Official Inauguration Poster Released By Obama Team: Exclusive

The Barack Obama Inaugural Committee is releasing an official inauguration poster playing off past themes and marking the history of January 20th in a uniquely Obama fashion.

Designed by famed street artist Shepard Fairey, the print, created especially for the 2009 Inauguration, boldly declares "BE THE CHANGE."

It is the next step in the branding of the presidency -- a development that is not unique to Obama but one that he has used better than any other politician in recent memory.

Fairey's initial design -- a guerrilla style, dark-colored portrait of the then-candidate -- proved to be a political and cultural phenomenon during the campaign. The current edition plays heavily off those themes and it seems likely to be a major symbol during the inauguration festivities. The image will be available on buttons, lapel pins, stickers and t-shirts.

The poster will officially be released tomorrow on the Inaugural Committee's online store.

Comments

[Sonnetothedeaf]

This site appeared on HGTV and Wired and they have a service where they apply the Shepard Fairey treatment to your photos. Their samples show the best quality I've seen so far; after the original, of course. allpopart.com

samples: http://allpopart.com/samples_gallery.php?browse_by=&detail=34

[americanalien]

I love the poster. It's a great testament to this inspiration and phenomenon which has been Barack Obama. Part of Obama's great appeal is his ability to present himself as the leader of a movement instead of being your run-of-the-mill politician. He knows how to tap into our better instincts and make us feel hopeful about our future. This poster perfectly captures that. I LOVE IT!

[QuestionEveryone]

I hate this poster..it does remind me of the Soviet Union..The­re had to be better ones to choose from..and with all the talk about socialism this can't help.

[elsa12]

Quite right.

However, the liberals and tru believers in communism to this day ( despite massive global evidence denouncing it and disproving it) , love it.

[paulalex]

Those Liberals will be praying for Bush a few months from now.

What were they thinking??

[Clavis]

Better than the conservatives and Republicans, who believe in fascism and feudalism and Christian-sharia law...

[JohnBryansFontaine]

The primary way to Be The Change is to support the Employee Free Choice Act:

http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org

[Jonathan Chang]

I have a good free choice. Grow a backbone and quit that job if you don't like it, especially if you have a valuable skill that can go elsewhere.

[avanthomme]

SIGNED INAUGURAL POSTERS ARE STILL NOT SOLD OUT AS OF 12:17PM (EST) on 1/9/09.

http://pic2009.inauguralcollectibles.com/optimizer/product/J0503.html

[paulalex]

Funny how every eBayer reselling them for a few pennies profit (if they're lucky) says they're all sold out.

They've even posted comments to that effect on this site.

So lame.

[paulalex]

OK, now they are. Rockville just noted the signed version isn't available anymore.

Still numbered versions left (get Shepard to sign it when he's next in town ;-)

http://pic2009.inauguralcollectibles.com/optimizer/product/J0501.html

[Beachrunner]

Looks like something from the Soviet Union posters archive . . . . .

[johnozed]

It's pretty sad for me. For the first time I volunteered for a candidate and I would have been all over this poster after the election, but once Rick Warren appeared on the scene I no longer care.

[Dustee]

2 Questions.­..

Will Rick Warren be in Obama's cabinet, or just another thing that Obama is trying to do to bring ALL people together for the good of the entire country?

Will Rick Warren be the cause of Obama not keeping his promises to the gay community, or did Obama chose Warren just to p/o the gay community?

[paulalex]

1. Rick Warren will NOT be in Obama's Cabinet

2. Hom_ophobia within the radical christian community is rampant. If it isn't addressed it will become a bigger problem than it already is. Inviting Warren to read some c_rap from the bible will expose him to a huge audience, many of which don't have a problem with people living together with members of the same se_x. This huge blast of publicity just may filter through to him and his flock and just might result in a little, ya know, empathy.

[paulalex]

OK, now they are. Rockville just noted the signed version isn't available anymore.

Still numbered versions left (get Shepard to sign it when he's next in town ;-)

http://pic2009.inauguralcollectibles.com/optimizer/product/J0501.html

[joshrox]

"Be the Change", is that like "Be the Ball"

[chefmike]

to quote Chevy.... "babababa"

[tednstef]

Just bought one online from website listed and received confirmation. Does this mean they are overselling and will tell me later they can't ship it? Or did they print more?

[paulalex]

I'm guessing some people who have them for sale on eBay are saying they re sold out so others will place a bid on their auction.

I'm pretty sure they have a system set up that rejects orders once all 10,000 sell out.

This is the same system that was used on the barackobama.com store and they didn't have any issues.

If you received a confirmation email you should be OK.

[Rockville]

I have used the Obama store and now the PIC store on line for quite awhile. I agree that if you get the confirmation email (and an order number) you will be fine. It might take awhile however, don't get discouraged!

One thing about this particular poster. When I first saw it on the PIC store, there were 2 offerings. One offered numbered posters at $100 each (about 9,000 of them). The other was the same poster, but numbered AND signed at $500 each (about 1000 of them). This morning I noticed that there were no more signed ones offered. So these were "sold out", but the $100 are still available (only difference is they don't have a Fairey signature).

[flymic]

where can you buy these posters... i want to plaster my house with them.

[gojo]

Has anyone else noticed that Pepsi made their logo look like Obama's logo and are using him to sell their product?

[jojizzle]

Yes! Just bought one and when I was in line I looked at the new logo and thought...­Obama!

[gojo]

Be the change. Should I change? THEY should change? WE should change? Change for the better. Do I have any change? Change my mind? Change your mind? Change my stance? Change my hair color? Change my job? Change my car? Change my clothes? Just shut up and change already. Hallelujah brother, get on board the 'Change Train!' Got change? Say it enough times and you realize that's it's just another adjective.

[flymic]

shut your face. you're drowning in shallow water.

[DDK]

Well, as you've used it in your post, it's actually a verb or a noun (even "Change Train" would be considered a proper noun).

Sorry, English teacher here!

[MomfromTexas]

LOL! You are right. I didn't catch that. Changeable and changeful would be adjectives. "The changeable country eagerly awaits its new President.­"

[StillIRise]

Loser. Just another noun.

[musselmanm]

Change your country

[nodirectionhome]

I just read elsewhere that Ben & Jerry's is renaming their butter pecan, Yes PeCan during the month of January for the inaguration. It's obvious B&J is a liberal leaning company given the various tie ins with DMB, Phish , Garcia so why not Fairey's design on a few cartons of delicious ice cream. Hell, even given the cold weather I certainly would buy a few.

[richardmcnoggin]

The poster looks like that one with the Communist guy from South America on it...Now he's the Comunist from North America...

[flymic]

the only communist around is George Bush. socialize the losses comrad.

[messy]

they're charging sixty bucks for the inaugural medal.