Freedom to Lead - Shepard Fairey Obey Contemporary Print. Screen print on cream speckle tone paper. Signed by Shepard Fairey. Some worn edges and visible wear but print still in fair condition, especially away from the edges.
I recently donated my FREEDOM TO LEAD image of Aung San Suu Kyi to an organization called The Best Friend. They printed posters to raise funds and awareness about the situation in Burma. You can support by buying a poster from them or making a donation. I recently watched a great documentary called BURMA VJ that follows the 2007 Saffron Revolution that the founders of The Best Friend were deeply involved in. The film is moving and powerful in showcasing the courage of the Burmese monks and guerilla video journalists.
-Shepard
The Best Friend was founded by two concerned monks, Ashin Issariya and Ashin Sopaka, with the purpose of encouraging people to become more educated, aware and active in the struggle for peace and freedom in Burma. The Best Friend currently operates two libraries in Thailand, one in Mae Sot and one in Chiang Mai, as well as three libraries inside Burma.
Both founders were deeply involved in the 2007 Saffron Revolution and continue their struggle for peace, freedom and democracy with the Peace Campaign through peace walks around the world and through the distribution of peace stickers and T-shirts. Additional projects of The Best Friend include operating two schools for Burmese migrants in Thailand, plus a Relocation Center for Burmese refugees currently living on the rubbish dump of Mae Sot.
In the run-up to the November elections in Burma, The Best Friend has planned several awareness-raising events around the world. Please take a look at photos of our recent Peace Walk in Chiang Mai, Thailand, that prominently featured Shepard Fairey’s Freedom to Lead poster of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
The Best Friend encourages people everywhere to support the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma, especially in the days leading up to the November election. By making a contribution or purchasing a poster from The Best Friend now, you will be helping us to do even more on the Thai-Burma border to show our support and solidarity with the people of Burma!
End corruption, get money out of politics, return to democracy – these are calls to action that I will continue to push and champion in order to get corporations and special interests to end our current state of political corruption. Our system allows influential corporations and special interests to use their money and influence to put profits ahead of the general well being of the populace. If you like this print, good, that means that you’ll contribute to our efforts to fix our broken system. Rootstrikers and Represent.US are two organizations fighting for campaign finance reform and profits from this print will go to both of them to help end the legal bribery of politicians.
– Shepard
Shepard Fairey is a major influencer in the street art movement alongside Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, and others. He has gained notoriety as a graphic artist, muralist, and an expert in mixed media. He was born on February 15, 1970 in Charleston, South Carolina.