SHEPARD FAIREY TAGGED: Detroit Issues Arrest Warrant

obama-postersShepard Fairey, viewed by some as a cutting edge and important “street artist” and by others as a vandal for his works of graffiti on both public and private property, has had a warrant for his arrest issued by the City of Detroit.  Fairey is no stranger to legal controversy, previously having faced both felony and misdemeanor vandalism charges relating to his graffiti activities and also charges that his iconic “Obama Hope” poster was based on a copyrighted photograph that he had not obtained permission to use.  Fairey visited Detroit last month to create, at the request of the owners of an 18 story building, the largest mural of his career.  However, while in Detroit, Fairey decided to tag other properties across the city without the permission of the building owners.  Detroit officials say he did over $9,000 in damage.  He now faces felony criminal charges in Motown.

You can read more about it in the Detriot Free Press
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2015/06/24/shepard-fairey-arrest-warrant-detroit-police/29239929/

 

ARTS JOBS VS. TECH JOBS: Some Surprising News

This blawg often deals with the intersection of technology and the arts.  Here is an interesting article that discusses how recent graduates with technology degrees are having a tougher time finding a job than their peers in the arts.  I’m not sure this is so much a positive statement about the state of the job market for arts majors as it is a statement about the tough market for tech grads.

http://m.usatoday.com/article/money/2595669

A RARE TALENT: The Multi-Talented Jacob Collier

Born in 1994, Jacob Collier is a musician and multi-instrumentalist, based in London, England. He is a brilliant arranger, singer, jazz pianist and bassist.  Check out this video of him singing all six parts (and playing a melodeon solo) in his terrific arrangement of Pure Imagination.  In an age when we are quick to label singers or musicians as “stars,” he truly is deserving of that label.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcVEx6UrtF8

CHILD STARDOM: Too Often Not a Happy Ending

For every example of a young child actor or singer who grew up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult (see, e.g., Ron Howard, Claire Daines, Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, to name just a few), unfortunately there are multiple examples of unhappy endings (e.g., Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears). Here is another example. Amanda Bynes was a talented, funny, fresh-faced star of a kid’s sketch comedy program on Nickelodeon. Today, her life appears to be a mess. Another cautionary tale about the dangers of young kids in show business:

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/03/22/amanda-bynes-gets-attention-for-vulgar-strange-tweets/?intcmp=features