06.04.08
I haven’t yet posted news about Upper Playground’s ongoing Obama poster series because of mixed emotions. I haven’t been able yet to determine if all the money they are making is going toward the Obama campaign or not. In times like these, I say give if you can and if you are earning money from Obama’s image, give that money back to his campaign. Don’t get me wrong, I think it is great the Upperplayground is contributing. I just think it’s a little immoral to be turning a buck of the Obama trend on one hand and touting support with the other. This is America though and that is how capitalism works I guess. Like I said though, I could be totally wrong, they might be giving a small amount of money to the artist and then giving all the rest back to the campaign. With each poster costing a whopping $200 in this economy, with a target audience that is most likely comprised of artists and creatives, I hope they are putting that money towards a good cause. If they are, then I applaud them whole-heartedly and apologize sincerely for any misperception on my behalf.
That peace being spoken, the poster by Ron English really is noteworthy. Not just because Ron English is such an interesting and controversial artist but because of his interpretation of Obama in his poster. It stirs a lot of emotions looking at the image he has created and it also brings about an idea of a circle in history finally being closed once and for all. I think it’s a brilliant idea and speaks a lot about the intelligence behind English’s work. Of all the posters so far, I would say this one, if you have the actual money to spare, is worth the cost. It’s a brilliant effort by English and beautifully conceived. In a world of clutter it is so often the simplest images that speak the loudest.
written by Christopher | tags: Barack Obama, Obama Posters, Ron English, Upper Playground
June 5th, 2008 at 8:29 am
[...] Changethethought™ | Ron English Obama Poster Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
June 5th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Lincoln was a Republican.
June 5th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I know, that is actually part of why I like the poster. It speaks to his non-partisan nature and kind of comes full circle to the once liberal republicans to the now liberal democrats.
June 6th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
But the republican party back then was a very different party. Today Republicans are much more like Democrates, but instead of controlling your life though fear and legislation they control your life with fear and guns. I don’t know which I will pick yet. I don’t prefer either….
June 6th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
It’s actually not a poster but a limited edition silk screen print and most of the money is going to the campaign. A couple hundred dollars was set aside for plane tickets for me to fly out and sign the prints. Everyone is taking this campaign very seriously and we are all doing anything we can to help.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Is that really you, Ron? If so, can you say a few words about the print and the intended meaning? I already purchased, and am looking forward to it, and Obama’s win in November.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I’m not entirely into all the design stuff but Ron English is a bad ass. I watched a video about him at school and it left me with only one impression of him. That impression was bad ass. He’s one of the few artists that are really saying something rather than just creating ‘stuff’.
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
Funny – Lincoln was THE 1st Republican President.
September 27th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
“I will say, then, that I am not, nor have ever been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not nor ever been in favor of making voters of the free Negroes, or jurors, or qualifying them to hold office, or having them to marry with white people. I will say in addition, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races, which, I suppose, will forever forbid the two races living together upon terms of social and political equality, and inasmuch as they cannot so live, that while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior, that I as much as any other white man am in favor of the superior position being assigned to the white man.”-President Abraham Lincoln
nice poster….