Latest news with #Fairey
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
City Vision Opposes Helipads In Residential Areas
City Vision does not support private helipads in residential areas – the impacts on direct neighbours and wider neighbourhoods are too great. Julie Fairey, Councillor for Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa, and our team in Waitematā, are appalled that the consent for the new helipad in Rawene Avenue, Westmere has been granted in the face of council and community opposition. 'It was disappointing, and surprising, to see independent commissioners approve the new helipad in Westmere. Although it's outside my ward the noise travels to Pt Chevalier so has an impact on my constituents and I attended Helen White MP's meeting with Quiet Sky Waitematā in November. The discussion about the effects on neighbours and the environment were very concerning' says Fairey. 'It seems absurd commissioners equated the noise from a helicopter with that of a motorbike or a bus (assumedly diesel and we are phasing those out!).' City Vision is focused on working towards an enduring solution for the community on the broader issue of helipads in residential areas of Auckland, as well as identifying how to best support those who wish to oppose the specific approval given for the Westmere site. City Vision member on the Waitematā Local Board Alex Bonham has been working on this issue for some time, including presenting at the hearing to oppose the granting of the consent for Rawene Avenue. 'The impact of noise pollution on a growing urban population and all waterfront users is a problem that will only get worse' says Bonham. 'Impacts on neighbours and users of the beaches and coastline include rotor wash (down draught) and distressing noise. The environmental impacts on beaches, the foreshore and coastal bird habitats are irreversible. Once granted, helicopter consents in perpetuity will permanently destroy peaceful neighbourhoods, waterfronts and biodiverse habitats.' Bonham and Fairey have supported work already underway to tighten rules for helicopter use in residential areas, including a current plan change for operations in the Hauraki Gulf. Waitemata & Gulf ward candidate for City Vision, Patrick Reynolds, shares these concerns. 'City Vision will work to do what is necessary to fix the Auckland Unitary Plan during next year's review, working alongside the community and interested parties to protect residential areas and the environment' says Reynolds. City Vision representatives, including Bonham and Reynolds, will be at Quiet Sky Waitematā Public Meeting on Thursday 10th July at 7pm at Hawke Sea Scout Hall, 55 West End Road.
San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Shepard Fairey's ‘Fractured' marks first major S.F. show in nearly 20 years — and it demands your attention
You know him from the 2008 Barack Obama 'Hope' poster, but Shepard Fairey has a lot more to say. 'Shepard Fairey: Fractured,' the American artist's first major San Francisco show since 2008, showcases 115 politically charged works at Harman Projects gallery at Minnesota Street Project. The collection features portraits of both well-known and anonymous figures juxtaposed with text and imagery in Fairey's signature restricted color palette. Nearly all the work is silkscreen, sometimes with mixed media, on paper, wood or aluminum. 'I've been looking for an opportunity to do something in San Francisco for a while,' Fairey told the Chronicle. 'San Francisco is my kind of town.' Though Fairey never lived in the Bay Area, 'Fractured' is in a way a homecoming. Between 1996 and 1999, while in his 20s, Fairey estimates he visited the region at least once a month for the 'really incredible' street art and graffiti scene. Meanwhile, street art was sparking interest in another corner of the country. In western Massachusetts, Harman was following the growing movement, documenting his finds and sending photographs of his discoveries to the Wooster Collective, a website that documented street art. When he moved to Oakland in 2006, he said he kept up the practice of 'going out with local artists in the middle of the night while they wheat-pasted.' Harman loved Fairey's art so much, he purchased a set of four screen prints the artist made in 2008 in collaboration with Blek Le Rat for $1,200 — despite earning about $10 an hour at the Lake Merrit Whole Foods in Oakland. He remembers it took six months to pay off the credit card. 'When I say I was a fan, I really mean it,' said Harman, now owner of Harman Projects and Hashimoto Gallery, both of which have locations in San Francisco and New York. 'The fact that we're here 17 years later,' he mused. 'It's really an honor.' Harman's admiration for Fairey's work only deepened when he attended the artist's 2008 exhibition, titled 'Duality of Humanity,' at White Walls Gallery in San Francisco. The show focused on what Fairey called 'reverse propaganda,' infused with what he then saw as Obama's optimism and political ideals. 'At the time, I didn't have much going on creatively and I thought it was interesting that an artist I admired was doing this for a presidential nominee,' Harman, now 42, recalled. Harman began blogging and eventually became the expert on Obama street art. For the 2009 presidential inauguration, too broke to afford a hotel room, Harman wound up sleeping on the floor of a Washington, D.C. gallery for five days. (He jokes it was a 'crash course' in gallery management.) 'Seeing my favorite artists coalesce around this candidate really very much turned me into a political person,' Harman said, referring to Fairey and other like minded artists including Date Farmers, Ron English, Emek and Ray Noland. Harman and Fairey are hoping to inspire others in the same way in 2025. In order to rouse people off their couches, Fairey strives to make his message as direct as possible. One standout piece, 'Fractured Harmony,' depicts a woman looking through a torn mandala against an oil derrick, accompanied by words highlighting how oil giants are shielded from legal liability. Fairey describes it as a 'chaotic collage' that reflects the ripped social fabric of our moment. He particularly enjoys the duality of the mandala, which could be seen as either an aspirational harmony or as an 'easy conspiracy theory that ties things up in a package.' The mandala's promise of harmony rings hollow against the reality of the destructive oil derrick. Fairy hopes people ask questions instead of accepting 'conveniently simple' explanations, which he views as harmful to democracy. 'One of the reasons democracy doesn't work as well as it should is because there is so much apathy,' said Fairey, 55. 'You can't necessarily react to or solve every problem in the moment. … But when it matters, am I going to speak out and am I going to vote?' The exhibition also includes portraits of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, legendary pro boxer Muhammed Ali and Andy Warhol, a leading figure in the Pop Art movement beginning in the early '60s. Their images lined in rows on the wall form a phalanx of social justice camaraderie. The work shown at Harman Projects comes at a range of price points to make sure the art is broadly accessible for purchase. A signed and dated poster in a standard 24-by-36 size for affordable framing costs $30 –– cheaper than a trendy water bottle. Fairey and Harman, while showing in galleries, haven't abandoned the streets. Fairey noted Harman helped him find a wall, near the gallery along Indiana Street, for a new mural even though Harman will not benefit financially. He completed it in June. 'If public space is really meant for the good of the public,' said Fairey, 'then it shouldn't just be ads and commercial signage that we're looking at.' Perhaps a visitor to Harmon Projects' will be moved to political or artistic action. 'I, of course, would never suggest that somebody should ever do anything illegal such as making a piece of street art without permission,' said Harman. 'But I certainly hope — wink wink — that this exhibition inspires artists both indoors and outdoors.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shepard Fairey and Bandcamp Create Original Limited Edition T-Shirt to Support MusiCares LA Wildfire Relief
100% of Proceeds From T-Shirt Sales to Benefit Musicians in Need LOS ANGELES, CA / / February 6, 2025 / Bandcamp, the artist-first platform supporting independent music, is proud to announce the next phase of its Bandcamp <3 LA Fundraiser, featuring an exclusive, limited-edition T-shirt designed by acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey. Available throughout February, 100% of proceeds from T-shirt sales will be donated to MusiCares, which offers preventive, emergency, and recovery programs for the music community. Shepard Fairey, known for his powerful, thought-provoking art, has created a one-of-a-kind T-shirt design that embodies the resilience and creativity of independent artists. His design references vintage vinyl LP packaging design, a nod to Bandcamp's commitment to uplifting the world through the power of music. Fairey's "Lotus Woman" design has evolved over time, originating as a screen print in 2015, symbolizing strength and resilience through bold graphic imagery. The lotus flower itself is often associated with spiritual awakening and the journey of rising above adversity. The collaboration with Bandcamp and MusiCares reworks the design into a new version incorporating the Seal of The City of Los Angeles - to raise funds for the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, with proceeds going to relief efforts. This lineage highlights Fairey's continued commitment to using his art to support social causes and engage with communities in need. "Bandcamp gives artists a platform to share their art and make a living from it. The wildfires in LA endangered the livelihoods of so many musicians, and we're grateful to Shepard Fairey for helping us raise money for MusiCares and the LA music community," said Dan Melnick, General Manager of Bandcamp. "Music, art, and activism have long been intertwined, shaping culture and inspiring action. This collaboration with Shepard Fairey and MusiCares is about more than just fundraising-it's about building a future where independent artists have the support they need to thrive. We're honored to stand alongside partners who share our commitment to strengthening the creative ecosystem," said Bryan Biniak, President of Songtradr, the parent company of Bandcamp. "I was heartbroken by the immense loss our community in Los Angeles suffered due to the wildfires. The city is enduring such a difficult time, and many artists, musicians, and dedicated individuals are working tirelessly to rebuild their lives. Drawing inspiration from the incredible strength and resilience of the people here, I created this T-shirt for Bandcamp's Love LA Fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to MusiCares. Now, more than ever, it's essential that we come together and support one another as we help our fellow Angelenos heal and rebuild," said Shepard Fairey, founder of OBEY Clothing and creative agency Studio Number One. This initiative builds on Bandcamp's wildfire relief fundraiser on February 7. From midnight to midnight, 100% of Bandcamp's proceeds will be donated to MusiCare, a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Bandcamp is proud to partner with A2IM, Harman, Lagunitas, Roland, Shure, Victrola, and WIN, to amplify support for independent musicians affected by the Southern California wildfires. How to Support the Heart LA Fundraiser Purchase the Shepard Fairey-designed T-shirt exclusively on Bandcamp throughout February: Spread the word by sharing the campaign with fans, friends, and fellow artists. Join the movement on February 7-music lovers, industry partners, and artists alike can help ensure musicians receive the support they need. Bandcamp has long championed artist-first initiatives, including Bandcamp Fridays, which have generated over $131 million for independent musicians and labels. This latest fundraiser reaffirms Bandcamp's dedication to fostering a resilient, thriving creative community. About Bandcamp Bandcamp is the premiere online record store and music community where passionate fans discover, connect with and directly support the artists they love. With the majority of revenue going directly to artists, Bandcamp fosters a communal experience with music discovery, where artists and fans support each other in a vibrant ecosystem. Bandcamp artists and labels release and sell a broad range of music products, including digital and physical records, vinyl, apparel and merchandise. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. About MusiCares MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based, independent 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: About Shepard Fairey Shepard Fairey is a contemporary street artist, graphic designer, activist, and founder of OBEY Clothing and creative agency Studio Number One. In 1989, while at Rhode Island School of Design studying for his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Shepard Fairey created the "Andre the Giant has a Posse" sticker that later evolved into the OBEY GIANT art campaign. In 2008, his portrait of then-Democratic candidate Barack Obama became an internationally recognized emblem of hope. He is known for the "We The People" campaign that debuted worldwide during the 2017 Women's Marches. Fairey has painted nearly 140 public murals and has become one of the most sought-after and provocative artists globally, changing the way people converse about art and view the urban landscape. Contact Details Jalila Singerff+1 613-614-6777jalila@ Company Website SOURCE: Bandcamp View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
