of it? where is the line? If shepard built an art commune how many people would quit their jobs and show up, I guarantee at least 50 people, and that is pretty damn scary.
You lose me w/ the "(and sell)" thing. Im with ya on the rest of it, and Im sure Shepard isnt sending out C&D's to people downloading the Andre stencils and tagging it around their towns. I seriously doubt that he'd be sending you a C&D if youd made a huge stencil of your Andre w/ the SARS mask and put this image up somewhere in LA or SF on a building for all to see. But you lose me when you say you think you have a right to profit from this work. I just cant buy that, as someone who makes a living off of my creative integrity, not unlike yourself. And then you say that this is a statement about the exploitation or watering down of the imagery. Seems contradictory to me...
baxterpop wrote:this is my last comment on here, too much drama, dont need it....
baxterpop wrote: never thought I would get this much press for it. My site has gotten like 5,000 hits this week. :lol:
Maybe you dont need it, but youre surely benefiting from it. I dont think you should rule out discussing your work here, you just should ignore the trolls. I feel like Im trying to be polite and constructive here, I have no problem coming to a respectable "agree to disagree."
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ColdSoreSuperstar
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:37 pm

That's a pretty sick road bike.
not dead
iratasan
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:45 pm

if anybody thinks this prints is a already a "mockery" hasn't seen my banksy tribute.
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phishbeatles
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:20 pm

iratasan wrote:if anybody thinks this prints is a already a "mockery" hasn't seen my banksy tribute.
Heres mine, 200 for the OG if anyone wants it!

Image
iratasan
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:25 pm

phishbeatles wrote:
iratasan wrote:if anybody thinks this prints is a already a "mockery" hasn't seen my banksy tribute.
Heres mine, 200 for the OG if anyone wants it!

Image
i give ya 750 bucks for the unsigned and 1200 for the signed edition. do you still have those 1500 bucks sepia signed editions? i would love the OG but i just paid 2 million bucks for the drawings of my Pal's child. she's 6 now.

you mean 200k, right?
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whyhoo
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:49 pm

phishbeatles wrote:
iratasan wrote:if anybody thinks this prints is a already a "mockery" hasn't seen my banksy tribute.
Heres mine, 200 for the OG if anyone wants it!

Image
is your name rxl?
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guryter
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:15 pm

doodoo.
iratasan
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:25 pm

guryter wrote:doodoo.
there is a doodoo variant? i give ya 2000 bucks signed.
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Grateful69Phish
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Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:01 pm

they shouldnt allow that type of child porn on here
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guyforget
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Fri Apr 11, 2008 9:11 am

So... Baxter really not going to post anymore? Sales must be going pretty well over there...

Not shocked that he'd rather go back and forth w/ the rest of these posters w/ insults and inane bullshit than actually talk about the piece constructively w/ me and whoever else.

One man hype machine, and it looks like he played a lot of you.
pjtaper wrote: I'm glad EMEK knows I'm not a flipper
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