Shepard Fairey drop
The affidavit.
Fairey outside court.
Anti-Fairey.
Fairey-sues.
Pro-Fairey gripe from ICA party sponsor:
Dear Editor,
My company, Karmaloop, Inc. sponsored the opening night party for Shepard Fairey's show at the ICA. The anticipation and buzz among young adults throughout the City over the last few weeks has been like nothing I have seen before in the City.
Boston, famous for its uptight reputation, racial battles, and puritanical anti-art zealousness was hosting arguably the most important art opening of 2009. A positive step in our quest to be a more vibrant and international city, a city that so many people have been working to change for the better. Even the Mayor did his part to welcome this exciting and positive exhibit and artist. People came from all over the US and the world for the event at the ICA on Friday night eager to meet and see Shepard Fairey.
Unfortunately, Boston once again lived up to its reputation and embarrassed itself on an international scale. Shepard is not only a world-renowned artist, but also a person who has done a tremendous amount of good beyond just his art. He was a guest of the Obama's at the inauguration, and just several weeks earlier his iconic portrait of the president was being hung in the National Portrait Gallery. It was this image, and Shepard's efforts above and beyond the poster, to get the young involved in the political process that helped contribute to getting so many young people to check out politics for the first time.
It is very clear the Boston Police did not handle this incident like any other outstanding misdemeanor warrant, and it is clear that they timed it to destroy the excitement and happiness of the ICA opening. Why didn't they just call his lawyer and tell him to have Shepard come in he has been in the city for over a week? (Shepard had no knowledge of any arrest warrants) Why did they have to stake out his hotel? Why did it take unmarked cars, cruisers and at least 8 officers to follow in hot pursuit? Why did they have to pull people from cabs on the way to the ICA with lights flashing looking for the suspect? Why did they need to make his wife and the DJ for the party stand against the cab as if they were some kind of threat? Why did they need to throw Shepard in handcuffs?
The police call what he does "tagging" but that connotes using spray paint or marker to write on people's property. Shepard puts up artistic posters on derelict buildings as well as many legal space around the city arranged by the ICA - hardly a "crime" that has needed this much effort and coordination to tackle.
Boston's serious crimes per 100,000 e.g. Murder, Rape, Assault etc. across the board are double or more than New York City's (see Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Report, FBI website). Boston also has one of the lowest rates of solving murders of any major city in the entire US. Where are our priorities when we are spending so much time and effort trying to arrest an artist?
I love Boston, and I have nothing against the vast majority of rank and file police officers who do a tough job under harsh conditions. But if we care about both the police and our City, it is all of our responsibility to speak up. This whole spectacle makes no sense, why purposely try to destroy something positive it is achieving nothing, except to harm Boston.
My company employees 70 people most of them in their 20's and early 30's. The most common issue I face with my company is attracting good young creative talent because many don't want to live in Boston or have a negative opinion of it. They want to be in San Francisco, Portland, Austin, New York, but not Boston.
There is a reason so many creative students flee the City right after graduation. Incidents like the one with Shepard just reinforce the worst negative stereotypes about Boston and have a direct effect on the future of our City and our ability to attract the best and the brightest. We should heed the words of President Obama in his inauguration speech: "people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy"
Greg Selkoe, CEO
Karmaloop.com, Karmaloop Boston
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He actually doesn't sound as if he likes Boston much at all...
If I did this I would be arrested so why should he get special treatment?
If you did this, you'd get a 100 dollar fine.
the highest fine is 500. For 500 dollars you're going to send 2 patrol cars to pick up an artist? When you could easily contact him and have him turn himself in as he is already accustomed to being arrested for doing the same in more serious situations.
(look up his account of putting up wheatpaste posters during the DNC)
'Lo, he's had eight years to turn himself in and pay his debt to society. He hasn't; thankfully though, the BPD isnt as naiive as you are.
I've seen gripes from "sponsors." This wasn't about "derelict" buildings, I remember seeing the "Obey Giant" (based on likeness of wrestler Andre the Giant) posters and sticker all the way down Mass Ave in Cambridge, on the 77 bus route, mostly storefront properties. What's more, Fairely has since sold the same design to Saks Fifth Avenue for clothes, and actually threatened to sue another artist for copyright infringement for this "Obey Giant!" Fairley also often bragged about his arrests, and uses it for "street" credibility. The Boston police rightfully hit this hypocrite where it hurts, his wallet and his reputation. And Shepard was suppose to be the DJ at this event! It was a publicity stunt, not an art showing! This was justice.
This is unbelievably STUPID.
I will file a FOIA request to find out how much money was spent in the planning and execution of this raid.
PRC if you did this, yes, you would be arrested. NOT by up to 10 cars. They would not spend likely thousands of dollars to bring you in for a simple crime.
Cristobal...... Really? You sound awfully angry about his successful art career. An art show is inherently for publicity. However... The BPD were the ones who made this into a publicity stunt. They went out of their way to make an example. It is silly and foolish. JUSTICE? What do you know about justice? LOL simple.
As far as I know, most graffiti offenses are considered to be felonies, not misdemeanors which seems like total overkill. I wonder why the police are so obsessed with catching graffiti artists and taggers. They don't seem so worried about the criminals who have been holding up people at knifepoint in the Mission Hill area. I think they are pressured by some neighborhood organizations who are concerned that graffiti affects property values. The police had obviously intended to arrest Fairey at the ICA in order to humiliate him and the museum. Apparently,
the cab overshot the entrance to the museum and the police were forced to arrest him on a sidestreet. I think they managed to get their message across, that we must all OBEY.
The BPD should be ashamed of them selves. This was a politically motivated stunt and the punishment did not fit the crime (if there was even committed). Sheprad is a world-wide renowned artist and he contributes much of his time and money for very worthwhile causes. I hope the whole city of Boston is embarrassed. Shame on you!
could not agree more with this article. the boston police should be ashamed of themselves for their petty stupid grandstanding...destroying a great evening at a great institution like the ICA that is doing a great job bringing fantastic exhibits and culture to an city that stubbornly refuses to be modern and great.
As someone who doesn't live in Boston (but in NYC) this really makes your police force out to be a fools trying to embarrass the mayor - not to mention the city. One can only imagine the mindset of the schemer who cooked this one up and you can bet it wasn't anyone associated with Fairley or the ICA. Yet another reason to avoid Boston.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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