We have been on a wild ride with politics for the past nine months. This campaign is made up of possibly the most diverse candidates that have ever run for office in this country. It takes guts to say what may be not politically correct or perceived as inappropriate but if you believe in your message then maybe others will too. Right or wrong, sometimes it pays off like in Donald Trump’s campaign. Those who step out of the norm are referred to as “outsiders”.

This is true in the art world as well. Outsider Art can be traced back many years but during the early part of the twentieth century, art movements such as Surrealism, Dadaism and Cubism (think Picasso) evolved with a large emphasis on rejection of established values and methods. Outsiders defy academic rules and current trends. But then, sometimes they start a trend.

Shepard Fairey became an overnight success with his 2008 presidential election Barack Obama “Hope” poster. Fairey is a contemporary graphic artist and illustrator who went to RISD. He has created a number of public works projects in Providence and Boston—some of you may remember his “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” sticker campaign of 1989 in which he took over a Cianci re-election billboard in Providence.

The Obama “Hope” poster has been referred to as the most effective American political illustration since “Uncle Sam Wants You”. There was a lot of uproar at the time because it was supposedly “perpetuated illegally” by Fairey and the Obama campaign refused to be affiliated with it.

Now the Obama “Hope” poster is in the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and other prestigious museums. The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston calls him “one of today’s best known and most influential street artists”. He continues to have success. He styled a Trek bike for Lance Armstrong, designed a cover (“The Protester”) for Time Magazine and has done a number of pieces from which he donated the proceeds to nonprofits. Even his “Obey” message with Andre the Giant has been printed on clothing and sold at Nordstrom Department Stores. But it is not about being rich and successful. It is about getting the message out.

Not bad for a guy who claims his message has always been to “question everything”.

Karen Waterman is a fine art, antique furniture and decorative arts appraiser in the East Bay area and will answer as many questions regarding your “hidden treasures” as possible. By sending a letter or email with a question you give full permission for use in the column. Names, addresses or e-mail will not be published and photos will be returned if requested. Send e-mails (digital photos preferred ) to watermanappraisal@gmail.com. Send snail mail to Waterman Appraisal and Consulting Services, PO Box 134, Barrington, RI 02806.