I think think that Saber piece is fantastic and that is why it was chosen as a finalist. I can't belive some people could get upset over it!

Fox News may be a joke, but the First Amendment definitely is not. Just because you don't like what someone is saying, it doesn't mean that its obscene ...

RPM

'People who enjoy waving flags don't deserve to have one'

Glad to see that everyone is enjoying this video... We've been in a constant battle with FOX over the past 2 weeks over this piece...

Here's our official response:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Los Angeles Artist Saber Responds To Flag Video Critics
Los Angeles, CA - November 2, 2009

On October 27th, Los Angeles Artist Ryan Weston Shook, also known as “Saber” painted an interpretation of the American Flag on the side of a building in downtown Los Angeles with permission from the property owner. The filming of this mural was submitted to Organizing For America, as part of the Health Care Reform Video Challenge. This video was subsequently featured as one of the top 20 finalists in the challenge.
The video has attracted widespread attention, and some observers have criticized what they say is the defacing of an American flag. Saber says, “I personally would not desecrate the American Flag, although I do support Americans’ constitutional right to do so. However, that is not what I did. The motive behind the creation of the video is my battle with epilepsy. The decision to paint a flag was to show it as a living organism that represents me along with the country as a whole, and we all need healing.”
Fox News Network has aired portions of his video submission on multiple occasions over the past week, creating a minor scandal. Saber commented, “They disingenuously edited the video so it ends black, leading millions of people to believe that my video ended negatively, which was not the case. In my video, the flag comes back to life.”
The artist stands by his artwork and says he is not a part of the Democratic Party, although he does agree with them on this issue of Health Reform. “It’s unfortunate that the far right wing conservatives have chosen to use my artwork to try and evade the real issue, which is how to help fellow Americans get the health care they need. It’s also ironic that FOX wasn’t sophisticated enough to understand the simple artistic metaphor that their refusal to enter into legitimate discussion on this issue is a stain on our flag. By intentionally devaluing our debate process, they should feel somewhat culpable for denying healthcare to fellow Americans.”
The mural was painted to depict the disconnect between the politically charged rhetoric in the current health care debate, and Saber’s real-life struggle as an American with a life-threatening illness without health care. The artist, who is self-employed and has numerous preexisting conditions, is uninsurable under the current system. “The video is part of my struggle to, literally, survive. No one should be able to tell me how I can and can’t fight to save my own life,” said Saber.
The video features Saber stepping up to the wall and painting a representation of the American Flag. The wall is then covered by buzzwords and talking points in the current debate for reform. Eventually the wall is completely covered and the screen fades to black, as the audio of a heartbeat monitor flat-lines. The video then cuts to the wall again, on which the flag appears
again re-painted. The audio of the heart monitor immediately comes back to life, supporting the
statement written on the blue; “Health Care Reform Will Bring This Country Back to Life.”
The artwork in the video exists in a long line of American Flag paintings in the country’s history,
from Jasper Johns to Keith Haring, there is a well-defined tradition of American artists painting
the nations flag.

The Artist can be reached for comment via…..

Contact:
Lahoda Fine Arts-
Daniel Lahoda
info@(Removed).com
Gallery: 213.415.1826
Mobile: 702.813.4006

Never one to shy away from controversy, Saber has been up to some very interesting things lately… Watch the video and see what he’s been producing; in and out of the studio…

Artist: Saber
Title: “Flag 2010″
Size: 21″ x 30″ (54cm x 77cm)
Edition: 11 color Serigraph on hand-made Nepalese Cannabina Fiber. All separations hand-painted in studio by Saber. Hand-Pulled by the master printers at Modern Multiples Studio in downtown Los Angeles. This edition was created in 3 separate color-ways; 60 Prints in Red/White/Blue, 15 Prints in Black/White, and a hand-laid Gold Leaf edition of 3.

Nice stuff there but why would anyone in the uk have a usa flag?

Great print, great idea behind it, ordered a red/white and blue, think it will look hot,

for me personally i see it as the USA is changing it's views, be it public heath care or how they are seen in the rest of the world, this to me is a sign of great things that could happen in the future,

The r/w/b looks sicc... The quality of Saber's prints are amazing too!

beyond belief american media made such a big fuss about some artist defacing the "holy" american flag!
calm down, it's just paint splatters...

Gotta love Fox News. ;D

Damn, wish I was around more this weekend. Would have loved to have picked this up. :-(

If anyone got one and has changed their mind pm me.

Check out Jest Set Grafitti for info

I didn't know about this print. Very nice!