Superfly graphic design hero to all, Shepard Fairey, the creator of iconic Obama “Hope” poster got popped at the DNC.

Fairey was here in support of Obama, showcased in the Manifest Hope Gallery, which was housed up near the Andenken Gallery.

Not sure what the charges are, but one would guess it has to do with the emergence of all the wheat paste posters that had been popping up all over my fair city.

Fairey’s name was buried in a list of the one hundred-fifty two people that were arrested during DNC protest events in this past week.

UPDATE: The Westword is reporting

On the evening of August 25, Fairey decided to take a break from installing the gallery show to hang posters around downtown Denver, wheat-pasting them to the sides of buildings. Denver artist Scot Lefavor and a small crew of filmmakers making a documentary on Fairey went along. But when artists tried to apply their trade in an alleyway near 16th and Sherman Street around midnight, all five of them were arrested by police, charged with “interference and posting unauthorized posters.”

Neither Fairey or Lefavor could be reached by Westword to explain the ordeal, but word is that they were jailed at the infamous “Gitmo on the Platte” warehouse facility the city set up for DNC protest arrests. This was also the night that police sprayed down a crowd 300 anarchist protesters near Civic Center Park and arrested 100 of them.

According to court records, Fairey was arraigned at 6 a.m. at the Denver County Courthouse and pled guilty to interference with six months unsupervised probation in exchange for prosecutors dropping the unauthorized posters charge. He was bonded out for $500 by his wife Amanda Fairey.

Damn, and Scot too. Holy smokes, hope that makes it into the movie.

UPDATE AGAIN: See their video explanation below

That’s right. Color tests for Hillary’s pantsuit wardrobe (sponsored by Skittles: Embrace the Rainbow!).

No way on the periwinkle, she’d blend right in and just be a disembodied floating head.
The Teal is nice, humm…
Oh! Pumpkin. Fall is right around the corner.
Red? No way! We’re the dems. Plus red just radiates on TV.
Pumpkin it is!

Found in evoque’s brightkite stream.

So the rumors were true, and Shepard Fairey has arrived with great fanfare here in Little D. He brings with him some of the greats in underground graphic artists. All of em have holed up at the new Andenken Gallery up on 30th and Larimer.

The Manifest Hope Gallery is in full bloom, bursting with amazing pro-Obama political art. We’ve discussed how graphic design can change the world here before. And these guys are making a HUGE visual splash here in Denver. Each night a new, larger, more daring piece emerges.

If you haven’t had a chance to head up there, take Arnold’s timeless advice and “Get your ass to Mars!” This is an extremely historic event, so don’t miss it.

A new collectable in honor of the DNC in Denver, from our friends over at Secret Design Shop.
(I can’t believe they’re only asking one-dollar!) Better get one before they’re all gone!

The rumor on the street is: Mr. Fairey is gonna make an appearance at the Democratic National Convention, and perhaps even paint a mural (in LoDo) as a sign of support.

“Renowned poster artist Shepard Fairey of Obey Giant fame, will be coming to Denver during the week of the Democratic National Convention. Fairey has been very open and aggressive with his support for Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama and has designed some of the most famous and recognized artwork for the campaign.”

Looks like our little town is growing up. Can’t wait for the DNC, it’s gonna be riot – literally, a riot.

Via examiner.com
(disclosure: I write for the Examiner.)