Comments on: Saks Fifth Avenue hires Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson to design spring marketing campaign

By: the art collectors » Cleon Peterson Spreads Anarchy to Brussles

the art collectors » Cleon Peterson Spreads Anarchy to Brussles — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:10:27 +0000

[...] as well as for graphic design work with Shepard Fairey’s Studio Number One, where he recently designed shopping bags for upscale clothing retailer, Saks Fifth Avenue. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 [...]

By: hello

hello — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:45:23 +0000

Looks like the model just stepped out of Auschwitz. Maybe that is the look Saks is going for. The Nazi-Russian connection goes deeper than we think. They had collaborative posters made? I had no idea…

By: fantady

fantady — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:13:37 +0000

I used to be an ardent fan of Photoshop Elements http://www.frogmix.com/search/photoshop+element . I have version 3. 4 wasn’t quite compelling enough. Now that CS3 is out, are we going to see a Mac update or is this it? I cannot imagine uploading my photos to the server every time I want to edit them. Yuk. If it’s limited to low res, then definitely not.

By: Shepard x LA 2009 « White Walls Gallery

Shepard x LA 2009 « White Walls Gallery — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:42:06 +0000

[...] You may have seen Shepard Fairey’s Kenwood Vineyards collab. You may have seen his stint with Saks Fifth Ave. You might be wondering if he is still loyal to his roots. Well my friends, Arkitip says yes. This [...]

By: mark peterson

mark peterson — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:52:36 +0000

I think Mr. Fairey puts it in proper perspective. Its about the work and keeping his people employed. It is commercial work not necessarily fine art. Hopefully it works for Saks.

I heard once \” if you can\’t say something nice don\’t say anything at all.\”

That being said at least it produces a reaction which is more than a lot of the so called \”art\” out there does.

Cleons dad

By: Down with capitalism! Buy expensive stuff here! «

Down with capitalism! Buy expensive stuff here! « — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:29:20 +0000

[...] capitalism! Buy expensive stuff here! By Michael L. Heard about this on Glen Beck yesterday. Saks 5th Ave. store front windows. Never got a chance to shop there myself. Doubt if it’s the kind of place with [...]

By: STUART

STUART — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:46:57 +0000

You know what’s funny? All of the debate about the money involved and “gettin’ paid.” It’s interesting that very few have commented on what the work is actually trying to achieve. For anyone who has walked down Fifth Avenue, as they approach Saks, it’s windows literally jump out onto the street. While everyone else on the block is using the same-old sad contemporary approach to their marketing Saks is doing something different.

So it’s not original in the course of history. It’s still original on Fifth Ave. It’s still original compared to Macy’s, Bergdorf, Neiman, Bloomingdales, etc! It’s still original compared to everything else going on down Fifth Avenue.

Forget the money involved and how people “need to eat.” Shapard Fairey and Clean Peterson are obviously not the starving artist on canal street trying to sell you pastels of Robert Deniro in “Goodfellas.” They were hired to do something different and something that would make some noise. By looking at all the frantic banter on this topic, I think it’s pretty safe to say they achieved their goal.

As far as “selling out” goes, you might be a sell-out if you’re designing ads for Saks’ competitors right now. They don’t seem to be doing anything that’s that much different from everyone else at face value.

Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a “new idea” and there’s nothing wrong with inspiration or even the emulation of a style in the form of a tribute. The point is, it communicates the message clearly and in a way that makes people interact with the brand. Aside from that, “Gettin’ Paid”, “Selling Out”, and the “need to feed a family of 5″ can be left for everyone else to worry about who wishes they were hired to design for Saks in the first place.

By: SpaceGoat

SpaceGoat — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:03:30 +0000

I find it quite ironic that a large department store wanted propaganda to push it’s merchandise. The original idea behind the OBEY posters was to make people question advertising. This perverts the original motive of Fairey’s work by giving the corporations an outlet to do exactly what he wanted to present to the public. Who is playing who here?

As for ’selling-out,’ why does everyone care so much? They are using his style and he’s overseeing its creation. A style that isn’t original anyway. So he’s getting paid to make shopping bags instead of stickers. I’d like to see any other artist work a 9-5 job just to pay the bills and do art for art’s sake. See them bitch then that their art isn’t selling at all, but they can still have running water.

Live by your own principles and don’t judge others for theirs.

By: Pissed Off

Pissed Off — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:43:16 +0000

The art world is controlled by corporations. They are the ruling class, the kings and queens of our time. Corporations control the production of art through corporately funded collections, exhibitions and funding, not to mention their enormous influence over the political, economic and social realms.
Political art runs contrary to a corporate vision, and \”political\” subjects have become politically incorrect subjects in a corporate and institutionalized art world. Fine art has thus become wall decoration, and political art has been neutralized and co-opted by corporations and advertising.
Shepard Fairey exemplifies this phenomenon: he is the Thomas Kincaid of political art. Almost single-handedly, Fairey has reduced a rich and powerful history of socially-conscious art to the lowest common denominator. He symbolizes what is wrong with the art world and capitalism: he takes something of value, something beautiful and complex, and reduces it to the simplest, most easily digestible form of advertising: the brand. Fairey has branded himself, \”political\” art, \”punk rock\” and even the president of the United States.
Even though his work is unoriginal, redundant and shallow, the gallery and museum system doesn\’t care; they only see dollar signs. He preys on working artists, enriching himself while exploiting workers and artists as subject matter. From his hypocritical high horse, he has the nerve to preach to us about the dangers of capitalism, all the while using the system to his advantage. He has turned a subversive and political movement into just another fashion statement.

By: Bama Mama

Bama Mama — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:27:25 +0000

interesting enough, super touch has posted a response to all this obey plagarism:
http://www.supertouchart.com/2009/02/02/editorial-the-medium-is-the-message-shepard-fairey-and-the-art-of-appropriation/

By: Shepard Fairey interviewed by Dave Navarro - Page 8 - GigPosters.com

Shepard Fairey interviewed by Dave Navarro - Page 8 - GigPosters.com — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:49:56 +0000

[...] look at the Saks 5th Ave ad campaign he loses of credibility. This is offensive on many levels: Saks Fifth Avenue hires Shepard Fairey and Cleon Peterson to design spring marketing campaign He is the Fall Out Boy of graphic arts. Having roots in punk rock that is bastardized by [...]

By: Christian in NYC

Christian in NYC — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:00:12 +0000

Here is a voice from Manhattan. I think this neo-Constructivist thing is perfectly in keeping with all the other neo-Constructivist stuff that Shepard Fairey has even done.

Frankly the idea of using 1920s Soviet propaganda art to sell wildly expensive crap to foolish fashion-slavish women is totally awesome and hilarious. Obey, indeed!

By: Juan

Juan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:54:52 +0000

It is amazing to me that so many comments are judging another man’s career. What have most of you done to forward your creative destiny? I think it may be worthwhile for you to achieve a level of recognition comparable to Mr. Fairey’s and then offer commentary — I doubt it would be as critical or brash.

I have had the pleasure of living long enough to have hung out at The Factory in the 70’s and remember clearly similar attitudes regarding a certain artists vision for the blurring the lines between commercialism and artistic endeavor.

As technology evolves and continues to be adapted by creative minds/hearts to transform expression, it will always be impacted/influenced by former works of artisans of all genres — it is inevitable. The architecture of creativity is premised upon the influence social DNA.

I am of the direct opinion that any creative spirit strong enough to fight through the s@#! that creatives must endure to simply express ourselves, do business and occasionally eat a good meal/wear descent clothes/live well as a result of it … bravo!

Bravo to the artist/designer, Shepard Fairey. Bravo to his creative journey and fight! Bravo to sustaining yourself amidst the chatter of fellow creatives that probably should be doing more to further their career and talking less. Perhaps if they did, they would be able to understand what it takes to achieve your level of success doing what you are gifted to do. Bravo!

Onward!

By: Gabriela

Gabriela — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:07:42 +0000

Here is a voice from Europe. I think noone of you above mentioned anything about taste in this campaign. That is what bothered me the most in the images. Using a great historical event/period for the aims of selling stupid bags… The woman looks quite ridiculous in this position, don’t you think? Diminishing a great historical idea to the size of a market bag – that is a bad taste. READ MORE.

By: Shepard Fairey

Shepard Fairey — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:00:10 +0000

I took on the Saks job to support the people in my studio. The economy has effected us like everyone else, and the Saks job would keep the studio from having to let people go who are not only co-workers but friends. These are creative people who pay their bills with”sell out” work and pursue their own art on nights and weekends. I personally do’\n’t need the work, but I took the job on behalf of my studio. I also really liked Terron, the creative director of Saks. He was very genuine and open minded. He specifically asked for “propaganda” style. I thought it was a fun campaign for Saks with a lot of provocative irony. I oversaw the art, but I did not execute it… I spend most of my time on my own art and charity projects. Cleon Peterson from my studio did a great job on the art, and yes, we both agree the model is too skinny. At least we can all agree on that.
-Shepard Fairey