Shepard Fairey has a huge posse, and it’ll only get bigger Saturday, July 10 as he and heavyweights of the L.A. music scene (Mansons Marilyn and Shirley, Gerard Way, Matt Skiba and Adam Jones of Tool) gather to honor Alternative Press magazine’s 25th anniversary. The Merry Karnowsky Gallery will be home to a month-long exhibition of these notables’ artwork. The Deli chatted with Fairey about his contributions to the collection.
The Deli: Describe your pieces in the show.
Shepard Fairey: I have four different faux album covers – Obey designs that reference music history. (They’re) my tribute to the impact of LP designs. One is (Sex Pistol and Indie 103.1 DJ) Steve Jones in front of the jukebox.
The Deli: How did you get involved with the project?
SF: I’ve drawn from the inspiration of music a lot, and Merry Karnowsky is a friend of mine, so it made sense. Music is more populist; it’s more democratic; it’s more fun (than strict art). I try to have my art have that immediate appeal.
The Deli: Any upcoming projects?
SF: Doing illustrations (inspired by) the BP oil spill. There’s an ambiguity to them – seascapes that you sort of see as a Rorschach test. Also going to San Diego for a mural street show (Viva la Revolución: A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape, running July 18, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego).
The Alternative Press Magazine 25th Anniversary Art Show is open to the public July 10-24 at the Merry Karnowsky Gallery, 170 S. La Brea Ave. in Los Angeles.
-Melissa Bobbitt