Bostonist: Finally: Shepard Fairey Conspiracy Porn

Balhatain

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:21:24 -0500

When will Shepard Fairey take some responsibility? Instead, all we find is people creating conspiracy theories as an excuse for his actions and choices. Here is my take on it, http://www.myartspace.com/blog/2009/02/criticism-and-arrest-of-shepard-fairey.html

square zero

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:29:52 -0500

People reportedly paid $500 on Craigslist to get tickets to Fairey's DJ night. Agreed: those people didn't have good sense. Still, the admission price for the event was only $25. Of course, "a bunch of drunk rich people" makes for a better caption than "regular people having a good time."

thathottness

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:43:34 -0500

That's the thing...I don't think Bill Kelley had it in for Fairey. I doubt Bill Kelley had a clue that warrants had been issued until after the Menino appearance, or that he was in the city at all. Bill Kelley could have figured out where Fairey was at any point in the last two weeks if he had really been "investigating". I actually complained about the SF media blitz last weekend after returning from the bar, I'm told. You could make the argument that Kelley waited until Friday night because he wanted his Ahab graffiti-killer moment in the spotlight, and that the mayor wasn't a motivation at all. But if that was the case, why not bust him at City Hall on Wednesday? Certainly a better photo op, and Kelley would have had more than enough time to collect evidence and make a case. In fact, he probably could have tailed him and photographed him putting up graffiti illegally. The Herald even admits at the end of its Monday story that the case against Fairey isn't going to stand up in court.

Rick Sawyer

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:50:55 -0500

I was mostly posting on how insane the taxi story was. I agree that Bill Kelley, Boston's graffiti cop, had it in for Fairey, and that his zeal for collaring supposed vandals ("he’s the cop who spent a decade tracking a notorious vandal known as 'Spek'") is somewhat excessive. On the other hand, Fairey must have known he had an outstanding warrant in Boston; maybe he shouldn't have told the city where he was going to be last Friday night. Part of street art's allure is its very illicitness. Where would Fairey, the outlaw, be without Kelley, the cop?

thathottness

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:38:29 -0500

The fact that some guy who was in the taxi sensationalized the story doesn't mean that it's completely untrue. The riot idea is stupid, but are you saying you think the police arbitrarily arrested him behind the ICA? I think the real point of contention is whether this was a dick move to embarrass the mayor or a dick move to embarrass Shepard Fairey. Some thoughts: http://www.thathottness.com/blog/why-the-shepard-fairey-arrest-has-nothing-to-do-with-shepard-fairey/

C. Fernsebner

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:43:59 -0500

That story would be better if the BPD had shot at Shepard Fairey, and if Shepard Fairey had then hijacked the cab and driven into the BPD.

Rick Sawyer

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:55:34 -0500

So what do you do with the 28% of you that likes him so much?

elvee

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:25:57 -0500

allegedly. he is not popular with 72% of *me*

Rick Sawyer

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:22:21 -0500

He is with 72 % of Bostonians.

elvee

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:19:55 -0500

wait, Our Mayor is popular?

Rick Sawyer

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:13:37 -0500

And a turncoat!

p0larbare

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:08:18 -0500

I'm no literary scholar but that story would have been better with police dogs. Just sayin'.

Kerry Skemp

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:16:13 -0500

here's what i don't believe: "Shepard spontaneously offered to share the cab with us since we were leaving the hotel to go to the show at precisely the same time. Holly hopped into the front seat, Amanda remained on the drivers-side, and Shepard made room for me to his right. I squeezed in and shut the rear passenger-side door. One of us quickly told the cab driver we were going to the ICA and the cab driver quickly backed out of the hotel pick-up area and headed up Seaport Boulevard toward the Museum." am i reading this right? shepard fairey sat in the middle?! no way.