The Herold Mahoney Library is hosting “Shepard Fairey: On The Wall” at the Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma Campus until April 11, and the timing couldn’t be better.
Los Angeles-based artist Shepard Fairey, who boasts more than 1 million followers on Instagram, is well known for his views on dissent and activism. He uses his art as a vehicle to inspire, educate and advocate.
Fairey’s famous Barack Obama “HOPE” campaign poster hit the global stage in 2008.
Fairey began his foray into visual grassroots activism in the 1980s at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. As a student he designed a sticker known as “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” to gain fame among his skate-punk classmates. Fast-forward to today and the renamed “OBEY” sticker can be found on walls and in crevices around the world.
“Every time I walk in here, I get a thrill to know that his work is here and that people can come in and see it here on this campus,” said SRJC public services librarian Loretta Esparza. “It makes me so happy when the faculty brings classes in, when this gallery is filled with students and they’re looking at his work.”
“On the Wall” features a documentary video “Facing the Giant,” which showcases Fairey discussing the principles and processes that drive his passions, the birth of OBEY and his fascination with questioning authority. His posters in the room carry headlines such as “Make Art Not War” and “Peace is Radical Violence is Weak.”
Fairey’s professional brand, “Manufacturing Quality Dissent Since 1989,” resonates in a timely fashion with today’s political upheavals with the second Trump administration. Fairey’s creativity promotes his beliefs regarding gun control, equality, racism, war and the environment, which is evident in the show.
Fairey acknowledges that the current political situation is troubling, and encourages people to take action rather than feel powerless.
“Mobilizing people is something that art can do in immediate ways, but where I think it’s most effective is in shaping culture, and hopefully a culture of compassion and generosity that means that any leader undermining compassion and generosity is swimming against the cultural current,” Fairey said via his spokesperson, while working from Thailand.
“We all can play a role in shaping culture, which in term shapes attitudes and so on,” he added. “Never underestimate the power of yourself as an individual to effect the collective and set off a chain reaction.”
Esparza is responsible for bringing this legendary artist to our doorstep.
She works at both Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses, providing support to instructors and students, and conducting library tours and workshops. She also curates exhibits for the Herold Mahoney Library.
“It’s not just providing the exhibits, it’s actually how we can integrate it into the curriculum,” Esparza said. “I think now more than ever, the ‘Shepard Fairey: On The Wall’ exhibit is so relevant in many ways.”
Esparza has curated several shows, mainly with the SRJC community. This is the first time she’s curated a show for an artist other than a student or faculty.
“The Shepard Fairey exhibit is a powerful example of art that challenges dominant narratives and invites reflection. It’s a moving experience and I hope everyone in our community has an opportunity to see it firsthand,” SRJC President and Superintendent Dr. Angelica Garcia said.
Esparza worked closely with Fairey’s team in providing a meaningful and insightful exhibit. Uniquely, the Obey Giant team shipped the artwork to the campus and Esparza hung the pieces on her own.
At age 55, Fairey has already left a long legacy. His work is shown at The Smithsonian as well as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, among others. His murals appear in cities worldwide, from Seoul to New Orleans.
“Overall, people are thinking that it’s beautiful, and they’re happy to see it. They’re impressed, and the work stimulated them to think,” Esparza said regarding the show. “It’s very easy to come see it here, and it’s free.”
For students unable to come to the exhibit and who want to learn more about Fairey, an online library guide is available, with links to interviews with the artist and the 15-minute “Facing The Giant” video from the exhibition. Featured books about the artist are available for check-out on campus and from other libraries.
