Film Review of “Abraham Obama”
By CAITLIN MORRIS
Published: Issue 1, Summer 2009
FILM: Abraham Obama Directed by Kevin Chapados
In 2008, street artist Ron English created the image Abraham Obama. He was inspired by the similarities between the tall, skinny Senators-turned-Presidents from Illinois; English said: “I believe Obama will take up Lincoln’s challenge of uniting the country.” In a pop-surrealist style, English crafted the Abraham Obama artwork as Obama’s face superimposed onto Lincoln’s. Once created, the image first publicly appeared in South Boston for the “a politic” exhibition. Then it began to multiply and travel across the United States, in an act of guerilla street artfare. Rather than stir controversy, conversation emerged from Abraham Obama’s travels. In downtown Colorado Springs, artists covertly made additions to an installation of the image on the side of the local restaurant, Poor Richard’s, creating a public forum for artistic and political discussion. Other artists and musicians took up the image’s cause including Shepard Fairey, Jack Medicine, David Choe, Sam Flores, Will.I.Am and Morgan Spurlock. The documentary film Abraham Obama follows these travels; the film is in many ways another portrait—of the iconic image and of America’s grassroots artistic landscape. Abraham Obama directed by Kevin Chapados. TAP
[...] Kristen Geis wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThen it began to multiply and travel across the United States, in an act of guerilla street artfare. Rather than stir controversy, conversation emerged from Abraham Obama’s travels. In downtown Colorado Springs, artists covertly made additions to an instillation of the image on the side of the local restaurant, Poor Richard’s, creating a public forum for artistic and political discussion. Other artists and musicians took up the image’s cause including Shepard Fairey, … [...]