Medium

Renowned illustrator Antar Dayal has just released his limited edition Obama print, the latest in the Artists for Obama series which includes prints from Shepard Fairy and Scot Hansen. Perhaps not as well known by the cool kids as Shepard Fairy, Antar Dayal is a prolific illustrator, best know for his scratchboard engravings. His client list ranges from Bank of America and American Express to Apple Computer and Captain Morgan and now the Barack Obama campaign. Mr. Dayal tells us his reason for creating the print for the campaign.

I am honored to support Barack Obama’s history-making presidential bid through one of his many visionary platforms, including recognizing the importance of art in America. My artwork is inspired by his words, wisdom, accomplishments, and expression of our hopes and dreams for a better America. Our world is facing seemingly insurmountable economic and environmental challenges. It is a rare occurrence to behold a leader like Barack Obama who understands what America must do in order to reclaim itself on the world stage. As a first generation immigrant, I have confidence that America can collectively overcome these challenges under Obama’s presidency. YES WE CAN!

There are some pretty cool images of the engraving and printing process up on his blog, so go check it out and check out the video from the Obama campaign. Purchases of the Artists for Obama prints are 100% contributions to the campaign and count toward your overall contribution limit of $2300.

Links
Artists for Obama/Obama Store

One of the most influential artists of his time and one of my biggest influences, Alton Kelley, passed away a few days ago and will definitely be remembered. NPR ran a great story on his life and his art. Here’s an exceprt from the story:

Some call the art a visual extension of the music. Others call it the visual for a psychedelic experience. Mouse says it was both, and that the joke between the two of them was that you had to be under the influence to understand it. But ideas, Mouse says, came from trips to libraries and art galleries. Kelley and Mouse poured over books of Gustav Klimpt, Japanese poster art, and art nouveau.

Go over to NPR to listen to or read the complete story.

Designer and musician Scott Hansen (Iso50) has just released his limited edition print for the Obama campaign and is available at the campaign’s site with all proceeds going towards the campaign. Taken from the Obama site, Scott tells us:

“I see Barack Obama as a leader who can inspire people to effect change and who himself can effect change. As an artist, it was only natural for me to want to create something that visually echoed these sentiments. I wanted to create an image that evoked the ideals I feel are central to our needs at this critical time in history: change, progress and hope. Because Barack Obama represents all three of these things to me, I felt compelled to express that through my work.”

The piece stands at 23×40 and is a limited edition of 5000. Scott is one of my favorite artists and one of my biggest inspirations so, of you’re not familiar with his work, you need to be. He also has a new song entitled Adrift under his Tycho pseudonym out on iTunes today,  check out the clip on his site.

Links
Iso50
Artists For Obama Series
Tycho

Version Sound - Twiss Up - March 2008

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Version Sound - Twiss Up - March 2008

1. Ethnic Fight Band - Dub Explosion
2. Ethnic Fight Band - Danny J * Special Dub
3. Fatman Riddim Section - Twelve Tribes Rock
4. Fatman Riddim Section - Sounds of Israel
5. Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Majestic Dub
6. Matumbi - Ajali
7. Blackbeard - Hyde Park Corner Investigation
8. Blackbeard - Who Made The Prime Minister’s Honour List
9. Prince Hammer - Churchill
10. Prince Hammer - Dreadlocks Rebel Force
11. Dynamic - Dub Dunza
12. Fatman Riddim Section - Lick Chalice
13. ??? - African Communication
14. Prime Cuts - Two-Way Stretch
15. Prime Cuts - Vice-Versa
16. Junior Delgado - Dance a Dub
17. Kodama & The Dubstation Band - Fire Fire
18. Kodama & The Dubstation Band - Neppu No Machi Pt. 2
19. Lloyd - Blood for Freedom Dub
20. King Tubby, Scientist & Prince Jammy - Chapter 2
21. Creation Rebel - Drum Talk

Version Sound - Be Thankful - March 2008

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Version Sound - Be Thankful - March 2008

1. Aswad - Warrior Charge
2. Dennis Bovell - Scientific
3. Ranking Joe - Gideon Time
4. Prince Lincoln & the Rasses - Interstellar Over Dub
5. Joe Gibbs - No Bones for the Dogs
6. Clint Eastwood & General Saint - I Can’t Take Another World War
7. Twilight Circus Sound System - Dub Voyage
8. Aswad - Hey Jah Children
9 . Lone Ranger - Rub ‘n’ Scrub
10. Mikey Dread - Resignation Dub
11. Yabba You - No Tarry Yah Version
12. Clint Eastwood & General Saint - Another Ones Bites the Dust
13. Little Joe - Tradition Skank
14. Prince Jazzbo - Gal Boy I Roy
15. Jah Stitch - Set Up Yourself Dreadlocks
16. Michigan & Smiley - Sensimilla
17. Ranking Dread - Superstar
18. Mikey General - Tell It Like It Is
19. Dr. Alimantado - Poison Flour
20. Augustus Clarke - Rockers Time
21. King Tubby - Moving Version
22. Donovan Carlos - Be Thankful

DC Dub Specialist,Version Sound, present two new mixes. “Twiss Up” and “Be Thankful.” Both are very dope. Listen, download, then go over to their site and let them know how much you love them.

Artwork by Marc Everett Design

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Version Sound - Twiss Up - March 2008
Version Sound - Be Thankful - March 2008

Links
Version Sound on MySpace
Whalefish.org
Marc Everett Design

The video from March’s X has been posted online. If you missed that post I made about the event last month, go over to it now and check out my design. Once again, thanks to everyone at X for inviting me out. Also, my design from X will be animated by Flash designers at this month’s new event, appropriately entitled “Flash” on April 18, 2008. Click on the flyer below to see the full size flyer and check the Eighty-Eight DC website for more information.

Video from March’s X

Flash

Flash
April 18, 2008
7pm-3am
Jackies - 8081 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD 20910