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The Art of Politics :: GoTellMama.org founder Ray Noland instills his vision into Obama’s.

By Anthony Ascensio   Photography by Olivier Tse

02/21/08 :: URB 152

 

After eight years of divisive politics and international turmoil, the United States of America is once again at a turning point in history. This year, as voter turnout in primary elections hits record numbers, Americans are looking for a president who can unite the country around a common purpose. Barack Obama, a Junior Senator from Illinois, hopes to be that president, and lead a new generation of American leadership against the perils of the 21st century. Among the thousands of people Senator Obama has already inspired, is former URB Art Director and independent artist, Ray Noland.  
     With his venture, GoTellMama.org, Noland uses a mixture of “fine art, politics, marketing and strategy” to spread awareness and create enthusiasm about the Obama campaign. Aside from being moved by the Senator’s vision for America, GoTellMama.org was launched with a motive to redefine the way a political campaign is run. Rather than “echo specifics” from Barack Obama’s message, Noland instead uses personal artistic expression as an engine that “runs parallel to the campaign.” He adds, “I’m really trying to take the ideology and my own feelings, and express how they overlap [through art].” By not directly communicating exact sentiments from the official campaign, he is able to personalize the movement, “in a different kind of way.”  
     Keeping with the grassroots mentality of Obama’s candidacy, Go Tell Mama engages the American polity by using the Internet “in ways people haven’t seen before.” Noland and his contributors use viral media to promote their independent campaign ads online, which use fine art and animation to express Senator Obama’s inspirational message. Though mainstream media has not given proper recognition to this fresh movement, ultimately Ray is content with the feedback he receives. “As an artist, I want to affect things. My job is to piss off as many people as I excite. I don’t want people to just walk by my work, but to stop and tear it down whether it’s because they love it or they hate it.”

 

Click ahead to see art by Ray Noland