Help Wanted: Political Campaign Seeks Artists to Support American Jobs; Greedy Profiteers Who Want to Get Paid Need Not Apply
**Written by Doug Powers
Hardly a day goes by when we don’t hear from somebody connected to the administration chastizing companies for exploiting labor or accusing private sector business of being greedy for accumulating profits instead of hiring more people.
If more jobs, securing living wages for all and putting an end to labor exploitation are issues that are near and dear to your heart, the Obama campaign has some work for you — as long as you don’t mind not getting paid:
President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is asking artists to design promotional posters that convey a message: “support American jobs.” The brutal irony for artists, however, is that they will receive no payment for their work.
The campaign, which has $61 million on hand, will reward only the three artists whose work is selected for use. The compensation? A copy of their artwork, signed by the president.
The Graphic Artists Guild isn’t pleased with the ask. On Saturday, the guild issued an open letter to the campaign voicing outrage over what it called a “shameful” competition.
So, not unlike working as a caddy for the 12th son of the Lama, there’s no money, but you will receive total consciousness — that and a framed, signed print of your poster (well, at least the signature might be worth something).
Team Obama raised $70 million in the 3rd quarter of 2011 and they can’t expand an “art department” to create a couple of graphic designer jobs for the “support American jobs” promotion?
Artists are a little slower in responding to the call for designs this year, and based on the latest submissions it would appear that a segment of the arts community isn’t as filled with Hope and enchantment as they were in 2008:
**Written by Doug Powers
Twitter @ThePowersThatBe
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Makes you wonder just what he’s going to spend that $1 billion on.
Sounds like it’s time for our own Oblamer poster contest!
I like “Cheap”, but I’m sure there are more gems out there.
Wonder how many ows little boy and/or girls will come to help bho out? My bet, NOT one will.
L
Because nothing says “Living Wage” like “no pay”.
I do have to laugh at the reason for the graphic art union’s outrage: “Shameful” competition. I can understand outrage over not paying its members, but I don’t get the “shameful competition” part…
Hey ILMC, time to really get to work with those finger paints and remember, the paints are for painting not inserting into strange places and playing “I am the little train that could”
Very nice, Johnny!
Spend half a billion tax payer dollars on a bankrupt solar company, no problem.
Spend his own money on campaign art, fuhget abat it!
Typical liberal.
OT- Herman Cain uses stock Hillary Clinton/Democrat line- I am against abortion but favor woman having the choice (to kill their inconvenient mistakes)
Disappointing. It really is a hold your nose choice between Perry and Romney now. But indifference to evil is a flat out disqualifier for me.
Hmm we used to call that slavery.
Maybe the first piece of artwork will have a you can clap now on it?
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-ends-bus-tour-20111019,0,1982231.story
L
I think I’ll take Door #2, Monty.
I thought The One had over a BILLION dollars in his campaign chest.
What happened to it all?
Swiss bank account anyone?
How many times do leftists support slavery over and over and over again?
Civil war. Enslave taxpayers. Now enslave artists.
I am sure when zero writes his memoirs, he will do it for free.
I like THIS LOGO as an iconic image for “supporting jobs”.
Oh I dunno. Many suffer from ADD and get bored easily once the luster of this new protesting fad wears thin.
a few might.
If I put Obowmao’s picture in a bottle urine does that make me an artist? Where’s my grant money?!
Writing is hard, so Zero will just dictate and Ayres will obligingly fill in the fiction as needed. And Ayres will be glad to do this free. Of course.
If you did that wouldn’t the Obamessiah’s image immediately turn the urine to holy water?
Nah, the picture will just look like a coke-snorting commie usurper with a jaundice condition.
I can forgive his dalliances with cocaine, but not his Politics.
If you do that, Eric Holder will have his goons (Tony and Vinnie) come and “visit” you about your racism and threats against The Obama.
Well, then, no federal grant for you!
Racist Obama hater!!!
Anyone remember when dissent was patriotic?
I may not know art but I know what I like.
Sure, but please don’t link to Hildebeast’s audio soundbite. My ears are still suffering tinitus from that.
That’s only acceptable and encouraged when a Republican is president.
We are all supposed to be agreeable and compliant when a Dem holds the office.
Yeah, I’ll volunteer (NOT!).
As soon as I read about this, I was enraged. As a graphic designer, my attitude has always been – even before I was in art school – is that if you don’t want to pay me for my work, do not bother me.
I also teach part-time, and this “no work for no pay” attitude is something I always emphasize to my graduates. This “gimme” mentality has probably been going on since Michaelangelo was an apprentice and for whatever reason, it seems to be most prevalent in the visual arts. It continues to be a real problem, although I’m not surprised in the least that Obama is putting the request out there. If one of his supporters takes him up on this, then they’re really dumber than I thought.
The Graphic Artists Guild has a section on their website explaining exactly what spec (or speculative) work is and why it’s wrong.
Here’s the Graphic Artists Guild link.
Third time’s the charm, I guess. The Preview function doesn’t seem to be working either.
http://www.no-spec.com/faq/
I know art, and what passes for art these days is typically garbage….often literally.
Im just suprised that the Obama campaign didn’t promise the winning artist a grant from the edowment of the arts.
Serves the Socialist pigs right.
” …and when there was no meat, we ate fowl and when there was no fowl, we ate crawdad and when there was no crawdad to be found, we ate sand.”
Here is my art entry ..
http://thepeoplescube.com/red/gallery/infidel-castrate-a74/fleabagger-i3084.jpg
That would likely get them in even more hot water than they could legally worm their way out of. It would look too much like (yes, even for the weasels of the dhimmicrat party) they were paying out general funds for campaign activity.
On October 20th, 2011 at 1:36 pm, RedDog said:
Sand? !!
Aw, come on, have fun with this! Michelle could accept submissions for Obama poster art from talented conservative satirists – willing to work for nothing but 15 minutes of fame and the joy of giving readers the gift of laughter.
- You ate what?
- We ate san’.
- You ate sand?
- That’s right.
Not only do you not get paid, they insist that you use only paints with a base mixed from the sweat of Teh Won’s glistening pecs!
Ah, but if the artist’s work is selected they can be listed as a “Senior Advisor” on the flight manifest of Air Force 2 and fly all over the world free with Obama’s daughters, who are also senior advisors.
The winner gets a replica of dungchri*t and pis*chri*t. Either that or a signed first edition of Saul Alinisky’s Favorite Russian Borscht and Weevil Bread Recipes.
Nah, all they would have to do is make sure that the poster had a “green” theme to it and then claim it is a new green job.
You beat me to it.
I call it The Wee Wee’d One
Of course! Store-bought paint comes from corporations! Ew!
jrgdds #43,
My vote for comment of the day !
PatriotGal2257,
Oooh, you hit my sore spot. Free sketches, discounted / free work, joining guilds to get the opportunity to submit sketches for the chance to get work and then pay a % to the guild (and of course, being limited to the guilds rules and color / style selections that usually look like child`s level).
It takes as long to make a good sign painter as it does to become a doctor. I paid my dues. Don`t ask for “free”.
I work alone without computers or auto-machines, everything by hand. I`m a dinosaur. Since my overhead is smaller, I`m expected to charge less than the big shops that clobber me on speed and price.
Throw in that the EPA forced the removal of lead from paint, instead of being able to tell a customer his sign will last 10 – 12 yrs, I now, if I`m honest, have to tell the customer his sign will “look” 10 yrs. old in 3.
Why is Obama in the Rose Garden today wallowing in Gaddafi?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44970105
You can’t go around calling yourself a PNW if you don’t know this graphic design story by heart:
Min. Wage in ’71 was $1.60 JFTR. Her total bill was $35 btw. Off to a great start!
What a bunch of BS!
I can hardly stomach these folks. I guess we’re supposed to believe that they’re going to stop subsidizing crony losers if we stupidly buy into the idea that they actually care about blue collar chumps. We’ve all heard the disdain that Dummy feels towards people who “cling to guns and religion”. Granted, he’s perfectly aware of who constitutes his target market, and it ain’t us.
Oh, I almost forgot:
Moral of the story is, Capitalism is great!
( Obama s@cks )
Progress! VOTE ZERO
Green Energy Works Swell! VOTE ZERO
swede,
The designer of “ascending, descending” must have walked 2 miles to school, uphill both ways, in the snow !
M.C. Escher. The guy was brilliant. Seems to fit the absurdity of Hopenchange well, no?
art supplies and material, $25.32
box and postage, $15.10
signed artwork by barak obama, worthless
I like this one:
http://www.pentdego.com/prentjes/8b2778.jpg
swede,
Brilliantly absurd ?
peteee,
Priceless !
If the artists are covering the cost of advertising, and the taxpayers are covering transportation and security, what’s the campaign spending all that money on?
But, but, but, Nancy Puglosi said that artists could work on their creative pursuits without having to worry about health insurance and a paying job. Obamacare will, um, what will that do again?
Nike has split (2:1) 5 times from its inception until today, on these following dates:
01/05/83 2-for-1 Stock Split
10/05/90 2-for-1 Stock Split
10/30/95 2-for-1 Stock Split
10/23/96 2-for-1 Stock Split
04/02/07 2-for-1 Stock Split
If she received 500 shares initially, the first split would of given her 1000 shares, the second split would of given her 2000 shares, then 4,000, then 8,000, and finally 16,000 shares.
At today’s closing price of $91.71, and with 16,000 shares, she would have a total value of $1,467,360, plus yearly dividends of $19,840 per year.
That’s was quite smart of her to go for the stock instead of a flat rate.
When it comes to his own money, Obigspender-in-chief is a skinflint, miser, pennypincher, Scrooge, tightwad, stingy, chintzy, cheapskate–if only he behaved this way with American taxpayer money.
Votes. Duh!
Plus, junk food for the crews filling out all the absentee ballots.
I’m very surprised that the Obama regime did not endow the National Endowment for the Arts with $4.2 million, so that a nationwide search for the correct campaign poster could commence.
If Obama wants to reward the winning artists, he can incorporate a business after leaving office, issue some shares to said artists and then direct his earnings into that incorporation.
I suspect he will earn at least $20 million after departing the White House (the Clinton’s earned over $100 million as of a few years ago), so if this ‘jobs now’ theme is important to him, and if the artists help him convey his message and win reelection, than I think a few shares held against his future earnings are appropriate.
I was hoping someone would catch that! I’ve been a shareholder for years. Some better than others. You made the connection I was reaching for.
The one Teh One doesn’t get either. WakeTF up Bammie. It’s WIIFM Time! The cool part of the Nike backstory is that Phil Knight never asked her for the original $35.00 BACK! It was her’s to keep. And pay taxes on…
Ed, did you even read the comments in the article you quoted? Cain is strongly pro-life, even beyond rape and incest. I’m copying the comment, you can read it yourself and respond.
———–
Here’s the transcript:
MORGAN: Abortion. What’s your view of abortion?
CAIN: I believe that life begins at conception. And abortion under no circumstances. And here’s why —
MORGAN: No circumstances?
CAIN: No circumstances.
MORGAN: Because many of your fellow candidates — some of them qualify that.
CAIN: They qualify but —
MORGAN: Rape and incest.
CAIN: Rape and incest.
Cain is specifically rejecting exceptions to anti-abortion laws that other candidates have put forth allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest.
So Morgan asks whether Cain would want his daughters to RAISE a child born out of rape and incest as their own. Cain replies that’s a decision for the family to make. That’s where the disengenuous who are trying to bring Cain down leap into action, making it seem like the question was whether Cain would want them to carry the baby to term:
MORGAN: Are you honestly saying — again, it’s a tricky question, I know.
CAIN: Ask the tricky question.
MORGAN: But you’ve had children, grandchildren. If one of your female children, grand children was raped, you would honestly want her to bring up that baby as her own?
CAIN: You’re mixing two things here, Piers?
MORGAN: Why?
CAIN: You’re mixing —
MORGAN: That’s what it comes down to.
CAIN: No, it comes down to it’s not the government’s role or anybody else’s role to make that decision. Secondly, if you look at the statistical incidents, you’re not talking about that big a number. So what I’m saying is it ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make.
See, out of context it seems like Cain is saying that government shouldn’t make the decision to keep or abort the baby. But that’s NOT what Morgan asked. It seems that may be what Morgan MEANT to ask, but Cain corrects him that he’s mixing up issues.
So clearly, Ed, Cain is the only candidate for you with this singularly strong position on what you identify as the most important issue to you.
Right?
Uhhhm, the term “dalliances” suggests he’s stopped…
Umm…I urge those interested in “helping” the obeyme campaign by creating art start here:
http://www.totallyoutofhand.com/
True. But he hasn’t stopped politics, so the whole thing’s a no-go.
SignPainterGuy,
Wow. I have all kinds of admiration for you because you do your sign painting entirely by hand. That is a rare craft indeed and I bet your signs have the character and flair that machine-made signs don’t. That to me would be quality worth paying for.
Frankly, I’ve never understood that mindset – why some people think that just because someone is an artist or graphic designer or sign painter that it’s OK to ask (or subtly expect) for free services where they wouldn’t dare to ask the same of their doctor, or plumber, or auto mechanic. I always know that I’ve hit a nerve when said person gets terribly offended that I have the audacity to ask for money for my work.
After they pounded the sand…
Not only will you not get paid for your original ideas, hard work and artwork, but you must also buy your paint from them at exorbitant prices. As Rogue Cheddar properly point out, the paint must have Teh Won’s sweat from his magnificent pecs mixed in with the base.
Didn’t he lose a shirtless contest to Vladmir Putin on Drudge back in 09?
I’d hardly call losing out to a balding ex-KGB guy magnificent.
I’ve heard the story of the Nike swoosh and I’m in the mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. It is Exhibit A of how not to conduct a freelance business as a graphic designer. Unfortunately, it used to be that the teaching of the business side of any creative enterprise was either woefully inadequate or nonexistent. It is something I’ve had to learn on my own outside of school through reading, talking to other designers and plain, ordinary experience. My students have some business classes as a part of their design curriculum, but I don’t know how well it prepares them for those people who prey on a new designer’s inexperience and desire to prove himself or herself as a professional right out of school.
The postscript about Carolyn Davidson is that Phil Knight eventually gave her an undisclosed amount of Nike stock, along with a ring with the Nike Swoosh on it. She expressed surprise upon receiving it, as she was satisfied that she completed the job and was paid $35 for it. Hindsight is 20/20, yes, but I don’t know if I’d be that accepting.
Hey Michelle, what ever happened to the Michelle Obama Happy Meal contest? My brother spent a few hours on photoshop working on his entry and he submitted it– and both he and I were waiting to see the entries (and my brother was hoping to win the prize of a meal at Sonic!) but the winner was never announced. I know it’s been a few months now, but I just wondered what happened…
Sorry, this story kind of reminded me.
Cheers,
Ted