Shepard Fairey just released a new print entitled “God Saves & Satan Invests.” The artist remains truthful to his “OBEY” style using an intriguing slogan and a limited color pallet. Fairey‘s print blurs the line between art and propaganda. Here is the explanation from his blog on the origins of the piece:

“This GOD SAVES & SATAN INVESTS print was inspired by the multiple school and mass shootings that have occurred in recent months. As many of you know from my “2nd Amendment Solutions” print from a couple years ago, (below)  I’m not a big fan of the absurd abundance of guns in the U.S. I’m also perplexed by the claim of much of the nation to have “Christian values”. If god tells us to love our neighbor and not to take another human life, where do the assault weapons and piles of ammo fit into these “Christian values”? I personally think assault weapons fall more in the “Satan’s values” category. I’m not religious, and the text in this print is designed more to illustrate the hypocrisy and  contrast between “values” and actions in this country than to make a religious statement. Anyway, if you claim to dig god, lay off of satan’s tools…. if you don’t believe in god, lay off of satan’s tools!”

 

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Seems like August 2011 is the month for movies by graffiti artists. First we had Banksy’s “Antics Roadshow,” followed by Robbo’s “Graffiti Wars,” and now we have Shepard Fairey‘s “The Rise.”

Unlike the other two short films, Fairey’s video is not super edited, nor is it as offensive. (Banksy’s video highlighted societal mishaps and Robbo’s criticized Banksy. Fairey’s film is a little more… peaceful. Fitting, considering his recent “peace dove” murals in Copenhagen and at the West Hollywood Library.)

Mostly, Fairey just talks to a camera for three and a half minutes about his influences and start in the graffiti scene. Fairey concisely documents his childhood in South Carolina, background in punk rock and skateboarding, and introduction to street art in New York City. He doesn’t delve into the Obey Clothing Line, but does talk about other trademarks like Andre The Giant.

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