Obama

This Obama graffiti poster was up at the exit from the Bay Bridge to San Francisco for a few weeks.

Now it's gone.

I'm not sure who the artist is, but I've seen and shot some of his/her other stuff around town. Whoever they are they have a nice series of presidential portraits.

To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player.

Comments

j03 says:

obeygiant.com/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepard_Fairey
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

* t o m m o * says:

Nice. The cracks of the poster / wall look like the lines of his face.
Belgium says "Yes, we can!"
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Mal the Dsturbd Citizn says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Mal's Best of the Best, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

greenkozi says:

there are a bunch of smaller ones about town. that one was getting defaced/mutilated- maybe that is why it got taken down?

as j03 says- it's a clever take off of OBEY.

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

andriy kharkovyy says:

nice, i was looking at this when i was in san francisco couple of weeks ago
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

cmiper says:

I'm not sure if it is a Shepard Fairey, as it looks a bit sloppy to me, but it definitely is a take on it if not.

He has done a couple of Obama ones, they are a bit better than this.

Here is one, and here is the other.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Wickedly Smart says:

nice work..
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

David Kozlowski says:

Nobama is a loser, but this work is a winner haha ;)

--
Seen on my Flickr home page. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

paulpablopawel says:

Nice picture & nice photo.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

nonac. says:

I think he'd approve !

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

JeremyHall says:

That is guerrilla marketing at its finest! This is a nice capture of it.
--
Seen on your photo stream.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Some girl named Jen says:

ooh, i saw it last week! glad you got a shot of it.
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

Tracy Clayton says:

i so want one of those for my apartment!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

prblog says:

obeygiant.com/post/obama
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

prettywar-stl says:

this is quite sweet!
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

stickerobot says:

flickr.com/groups/obama-art/
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

carbonscooby says:

edit:

well, what i said was redundant, apparently the first commented showed the link to OBEY

well played
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

Somehow I doubt even he would agree with vandalism.
Posted 15 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

It's urban art enrichment, not vandalism.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

"Urban enrichment" is in the eye of the beholder, I don't feel enriched... but I'll bet the law's pretty clear.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Too bad for you. A lot of folks derived a great deal from this. Actually I've done this a few times in the presence of the police after asking permission. I've gotten much more positive feedback on this than negative. Which,to me, means it was successful. You're entitled to your opinion though.
Cheers
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

nonac. says:

I am hard pressed to call all graffiti "vandalism"...

urban art, tastefully done and in the right place can be quite beautiful and necessary in my opinion and end up garnering positive impressions and feedback...sure, scribble, tags and other b.s. on private property for the sole reason of only being a nuisance is despicable and illegal, but public, urban art is needed and welcomed, by me at least
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Thanks nonac. There are a lot of like minded people with you on that. Thanks for chiming in.
Cheers
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Hawk says:

January20th2009, is this your piece? If so, bravo.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Thomas,
Thank you sir. And much thanks for the fine photo.
Cheers
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

It all comes down to the law, which likely comes down to where you put signs. Legally supporting a candidate is fine, but I have issue with "supporting" a candidate by breaking the very law that they are elected to uphold. If the public has to pay to clean up your "art" then it's over the line, quite simple.

Saying that graffiti doesn't fall under the heading of vandalism shows the extreme bias from which you argue. It resounds with the ignorance of someone who's never had to clean up someone elses mess ("art" or otherwise). I can respect the design element in a lot of graffiti, I just wish it was put into something worth while rather than something that costs everyone money and keeps public (if it's on public property) employees busy with worthless junk rather than worthwhile projects.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Just to add a little perspective. The Government just spent 700 billion dollars to clean up someone else's mess. So the few dollars they may have spent cleaning up mine doesn't keep me awake at night. Street art is a part of urban life. It is one of those things that make city culturally rich and vibrant in comparison to the sterile banality of the suburbs. You may look at it as a negative and that's your choice. Any world class city in the world has a street art community. You will walk down the street everyday and see 100 maybe 200 ads and billboards and banners. You didn't ask to see them but there they are littering the landscape, offering you nothing but suv's and new cellphones and new flavored doritos. That's the visual dialogue on any city street. I'm just interjecting in that dialogue, sayin "hey what about this?" Rules are made to be broken. Why do you think those cops turned a blind eye? This is my city too, and I will participate in the dialogue whether invited or not.
You said "I just wish it was put into something worth while rather than something that costs everyone money and keeps public (if it's on public property) employees busy with worthless junk rather than worthwhile projects."
Having art on the streets is a worthwhile project. If it cost you some money for some guy to paint over it take comfort in the fact that it cost some other guy money to create it and share it. Seeing as a lot of people enjoy it, I would say, it's actually quite altruistic of me.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

You're talking about federal government, I'm talking local, but I'm not saying I back the whole 700 billion thing either, though it's completely off the topic.
Regardless of your incredible arrogance, it's not a good way to support a candidate. Obama would agree with me on that...
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

If we're gonna start name calling.... You're a self righteous, anal retentive, tool. I included a link of a thank you letter that Obama wrote to Shepard Fairey (to put that into tool language he's a famous street artist) for his "hope" and "progress" poster design. Some of which you have probably seen pasted around town. So actually NO. Obama wouldn't agree with you on that, you fucking Knob.
obeygiant.com/post/check-it-out

I have also raised quite a bit of money for Obama's campaign through the sale of "vandalism". I also donated an original piece to the Manifest hope show in Denver during the DNC which was sold for quite a lot of money which went to fund other Obama events. So while you sit there and call me arrogant, the fact is I have probably contributed more money and time to Obama campaign than most. Something I deem a worthy cause. You're the arrogant one. A fucking cake eater who thinks you're approval of things is required. No one asked for your approval.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Hawk says:

"The people who truly deface our neighbourhoods are the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff. They expect to be able to shout their message in your face from every available surface but you're never allowed to answer back. Well, they started the fight and the wall is the weapon of choice to hit them back."

-- Banksy, Wall and Piece, 2006
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

I know who Shepard Fairey is, he's a rip off "artist" who's never made anything original in his life, as shown here:
www.art-for-a-change.com/Obey/index.htm
Obama thanked Fairey for the posters he made, not for his past or for what people would do with his art. It would seem, though,that that's just another in a line of unfortunate associations he's chosen to make.
How could you make money through the sale of "vandalism"? I have no trouble with your art, I have trouble with what you do on it. I'd have the same trouble if any other art from the Mona Lisa to a Jackson Pollock piece was posted illegally. You made money (or Obama's campaign did) off your art, fine, I've got no problem with your art.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Dude, listen carefully. You've explained your objection to the "legality" of what i do over and over. I have given you my point of view. We clearly disagee. It's really not a big deal. You are not going to change your mind and I am certainly not going to stop doing what I do. So just let it go.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

I'm not "holding on", I'm just voicing my opinion and responding to other views.
I have to believe you can tell the difference between my objection to what you do with your art (post it on public or possibly private property in such a way that it needs to be removed by others), and my acceptance of your design work and creativity, the art itself, then I can't really help you. I object to the legality of what you do WITH your art. Make your art, print it out, sell it to people who want to hang it in or on their houses, put it online, try to get it put in magazines, make a website, all examples of good things to do with your legitimate art. It's not until you put that up on public or private property against the law or the desires of the owner that I have a problem with you.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

Ok sparky I got it. You have voiced your opinion ad nauseam . I'm pretty sure everyone knows where you stand in regard to this particular issue.
All done?
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

Perhaps this will more adequately explain my point. I'm assuming you live in San Fransisco based on your profile. In the 2000-2001 business year, SF spent over 22 million dollars cleaning up "artwork". I've found multiple references to them cracking down on "artwork" so I've got a great idea, why don't you go ahead and take credit for your artwork by sending your name and address to whatever one of these San Francisco Police email acounts is for your area, and we'll see how enthusiastic they are about your volunteerism. [http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?i d=23368]
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

I sent the last comment before I saw your response. You can try to make me look like a raving crazy guy, that's fine, but you're a criminal and I'm the kind of person who believes you oughta stand up for what's right. So, yes, if you're done, I'm done...
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

HabitForming says:

VOTE OBAMA++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++#######+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++############++++++++++++++
++++++++++###############++++++++++++
+++++++++#####++++++++###++++++++++++
++++++++###++++++++++++###+++++++++++
++++++++##++++++++++++++###++++++++++
+++++++##+++++++++++++++####+++++++++
+++++++#+++++++++++++++++###+++++++++
++++++##+++++++++++++++++####++++++++
++++++#+++++++++++++++##++@##+++++++
+++++##++++++++++++############++++++
+++++##++++++++#+++##+####+####++++++
+++++##++++#####+++#++#####+####+++++
+++++##+++##+###+++#+++****++####+++++
+++++##+++++#++#+++#+++++++++##++++++
+++++##++++@++++++++#+++++++##+#++++
+++++#+++++++++++++++#++++++##+#+++++
++++++#+++++++++++++#++++++####++++++
++++++##+++++++++++####++++####++++++
++++++++++++++++@#+###++++++####++++
+++++##+#+++++++++++++++++++##+#+++++
+++++#++++++++++++++##++++++####+++++
+++++#+@++++++++++######++++##++++++
+++++#+#+#+++++++##+++#+++++##+++++++
++++++#++#++++++##+++###++++##+++++++
+++++++#++++++++++++++++++#####++++++
+++++++++#+++++++++++#++++#####++++++
+++++++++++#+++++++++++++############+
++++++++++++#+++++++++++#############+
+++++++++++++#++++++++###############+
++++++++++++++##++++########+########+
+++++++++++++#++###########++########+
+++++++++++###+++#########++#########+
++++++++#######++++######+++#########+
++++++#########+++++++##++++#########+
+++++##########+++++###++++##########+
+++############+++++#++++++##########+
++##############++++#++++++##########+
++##############++++++++++###Obama##+
+###############++++++++++###T-shirts##+
+############### ++++ +++++###Obama##+
+###############++++++#++####Buttons##+
+################+++++#++####!!!!!!!!!!!!!!##+
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

just.Luc (just.Censored) says:

Fingers crossed !
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

january20th2009 says:

YES WE DID....
and yes we can
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

crzymshrooms7 says:

love him!!!
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

boscbo says:

"Thespark217" is a "tool" and a "fucking knob" for suggesting someone follow the law? That's interesting.
Mr. Hawk, though I agree with the ugliness of ads in the quote you posted...
"The people who truly deface our neighbourhoods are the companies that scrawl giant slogans across buildings and buses trying to make us feel inadequate unless we buy their stuff. They expect to be able to shout their message in your face from every available surface but you're never allowed to answer back. Well, they started the fight and the wall is the weapon of choice to hit them back." Banksy, Wall and Piece, 2006
...it should be noted that they are doing it legally, not illegally. Why don't we "hit them back" by using their own methods? If we started renting out the ad space it would limit their ad space and would probably be more noted.
You've pointed out in many of your pictures that "photography is not a crime" (rightfully so, I might add). You don't want to be hassled by security guards and cops when you're legally doing what you love to do, but at the same time seem to support doing something that is a crime? If someone's viewpoint on a matter takes presidence over the legallity of it, then where can we draw the line? If that's how we look at things, then security guards and cops should have every right to stop you from legally doing what you love to do because, hey, it's their way of fighting back. It's their viewpoint.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

Thomas Hawk says:

Security Guards and Cops aren't usually making art when they infringe on the rights of others.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

thespark17 says:

@ boscbo: good comment and points. I think your idea about renting out ad space is very interesting, it's a great idea. If you're passionate about this issue, put money behind it. Legitimize yourseles. You're passionate when it costs others something, how about when it costs you something? If you can't afford it, get together with other like minded people. Nothing gets attention more than when a counter-culture figure or group legitimizes themselves. One of if not the biggest figure in this movement is Shepard Fairey. I don't support him by any means, but it seems to me that it was when he started doing art legally (well, as legally as can be when he's ripped off everything he's ever done, examples here. Even his Obama logo was ripped off from Manny Garcia.) he got way more attention, and now has far more of a voice for his beliefs than he ever would have otherwise.

@ Thomas Hawk, what does making art have to do with the law? They're making the world a more beautiful place as they see beauty (aka getting you out of the way). I see no difference between putting up a poster where it is not legal and telling someone they can't take pictures even if it is legal. It's all about what's important to you, and fortunately for everyone else, your feelings don't define acceptable and unacceptable, that's what the law is for.
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

IMPEACH OBAMA says:

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don’t understand it at its core..

You scare me because you lack humility and ‘class’, always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the ‘blame America’ crowd.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer ‘wind mills’ to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use ‘extortion’ tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O’Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.
Posted 2 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

[?]

	Thomas Hawk's photostream
		33,030 uploads

This photo also belongs to:

	Barack Obama (Set)
		46 items
	Part of: Collections of Things and More Things

	San Francisco Graffiti (Set)
		1,345 items
	Part of: Bay Area Photographic Destinations and Graffiti

	Politics (Set)
		94 items
	Part of: Collections of Things and More Things

	Graffiti, Stencils and Public Murals and Art (Set)
		2,522 items
	Part of: Projects in Process and Graffiti

	10 Faves or More (Set)
		3,778 items
	Part of: My Top Faved Photos on Flickr

	25 Faves or More (Set)
		1,191 items
	Part of: My Top Faved Photos on Flickr

49 people call this photo a favorite

Additional Information

Some rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Uploaded using Flickr Uploadr 3.0 (Mac)
Taken in South Beach, San Francisco (map)
Taken with a Canon EOS 5D.
More properties
Taken on March 19, 2008
Viewed 3,542 times

Add to your map

Yay location removed

...

(Some formats are OK.)

Anyone will be able to see this on the map

(edit)

Or, remove it from the map.

Go to the map | See nearby photos and videos

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Get Help

Obama

Comments

j03 says:

* t o m m o * says:

Mal the Dsturbd Citizn says:

greenkozi says:

andriy kharkovyy says:

cmiper says:

Wickedly Smart says:

David Kozlowski says:

paulpablopawel says:

nonac. says:

JeremyHall says:

Some girl named Jen says:

Tracy Clayton says:

prblog says:

prettywar-stl says:

stickerobot says:

carbonscooby says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

nonac. says:

january20th2009 says:

Thomas Hawk says:

january20th2009 says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

Thomas Hawk says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

thespark17 says:

january20th2009 says:

thespark17 says:

thespark17 says:

HabitForming says:

just.Luc (just.Censored) says:

january20th2009 says:

crzymshrooms7 says:

boscbo says:

Thomas Hawk says:

thespark17 says:

IMPEACH OBAMA says:

Would you like to comment?

Thomas Hawk's photostream

Barack Obama (Set)

San Francisco Graffiti (Set)

Politics (Set)

Graffiti, Stencils and Public Murals and Art (Set)

10 Faves or More (Set)

25 Faves or More (Set)

Tags

Additional Information