John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Frank Gehry and other notable artists have collaborated with LA-based Gemini G.E.L. gallery to support President Barack Obama in his bid for a second term. The gallery has organized 150 portfolios of limited edition prints and artworks that will be on show to the public starting Sept 13.  In further related, artist Chuck Close,who crafted the large-scale tapestry of Obama that was visible during the Democratic National Convention, may also be lending financial support through sales of more tapestries, ranging in price from $5,000 to $100,000, at a private event at Lever House in New York on Oct 3.

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Street artist Shepard Fairey has been fined $25,000 and ordered to serve two years of probation by a New York court after being found guilty in his longstanding battle with Associated Press. Fairey was accused of infringing copywright laws by using a 2006 AP photograph to create his signature “Hope” Obama poster. In 2009, Fairey admitted that he had “destroy[ed] documents and submitt[ed] false images” and in February this year entered a guilty plea to one instance of “criminal contempt.”

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‪President Obama awarded the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal today, with painter Will Barnet and sculptor Martin Puryear among the recipients. [AO Newslink]

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