DFP– Famed street artist Shepard Fairey, who visited Detroit last month to create the largest mural of his career, faces felony charges of tagging other properties across the city on his own time.
A warrant for his arrest was filed in 36th District Court on Friday. He faces two counts of malicious destruction of property, which carry a maximum penalty of five years in jail, plus fines that could exceed $10,000.
Police, who accuse the artist of causing about $9,000 in damage, said that the next time he comes to Detroit, they will arrest him if he doesn’t turn himself in first.
“Just because he is a well-known artist does not take away the fact that he is also a vandal,” said Detroit Police Sgt. Rebecca McKay, who oversees the city’s graffiti task force. “And that’s what we consider was done, in these instances, was vandalism.” more
I can’t believe this guy, with the ultimate fagola name of Shepard Fairey, is
1) married
2) to a woman
3) has a net worth of $15million and
4) produces such crap.
Such is life in these United States, I guess.
Just tell the police it isn’t “illegal” graffiti – it’s “undocumented” graffiti and they should stop being racist against “undocumented” art.
He pretty much admits he can’t control his impulses. I think Detroit should dangle some carrots and lure him back in. lol
http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/~bgzimmer/grinandbearit.png
“You will not criticize your Rulers without punishment.”
Perhaps the leaders of Detroilet should focus on tearing down the thousands of eye sores that have been rotting for a couple years already.
“An exhibition of Fairey’s prints is also currently on view at the Library Street Collective in downtown Detroit.”
Now this is where I could get behind a little Asset Forfeiture action by the police.
Of course, that only works if your stuff is worth a shit.
Painted himself into a corner
Detroit must need revenue real bad.
“Bad yardstick! Bad!”
+
“Penalize Mentos!”
…Did I do that right?
: }
How terribly, terribly true. Once Fairey openly said he regretted creating the “Hope” poster art and proclaimed he didn’t believe in Obama any longer, he put one big fat target on his back for the future.
Something tells me if he’d recanted and put a 6 story mural of Dear Leader’s mug on a building, he’d be getting praised for it and wouldn’t be on the hit list now.
Dear God, I’m having a hard time figuring out how graffiti could possibly make Detroit look any worse than it does already.