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Thursday, February 2, 2012 , Updated 2:36 p.m., February 6, 2012
UPDATEDx2: Art in action: Shepard Fairey finishes Dallas murals
The three on Singleton Boulevard feature the messages "obey" and "rise above."
Photo by Alexandra Olivia
The third West Dallas mural, on the left, is across the street from the first two, on the right. All are on Singleton Boulevard.
DALLAS — In an effort to help resurrect West Dallas just before the famed Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opens in early March, muralist Shepard Fairey is splashing color on several buildings in West Dallas. The first three murals shown here are visible from the soon-to-open bridge.
Fairey is the artist behind the Barack Obama "hope" poster made in 2008. While in Dallas, he will DJ and host an event at the Dallas Contemporary on Saturday night.
Photo by Alexandra Olivia
Shepard Fairey surveys his assistants' work at the Singleton Boulevard mural in West Dallas.
The Dallas Contemporary is also the site of yet another mural, which he began painting on Thursday. He has plans to paint a mural near the Oak Cliff barbecue joint Smoke, also. (He's staying next door at the Belmont Hotel.) Fairey has said he may also do an impromptu mural in Deep Ellum, but all that depends on time and weather. Rain could delay or cancel some tentative plans.
Check out a Q-and-A here where Fairey explains his intentions for the murals.
The first three murals are in West Dallas, which is Fairey's focus. They reside on Singleton Boulevard, with two on the walls of the building at 331 Singleton near the intersection at Beckley.
The quiet building was swathed in with color in Faire's first mural, which shows a woman meditating and the word "obey."
Shepard Fairey's first Dallas mural in West Dallas
Photos by Alexandra Olivia
The second mural also depicts a woman, plus the message "rise above."
Shepard Fairey's second Dallas mural in West Dallas
Photos by Alexandra Olivia
The third mural is across the street, also on Singleton Boulevard in West Dallas.
Shepard Fairey's third Dallas mural in West Dallas
Photos by Alexandra Olivia
UPDATE: On Thursday, Fairey finished the mural on a wall of the Dallas Contemporary. It says "this has been called to your attention so you will know that it has not been overlooked" and then features the word "PEACE" in large letters underneath.
Shepard Fairey's mural at the Dallas Contemporary
Photos by Alexandra Olivia
UPDATE x2: A mural at the Belmont Hotel by Fairey features stencil work made out of vinyl strips. Nearby on Manny Rodriguez's newly-acquired facility, a wheat-pasted mural is believed to have been done by Fairey also. Click on the last photo in the gallery below to see that mural.
Shepard Fairey's mural at the Belmont Hotel
Photos by Alexandra Olivia
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bigdsenorita, anonymous:
This project is not, as the author implies,"an effort to help resurrect West Dallas."
First of all, the people of West Dallas do not consider their neighborhood "dead" as implied here. Neither does Shepard Fairey.
This is merely an art project taking place in West Dallas. That is all it is. Fairey has no intention of trying to resurrect the area with his murals. West Dallas is merely the backdrop for his works.
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Travis Bush, verified:
I doubt many in West Dallas know or care who he is..
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OEsophagus, anonymous:
Who is actually paying for this? I seems doubtful that Fairey would do this out of the goodness of his heart. I see the Dallas Contemporary invited him, but who's fronting the project?
Also, this seems like something a local artist should be doing. There are any number of them that are as good as Fairey. Sure he's famous for the Obama poster but, as with the rest of his work, it's something that an average graphic artist can come up with.
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Travis Bush, verified:
One assumes the DAC is paying and the art community has been engaged in this discussion about local artists doing the murals, which is supposed to be a part of the bridge grand opening. Most of the discussions get dismissed as people just being haters or jealous of Fairey and locals get a pat on the head.."just work harder..some day you will be recognized by the Dallas art elite.." If his work opens up opportunities for local muralists fine. If there aren't any done by locals near the bridge between now and the festivities, then we'll know it is just business as usual for Dallas. We seem to love imported "culture" more than we do local talent. Time will tell, but I'm not holding my breath.
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jasminedavis1997JD, anonymous:
Leave West Dallas Alone. First Of All EveryBody in West Dallas Don't Know Him But Most Do Also. i Think He Picked a good Place Because I'm tired of people saying Negative Things About The Place i Come From And Still Lives There. Every though He Might not help West Dallas reputation Get any better I still thank Him for that. Plus I Go to L.G Pinkston High School And im a Freshman who got a Chance to Talk To Him Downtown And He Seemed Joyful to Have His Artwork Here.
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xyz6350, anonymous:
I went and visited his artwork this weekend and I thought it was great. It added more culture to Dallas of which we need more of. I'm really glad he was able to share his talents with our city.
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bigdsenorita, anonymous:
Jasmine's is the only authentic voice here. Who cares if people in West Dallas know who he is? They DO NOW, which is the point. Never is someone famous supposed to be allowed to do work in West Dallas? Never are the people of West Dallas to be allowed to be exposed to and learn about someone of international renown?
As for the local artists lament, sorry but I am tired of it. There is not a sophisticated city on the planet -- not New York, Paris, Prague, Sydney -- not ONE that believes any and all public artwork should be reserved to local artists. That is more the 'you aint from around these here parts are ya' thinking found in places like Little Rock, Shreveport and Baton Rouge. Local artists shouldnt be unilaterally ignored here (and they are not) and neither must they always get the commission.
THAT is what makes for a sophisticated urban environment.
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OEsophagus, anonymous:
I don't care about local artists. I'm saying Shepard Fairey's work is crap and we can surely find some of that around here.
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Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
Fairey also put up stickers in Deep Ellum, some 1x4 inches, others that are up to 5x7 inches. A few of the stickers feature Andre the Giant and the "hope" poster with the occupy mask face. Others say "peace" and "obey."
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4dana, anonymous:
Did Fairey have anything to do with the Singleton Ave. buildings painted magenta, purple and chartreuse? They also made me happy. Can we just enjoy his contribution without debating politics? This once?
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oliviacortez1, anonymous:
It unnerves me reading the comments about the people assumed to be living in West Dallas. I've been a resident here for most of my life. We are not all uneducated or uncultured. We know about Shephard Fairey, fine artists, and graffiti artists alike. As Blaskovich noted earlier, his stickers are posted around Dallas. The first ones I saw in town were in the mid to late 90's.
Having murals made by an international artist serves it's purpose. They add value to the buildings, and creates interest as an attraction. For the business owners, I'm sure this will create some buzz with the people it was intended to impress. For the residents, we might see an improvement to the quality of the streets, and when things really pick up, an offer to buy our houses.
To 4dana---Those other multicolored buildings are not Fairey's.
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strangebuttruestudios, anonymous:
Has anyone seen the work in progress at 813 Exposition (Sandaga) ?? Local artist, Jim Bilgere is painting a festive looking Jazz scene -"Post modern funk"
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What do you think?