Most of us have eagerly watched the rennovation of the Ladys Shop at 20 East Hargett Street, anticipating the next addition to Hatem Lane. For now, the corner space is teeming with color. The windows are filled with posters of Barack Obama that are atypical from the usual propaganda seen on the campaign trail. These posters are hand-made screen prints that walk the line between Warhol and Banksy, celebrating Obama’s message of Hope with a hip-hop sensibility.
These posters are the foundation of a one-man street art campaign launched over the past year and a half by Chicago based graphic artist Ray Noland, otherwise known as CRO. Noland uses the alias to keep the focus on the candidate, but seriously, credit is due for his unpaid and unauthorized efforts. The whole operation is funded by the sale of his posters and T-shirts. Noland is also creating computer animated public service announcements on the web to spread Senator Obama’s message, with an emphasis on hope and love, to the masses.
Go Tell Mama! is the name of the traveling art exhibition, which will open at 20 E. Hargett St on Friday May 9th from 6-9pm. The show will also be on view from 12-6pm the remainder of that weekend. Carry on past the NC primary election next Tuesday. Support this incredible one-man effort and take home a work of art and a piece of history.
