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Most people don’t make art unless they’re feeling inspired, and over the past year or so, Barack Obama has inspired lots of people — some of them so much that they felt compelled to make Barack Obama-themed art, some of which is very, very, — even bloggably — strange. Culled from the wonderful compendium that is ArtofObama.com, these images might inspire you too, or curse you with weird dreams for weeks, depending on your temperament.
To begin, consider the dove. A symbol of peace, and commonly associated with public figures living, dead and fictional who inspire positive feelings in their followers. Usually, however, the doves are flying around in the background and the inspirational public figure occupies some uncluttered foreground space. Artist Derek Chatwood, however, chose to depict Barack Obama as so inspiring and hope-y that he is literally stuffed with doves, who are flying out of his various orifices.
You know you want !
Dan Lacey paints pictures of people with pancakes on their heads. So naturally, when he turned his talents to the president-elect, he painted this:
Breaking his mold, Lacey also painted this amazing portrait of Obama — naked — riding a unicorn in front of St. Paul’s Excel Energy Center.
Speaking of unicorns, check out Lukas Ketner’s portrait of a sweaty Obama wading through Portland’s Willamette River (I believe that’s the Burnside Bridge behind him) with a unicorn chasing him and roses emanating from his pelvis. Go figure.
Inevitably, perhaps, there’s also the comic book interpretation — in this case, Batobama and Robiden. Click here for a larger view.
Moving into the physical (albeit tiny) world, here are some tiny, nano-sized recreations of Shepard Fairey’s now-famous Obama portrait, “carved” by scientists at the University of Michigan. Each one is less than half a millimeter wide.
Here’s a heady idea. (Ha.) These guys must have excellent — and very patient — barbers. I bet no one shaved a portrait of McCain into their head!
Heather Courtney created this hand-crafted Barack-in-the-box toy. It plays “You Light Up My Life” when you crank the handle.
An artist named mmike created this tension-wire sculpture of Obama, which he describes thusly: “Tension – A portrait of Barack Obama – 10-23-2008 – 2′x2′x9′ – 1000 feet of steel high tension wire, black enamel and poplar base.”
Finally, a little desktop wallpaper.
Comments (18)
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So, the naked Obama looks like a black G.W. Bush to me. Anyone else see that?
posted by Pink Coat on 12-9-2008 at 9:05 am
I really could not say what George W. lookslike naked. In fact, i don’t think I would tell the world if I did
posted by David Reimer on 12-9-2008 at 9:32 am
Holy crap Pink Coat is right!
posted by Tom Noir on 12-9-2008 at 9:48 am
Pink Coat–totally saw that; definitely GWB.
posted by emakus on 12-9-2008 at 9:50 am
David-
since it won’t let me post links, google image search “washington as zeus”. There’s a huge statue of Washington wearing a sheet in the Smithsonian American History Museum.
posted by Mike on 12-9-2008 at 10:26 am
not burnside. probably broadway. possibly hawthorne.
posted by scott on 12-9-2008 at 11:20 am
I’ll have to look into this guy Lacey. Pancakes. On heads. Genius.
Oh, and that looks more like the Broadway Bridge to me. Burnside doesn’t have arches.
posted by Johnny Cat on 12-9-2008 at 11:23 am
That’s not even a good rendering of a pancake! If you’re going to make painting pancakes on people’s heads your life’s work, it would help to hone your skills of breakfast food depictions first.
The tension wire one is pretty cool, actually.
posted by kate on 12-9-2008 at 11:24 am
I’m in an office that overlooks the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul . . .
While I love Obama, the fact that I will never be able to look outside my window and NOT think of a nude Obama riding a unicorn . . . argh . . . thanks a lot, Dan.
posted by Firebrand on 12-9-2008 at 11:46 am
i love the Barack-in-the-box.
posted by the creature on 12-9-2008 at 11:57 am
Not the Burnside, that has no trestles. I’m going with Broadway, as the Steel Bridge and Hawthorne have towers.
posted by Mary Sue on 12-9-2008 at 1:22 pm
What? The Barack desktop isn’t available for download? Pfft.
posted by NicoNico on 12-9-2008 at 2:53 pm
Oops, I see it. Nevermind, I’m very tired today.
posted by NicoNico on 12-9-2008 at 2:58 pm
Pancake? It should have been a waffle.
Captcha: King Vanity
posted by Space Cowgirl on 12-9-2008 at 4:31 pm
I now have a new desktop
posted by Jane on 12-9-2008 at 7:24 pm
I really like the tension wire sculpture!
posted by Dawn on 12-9-2008 at 10:58 pm
I love the haircuts, but the dove photo is highly disturbing.
posted by Becky on 12-12-2008 at 10:34 am
I painted Obama’s waffle last April. Click link to view Huffinton Post and Scranton Times-Tribune articles regarding.
Regards.
posted by Dan Lacey on 12-23-2008 at 1:20 pm