Postmodern neoclassical painter KEHINDE WILEY wears his vintage European aesthetic influences on his sleeve, and in “Fallen,” Wiley’s new show of massive-scale (up to 25 feet!) oil paintings at downtown NYC’s DEITCH PROJECTS, his inspiration has never been more literal. Based directly on a wide variety of classical European paintings and sculptures by old masters like Diego Velasquez, Jean-Antoine Houdon, Auguste Falguiere, and Stefano Maderno, the “fallen” heroes of Wiley’s new series mimic their source poses almost exactly albeit in the ultramodern context of the urban hip-hop vernacular of urban Manhattan. Wiley’s own explanation for the series is really quite simple: “Down is an answer to the negative views of young black men in American society. It recognizes an idiom that can be seen from a distance as a negative form transformed into something more fabulous and joyful.”
- Cee Bee
Photoshop. Illustrator comes in a close second though. Both = heaven.
- Carmen - Happy 2010!
carmen.. i would just have to switch that comment... illustrator then photoshop.. but you are right both = heaven!
- Jeremy "Jermbo" Lawson
from twhirl
My first graphics program I touched.. haha corel draw 1.0 (on floppys) and print shop deluxe! I used to make flyers for a store I worked at with it. My boss told me to find a job doing design!
- orionstarr
You are welcome, now its up to you to show us we were right.
- ThePicMan
Commenting here because there's no other way to message whoever is running the Obama FF account. You should add the feeds from change.gov too.
- Tanath
Great shots from a photo journalist following Obama around for over a year. My favorite is the first one I clipped here of Michelle and Barrack.
- Bret Taylor
from Bookmarklet
"Four years ago Time photographer Callie Shell met Barack Obama backstage when she was covering presidential candidate John Kerry. She sent her editor more photographs of Obama than Kerry. When asked why, she said, "I do not know. I just have a feeling about him. I think he will be important down the road." Her first photo essay on Obama was two and half years ago. She has stuck with him ever since."
- Bret Taylor
Yeah, I'm loving this... still going through them... Nice share!
- Christopher Galtenberg
The captions are really enlightening, too. "I loved that he cleaned up after himself before leaving an ice cream shop in Wapello, Iowa. He didn't have to. The event was over and the press had left. He is used to taking care of things himself and I think this is one of the qualities that makes Obama different from so many other political candidates I've encountered. Nov. 7, 2007." re: http://digitaljournalist.org/issue08...
- Bret Taylor
These are beautiful. I do like the one of he and Michelle but like the one of the two little boys staring up at him even more.
- Carla Thompson
I think the key to getting these kinds of pictures is getting access. Not everyone gets to ride on the campaign bus while candidates are sleeping. By the way, I have the same rule about no pictures after my jaw has dropped. :-)
- Jeff Eddings
You clipped the same photos I did when I posted this a few days ago. All of them are aweome, but these 3 are just outstanding.
- Admiral Anika
Even if Obama does not win the election, I wish I get to meet this man once in my life.
- Kamath (नमः)
I'm excited by the idea of a President that is openly affectionate and desiring of his partner.
- Mai
These are really beautiful candid pics. I really can't contain my excitement with two weeks left. I really feel like this is going to happen; that this man is going to be our next president. And I've never been so excited.
- Derrick
"Oooo,Michelle...Beeehavvvee...showing off those legs are gonna get you two votes in my "Who's worthy enough to ride on my handlebars?" category.
- Terence
I hope you all are right. Because if not, some of us might end up paying dearly. I have serious reservations about him still, but I'm resigned to the next four years.
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I love how photographic this family is... I've seen some great pics this whole campaign.
- Heidi Blanton
The captions on the photographs brought tear to my eyes. Thanks for sharing this Bret
- Shakeel Mahate
@JMS I'm not the type to think that Obama's gonna come in like a magical negro a la Morgan Freeman and make everything better with a sweep of his arm, but given the options, I'm behind him. I don't agree with everything, but I feel like we've got something going with him.
- Derrick
I'm just concerned about the more global issues. With the husband in the Army, I have some serious concerns about what Obama's talking about doing. He's really not the best choice for the military. But then neither is the other option. At least we'll see one more raise before military funding gets cut again.
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Really powerlful photos.. Weird that I had to keep scrolling to see the good ones..
- Bindu Reddy
JMS, you make war sound good. The global issues I was worried about were global warming and the financial crisis. I think everyone's job is on the line these days.
- Scott Loganbill
from twhirl
@JMS: I wish your husband well and thank him for his service to the country. I think getting a President who has actually lived outside of the US, understands global politics and aspirations will actually make america, and its troops safer.
- Thaths
War isn't good. That's my point. And I really hope so Sudhakar. I so want to be wrong about my gut level feelings.
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@JMS. It's a good point. Hopefully Obama can help bring your husband home safely and quickly. Please thank your husband for me and my family.
- Scott Loganbill
These are amazing. Never under estimate the power of photography to tell a story.
- Tsega Dinka
brought tears to my eyes, I don't really know that much about Obama, these pictures were a nice glimpse into his world.
- amelia arapoff
Beautiful!! These really capture the essence of a great man! wow!! go vote people!!
- Susan Beebe