The posters are wonderful! Will they be available online?

I just discovered your site so I am not familiar with the angry comments you are referring to, but from a design perspective I find your work very clean and fresh.

From a personal perspective I find the use of political individual’s face in such a manner a bit unsettling when you consider what this style is reminiscent of – even more so when that style is married with the subjects socialistic leanings.

But is a design site so let’s keep to the nice design – nice work:).

Thank you, thank you! This can now replace my Obama magazine cover I have tacked to my wall.

love them! i think it’s great that the color schemes are scaled way back. i’m a little tired of the full saturation of political posters.

Ug. I am so sick of all this Obama merchandise!!! I mean, I voted for him, and I have high hopes, it’s true. But enough already. Politics should not be in line with consumerism. P.S. someone tell the Obama camp to stop sending me emails about the commemorative mug, t-shirt, etc. etc. that I should buy. It’s disgusting! No more propaganda!

totally agree, queenpretty. enough already.

Sorry, I don’t like this post so much. I like to visit Design Sponge, in part, to get my mind off newsy dreariness, but definitely not to see politicians (no matter how great Moontree Press is at their craft).

What always strikes me as unsettling about Obama pieces such as those pictures above is that they wipe out his racial identity. Though one might argue that we are fighting to move into an era in which we understand that race is social and cultural, not biological, image that make my African American president’s skin color pure white bother me.

I agree with John- the constant use of his image is very unsettling- we have other patriotic symbols (the flag?) that don’t tie our country to one individual. Did people hang photos/posters of past presidents in their home? Or is it just because he’s the first anointed one ;) …(I kid, I kid)

Isn’t it a good thing that people are proud enough of a leader that they feel compelled to display his likeness in their homes? Think about what a huge turnaround that sentiment is! If you don’t like it, fine – don’t buy it.

You know, I love the design of these prints, and I’m sure that the letterpress embossing effect is lovely in person. And, I agree that this is a nice change from the saturated colors we typically see in pieces like this. However, the pastel tones seem a bit random and cutesy to me.

I agree with Rebecca about the issue of skin tone. For a different take on an Obama print, that does take his skin into account [subtly], scroll down on this page to see some prints my studio recently donated to an arts fundraiser.

This poster is doing exactly what artists hope for, it’s starting a discussion and having people contemplate the work. In that way, regardless of your political views or feelings about oversaturation of Obama imagery, I think it is a success as a design.
Grace, thank you for always giving us great design!

The letterpress Obama prints are absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to see what the inauguration design is!

~Sarah

Yikes. This is a strange mix of a propaganda style poster and a baby room poster…!

queenpretty — you can tell obama’s camp yourself: unsubscribe to the emails.

joy — i agree: it’s a nice change that we actually have millions of Americans who are proud of their president elect. it’s a nice change indeed. my only concern is that we’ve put him up too high on a pedestal to ever live up to our expectations. we’re an idealistic bunch sometimes.

grace — wow — i thought you were being too cautious with this, but i can see i was wrong.

It seems to me that as this is Grace’s blog and she can post whatever she wants. The Obama images that have appeared on this site are even design related, and I commend Grace’s courage in chancing some online ire. Come to think of it, I don’t remember seeing a lot of striking McCain-inspired design, but I admit that my hopes have leaned in Obama’s direction all along.

There is one other president whose image I recall seeing displayed in many homes during the 1960s, and that was John F. Kennedy.

LOL to Maki Tamura’s comment!!

kareina:
I know, I could unsubscribe, but I do think it is interesting to get updates and learn about his cabinet pics, etc., straight from the horse’s mouth (so to speak). It’s just all the “buy this” stuff that I hate. And it’s going to wear thin, and people are going to start wondering if Obama is about “change” or “change” (like that cheddar). And I don’t want to see that happen.

As far as the quality of the design goes, it’s not very original. It’s all starting to look the same. Soon we won’t be able to tell who is an artist and a supporter and who is a savvy business person with dollar signs in their eyes.

There are lot of politician’s photos that hang in people’s homes. You know, like Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong Il, etc. I won’t compare Barack to them but it’s a little creepy to continually buy tote bags, buttons, t-shirts, wall hangings, and on an on of a politician. Just curious – how many of you who own “Obama-stuff” have an American flag hanging outside of your home?

re: we never decorated with president’s images before.
Our grandparents all had images of the presidents of their generation in their homes. I can still remember my great -grandparents picture of Kennedy. Schools all do it too.
I thought it was silly until I started to discover politicians who stood for really wonderful and inspiring things.
Keep it up Grace. Merch from both parties that is designed-well is welcome.

Thanks, lnm, I totally agree.

a. I haven’t seen such excellent political design for a long time–no matter who the candidate

b. A lot of my neighbors STILL have their Kennedy pictures up on their walls (next to their Pope pictures and family pictures) and some have GWB pictures up.

c. There are many avid political ephemera collectors out there that collect with an eye for historical significance AND design so I’m sure there are people from both sides of the aisle who would appreciate it.

wow you people are reading way too much into this.

why can’t you just appreciate design and let the meaning behind it stay with the artist?

and the thing about his skintone? are you serious? who cares? there are two ways two-tone prints are made, with the darker color as the subject or the lighter color as the subject. the colors white and black do not ALWAYS translate into one’s skintone. you are reading far too much into that.

These photos of leaders (which Carey compared all-to-aptly to photos of dictators) seem to me emblematic of a longing for some form of hierarchy; we feel so unsettled right now. Kennedy’s photo was displayed in part because of Cold War anxiety and in part because as the first Catholic president he was a symbol of equality to millions of Americans. I was initially tempted by the Obama merch. and then forced to examine why exactly I wanted it. The beauty of the U.S. is that nobody is “in charge” and no one person can save the country. Our government is in three equal parts, yet how many people have senators’ or Supreme Court justices’ pictures in their homes?I’m a big lefty who whole-heartedly endorsed Obama, but I think this deification of him indicates an elevation of the executive branch to a position of superiority that according to the Constitution it does not have. Sorry to rant, I know this is a design blog (and a one that brightens my day and my home), but I do think design has ramifications that go beyond the decorative.

As a historian, I just have to jump in here to correct the notion that there’s something new about displaying images of the president or incorporating images of the president (or candidate for that matter) into material culture. This has happened since George Washington was elected in 1789, folks. (And every society does it, be they monarchy, republic, dictatorship, etc.) Presidential art, ephemera, and merchandise ebbs and flows with the popularity of the president and the public’s trust in government. Why not hop on over the the NYPL Digital Library recommended by this week’s guest blogger, Jessica Digza, and see what you find. Or check out the Smithsonian.

Lovely letterpress work.

On a social level, all of the Obama design and artwork reminds me of the JFK posters, commemorative plates, etc., that people used to buy and keep a couple of generations ago and that now fill every thrift store in the union. Funny to think that I may see this image in the Council Thrift Shop 20 years from now!

And here I was just going to comment to say it’s nice to see a new colorway for politics instead of traditional red, blue and white. it’s just design and we all have our own opinion, but way to go grace for posting these great pieces!

This reminds of how people had many things of Kennedy when he was in office. People had plates and pictures displayed of JFK and the family in their home. I was not even around then, however I have seen and heard of the way americans celebrated him. I think this is the most tasteful of all the merchandize. They did a great job.

Most importantly: any ideas how to obtain this poster if I do not live in Brooklyn and can’t travel there for the show?! I adore this poster!

It’s a beautiful design, though I agree that sometimes, the merchandising takes away from the serious nature of politics — lest we forget that these are the people appointed to protect us, and assert our nation as the great and amazing leader of the free world. Grace, can you hunt up some more patriotic (and a bit less political) design?

Keep up the great work. This blog brightens many of my dreary, northeastern work days. :)

Just wanted to comment (to help get the point across) that this website is supposed to be about home decorating, not political opinions. I come to this site to unwind after a long day at work and I would rather not see something that makes me angry. Grace, you are going to alienate the 50% of people who did not vote for Obama. I love your blog but something like this is close to make me want to stop reading it. Please please please keep your political opinions to yourself in the future.

Carla

I have no idea what gives people the right to tell Grace what to post and not post. She posts what, like 2 Obama things and you decide to stop reading? Talk about overly dramatic.

Amanda

I’ve been compiling a list of my favorite Obama-inspired artwork here:

http://www.milktongue.com/?p=212

I’m going to add a link to this piece. Love it! Thanks, Grace.

Amanda, I’m not telling Grace what to post. She can post whatever she wants. I’m simply stating that if she continues to post her political opinions on her blog, I have the right to stop reading it, and so do other people.

I’m simply tired of my favorite things (websites, tv shows, even my friends) stressing me out by expressing political opinions in a forum where a political opinion is not warrented. I really would like to continue reading this blog but if Gloria chooses to post more Obama posts, I will probably stop.

lovely use of letterpressing, although i agree that it is somewhat reminiscent of other artists obama posters. some of which are hanging in my apartment :)

carlachicago–

you always have a right to stop reading. grace always has a right to post what she wants. if you want to stop reading, just do it. don’t make a big deal out of it. or just don’t read the posts that have a picture of obama. politics don’t have to be apparent in every area of life, but it’s obvious some people do like these prints. great. maybe they’ll buy them. grace must like them, and it’s her site. so. there you go. would you be upset if you if she put up a religious symbol, even if it wasn’t one you agreed with? or would you simply see that as freedom of expression?

and even if you didn’t vote for him, barack obama will be our next president, and i hope that people will support him as he leads our country, no matter their political standing.

I love following this site and it inspires me daily. Rebecca’s posters demonstrate a very thoughtful, well executed design and wonderful letterpress skills.

And I just have to comment:
“this website is supposed to be about home decorating, not political opinions.”

Although there are a number of posts about “home decorating,” this site is about DESIGN. As a graphic artist, I love the variety presented here – from printed design, to cooking, to interior design, product design, and hand-made.

Great work Design Sponge!

It’s sad that some people react so bitterly to something as simple as this. It really seems a bit out of proportion. It is clearly her perogative to post about whatever she likes, it is her blog.

It’s a nice image of our next president, nothing more, nothing less. She shares with us what she likes. You can like or not, but there is no need to be outraged or offended.

Geez, Grace. You would think that a few posters of the president elect could be posted without this fuss. Don’t they know they are going to be seeing a lot more of him in the next four years?

” I really would like to continue reading this blog but if Grace chooses to acknowledge Obama’s existence , I will probably stop.”

Denise: AMEN

I too thought the original post was overcautious about angry comments, but whoa. These guys are VERY angry. I wonder what they think they’ve lost.
I’m not particularly in love with these posters, but then again I don’t love everything on design sponge. Just most things, so keep it coming, Grace!

Hey guys… I’m sorry about freaking everybody out with my comment. I do respect the new president, although I disagree with his policies. This election was hard for us conservatives… I’m sure that Democrats out there can understand, remember how you felt back in 2000 when Al Gore lost to George Bush.

Basically… I just really like this blog, and I wish that it could be a “politically free” zone, but I guess that is just wishful thinking. Grace, continue to post what you will, I will try not to spark controversy in the future.

I’m a month late in commenting, but just saw this post and couldn’t resist sharing this humorous personal anecdote. It still makes me laugh when I think of it. I was born in 1960 and cannot recall my parents EVER showing an interest in world affairs or EVER expressing an opinion about politics. Yet, when I was 6 or 7, I had an 8×10″ photo of John Kennedy on my bedroom wall. I am Catholic, so maybe the nuns handed out the photos at school. At any rate, while my sisters chose pop stars as their imaginary husbands when we played house as little girls, I pretended that I was Mrs. Kennedy. Later when I learned about his legacy, I teased my sisters about my excellent taste in husbands. I was right. My soul-mate and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary this Spring. So you never know what good things an image of a president in a young child’s room might inspire! : )

Honestly, these simply aren’t good design. If the subject wasn’t Obama’s face, they would not make it on the site. The style is reminiscent of Soviet Propaganda. Maybe the artist wasn’t aware of this. The color choices are just bizarre.

I’m Canadian and am absolutley thrilled to see Obama in the White House. There has not been a buzz like this since Kennedy.