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Art Show By Shepard Fairey And Other 'Artists For Bernie Sanders’ Comes To Boston

"The Art of a Political Revolution" logo designed by Marin Horikawa of Vermont displayed in the window of Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Mike Selsk/Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"The Art of a Political Revolution" logo designed by Marin Horikawa of Vermont displayed in the window of Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Mike Selsk/Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)

Arriving in Boston this weekend is "The Art of a Political Revolution,” a nationally touring exhibition featuring 37 “Artists for Bernie Sanders” — including Shepard Fairey, the street artist behind the iconic Obama Hope poster from the president’s 2008 campaign, and pop art weirdo Ron English, whose mural of Obama as Abraham Lincoln was plastered along Boston’s Harrison Avenue in 2008.

The posters, graphics, paintings and sculptures — including a Muppet version of the Vermont senator made by Los Angeles artist Donny Miller — are just in Boston briefly. An opening reception will be at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter, 100 W. 2nd St., Boston, from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, with music by DJ Kon, Riobamba, Tigerman Whoa, Big Bear and Yvng Pavl. (Note: Artists for Humanity “was rented out by the organizers of the art exhibition. Artists For Humanity does not endorse our rental clients,” the organization explains.) The exhibit continues there through Sunday, Feb. 21, open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. those two days. Admission to it all is free.

Sanders Muppet and "Time" magazine cover by Los Angeles artist Donny Miller. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Sanders Muppet and "Time" magazine cover by Los Angeles artist Donny Miller. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)

“It was important for Bernie that if we created art around this campaign and around this movement that it not just be focused around him, that it be around issues important to the artists and to Americans,” Luis Calderin, director of arts and culture for the Sanders presidential campaign, tells me. Calderin grew up in Burlington, Vermont, went to school with Sanders’ kids, and made a career in marketing before joining the Sanders presidential campaign last July.

Issues addressed by the art, Calderin says, range from “racial justice to gun control to creating an opportunity for kids to have an education through free education. There’s a general theme of the country coming together regardless of background.”

The show debuted at Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery at the end of January, then went to Austin, Texas. It comes to Boston via a partnership between the Sanders campaign, the LA gallery and the Boston sneaker emporium Bodega. There is talk of bringing the exhibit to New York in April.

"The Art of a Political Revolution" exhibit at Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Courtesy Mike Selsk/Bernie Sanders 2016)
"The Art of a Political Revolution" exhibit at Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Courtesy Mike Selsk/Bernie Sanders 2016)
"The most crucial step in fighting against political corruption and forcing politicians to get back to creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people is to reform our current campaign finance structure," Shepard Fairey writes of his May 2015 screen print "Pay Up Or Shut Up." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"The most crucial step in fighting against political corruption and forcing politicians to get back to creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people is to reform our current campaign finance structure," Shepard Fairey writes of his May 2015 screen print "Pay Up Or Shut Up." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Empower US" by New York artist Ron English. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Empower US" by New York artist Ron English. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Income inequality is at the heart of all the other problems we are trying to solve—it needs to be addressed if we hope to make gains in other areas,” writes Charlie Becker of his sculpture "99 Problems (Bein’ Rich Ain’t One)." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Income inequality is at the heart of all the other problems we are trying to solve—it needs to be addressed if we hope to make gains in other areas,” writes Charlie Becker of his sculpture "99 Problems (Bein’ Rich Ain’t One)." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Jermaine Rogers' design "Together." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Jermaine Rogers' design "Together." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
In Bernie’s own words: 'The government of the US belongs to all of us, not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors,'
“In Bernie’s own words: 'The government of the US belongs to all of us, not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors,'" designer Byron O’Neill of Burlington, Vermont, says o this design "In Bernie’s Own Words." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Shepard Fairey's April 2013 screen print “Scale Tipping Services.
Shepard Fairey's April 2013 screen print “Scale Tipping Services." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"We All Deserve A Future" by Los Angeles artist Greg Auerbach at Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Courtesy Mike Selsk/Bernie Sanders 2016)
"We All Deserve A Future" by Los Angeles artist Greg Auerbach at Los Angeles’ HVW8 gallery in January. (Courtesy Mike Selsk/Bernie Sanders 2016)
"This work is about the American woman and her power to decide. It's simply crazy that in the 40+ years since Roe v. Wade, a woman's right to govern the natural functioning of her own body remains open for political debate. Choice is the divine right of each woman," writes graffiti artist Claudia “CLAW” Gold of her artwork "My Body, My Choice." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"This work is about the American woman and her power to decide. It's simply crazy that in the 40+ years since Roe v. Wade, a woman's right to govern the natural functioning of her own body remains open for political debate. Choice is the divine right of each woman," writes graffiti artist Claudia “CLAW” Gold of her artwork "My Body, My Choice." (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Bernie Bucks" by husband-and-wife team Kozyndan. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
"Bernie Bucks" by husband-and-wife team Kozyndan. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Design by Jackson Tupper of Burlington, Vermont. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Design by Jackson Tupper of Burlington, Vermont. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Design by Ellen Voorheis of Burlington, Vermont. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Design by Ellen Voorheis of Burlington, Vermont. (Courtesy Bernie Sanders 2016)
Headshot of Greg Cook

Greg Cook Arts Reporter
Greg Cook was an arts reporter and critic for WBUR's The ARTery.

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