This one was sent to me by one of my nieces!
"I thought I'd share one of my favorite murals with you-
- (in Costa Mesa)" Love -Kate 💖

ON BAKER BLOCK APARTMENTS IN COSTA MESA
by CYNTHIA REBOLLEDO
OCTOBER 13, 2017
“Welcome Home” is a 7,000 square-foot mural recently completed (2017) by street artist Shepard Fairey. “The local community, the rebel surf-skate culture and the idea of peace and our need to take care of our environment all inspired me for this piece,” says Shepard Fairey. “But in choosing a theme I considered these things as well as what would have the greatest impact from afar since this was such a great opportunity to have a massive platform. I wanted people driving down the freeway to be able to clearly pick up its message and maybe be inspired, too…The mural represents inclusion, welcoming, community, peace and harmony.”
This is Fairey’s first public mural in Orange County, with a team of three assistants, they were able to complete the mural in six days using 460 cans of spray paint and hand painting the motifs using stenciling.

Shepard Fairey’s professional art career began when he attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in Palm Springs, CA and graduating to the Rhode Island School of Design from 1988-1992. It was at this time he found an interest in graffiti, street art and primarily sticker art. What started as a somewhat political somewhat snarky design utilizing a photo of wrestler Andre The Giant, really gave birth to a branding machine that later transformed into the OBEY brand.
Over the years Shepard Fairey has transformed into one of the most well-known muralist /street artists in the world. His signature propaganda inspired design posters, murals stickers and clothing has continually combined social activism with the OBEY brand even before it was a commercial enterprise. The irony of the brand; “Obey”, is that Shepard has changed the meaning behind the word (at least where the brand and his work is concerned) to support more rebellious acts such as questioning how the world works rather than submitting or obeying what society tells us to think or do.
Known for “controversial” posters such as 2008 red, white, and blue Obama poster or 2017 of what seems to be an ethnic woman also in red, white, and blue calling out xenophobia. Fairey is not afraid to use his art to display concerns about today’s social and political climate.
Whether it is discrimination or racism, economics or politics, immigrants must fight through these obstacles and work twice as hard than American born citizens to be taken seriously. The mural reflects generations of immigrants wanting to make a better life for themselves that they can no longer have in their home country.
While Obey (the brand) was originally considered a more subversive brand only found in skate shops and alternative retail establishments, today it is carried in major retailers around the world. As with Obey brand, today you can see Shepard Fairey’s work in almost any major city, ranging from stickers posted by loyal followers to large commissioned mural works. By far the biggest concentration of Shepard Fairey’s work is in Los Angeles, California where he lives and works.
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