Arrested in Boston, Shepard Fairey rides the Art of Rebellion with Harley-Davidson in LA tonight

 

Shepard Fairey may have created the iconic image of Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign but he hasn't forgotten his punk rock roots ... and they haven't forgotten him.

The street artist and OBEY clothing owner, whose portrait of the President now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, was arrested in Boston late on February 6th by the police for putting up images on private property in the Massachusetts city. LA-based Fairey, who is already in a rights issue spat with the Associated Press over his Obama poster, was in Boston preparing for the opening of his solo show "Supply and Demand" at the Institute of Contemporary Art. 

 The Boston Police said in a statement that two warrants had issued for Fairey, who has been in the city for weeks and has a 20X50 ft. banner hanging on the side of the historic City Hall, on January 24. The warrants were issued after police concluded that Fairey tagged two buildings with Andre the Giant street art reminiscent of his early work. The artist was released early Saturday morning and will appear in court to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charges Monday.

 For more on Shepard Fairey's iconic Barack Obama artwork, including the one he did for the Inauguration plus the Manifest Hope exhibit held in Washington DC during the Inaugural, click here

 Check out the unprecedented Obama merchandising here

Click here for complete Pop coverage on the historic election of Barack Obama and the 2008 Presidential campaign

Click here for how Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama could get very punk rock on the rumored Ticketmaster and Live Nation merger

While Shepard Fairey is feeling the heavy hand of the long arm of the law in Boston, he joins nine other artists in a one-night only exhibition called The Art of Rebellion in Los Angeles tonight. The show, which is at the Robert Berman Gallery in Santa Monica to be specific, is sponsored by Harley-Davidson as part of the launch of the iconic motorcycle company's Iron 883 bike. Fairey, who will likely not be in attendance it seems, joins Frank Kozik, famed for his innovative concept concert posters for Jane’s Addiction, Green Day, Soundgarden and more, Oliver Vernon, Tara McPherson and others for a bit of the aesthetic of two lane blacktop. Keeping with the theme of the night, and in a case of thematic convergence, the ten artists have each turned their talents on to a Harley gas tank - each customizing one to reflect their notion of American rebellion. The results, plus a Limited Edition Shepard Fairey poster giveaway and other examples of the works of the various artists from their own collections, are both a moment in time and a hark back to another decade of American rebellion when the President was not getting such a positive punk rock treatment.  

Many of these artists, like Fairey, came out of the DIY ethos of the American punk scene in the 1980s. With a personal soundtrack of bands like Black Flag, X, the Germs, Minor Threat, the Avengers, D.O.A. and Bad Brains, to name a few, blasting around them and Ronald Reagan dominating the political landscape, holding hands with corporate America, even if it was to take their money, seemed a very far flung and distasteful notion back in those days.

"1984 gave us two revolutions...Reagan and Punk in this country," notes Frank Kozik. "Which one wins? You tell me." The answer is of course, "Both, kinda." In a compartmentalized America, where every need and interest has its own Facebook crowd, cable show and Las Vegas convention, corporate America, like punk rock and the art scene, is less monolithic that it used to be. In the case of Harley Davidson, the bike company has fostered a very clear and free wheeling connection to the American underground. Plus, Harley has a cool credibility factor that puts pedal to the metal. Less about selling out, an out dated notion at the best and worst of times, and more about the inmates taking over the asylum. The Art of Rebellion exhibit is, in that context, like a good hog or your favorite leather, a perfect fit. "It's great," says Kozik. "Personally," the artist continued, "I love my Harleys, both of which are highly modified for 'looks.' "

Shepard Fairey doesn't need bail money so proceeds from the show will go as planned to Art Matters, a charity that supporting the exploration of new ideas, art and artists.

For more information on The Art of Rebellion, which is a one night only show from 7 to 10PM PT tonight, go to www.rebelartshow.com. For directions and more on the Robert Berman Gallery, go to www.robertbermangallery.com. For more on Art Matters, go to www.artmattersfoundation.org