Published January 29, 2010

As Etsy gains popularity on the SLU campus, we at Hidden Gems have decided to dedicate this week’s column to the little guys, independent artists struggling to get their art, and their message, out to the people.

What is the best way to get the younger generations interested in anything?  Add some sharp teeth and splatter it with blood, instant vampire. A recent release from frighteningprospect.com, a two person politically charged artistic website, has done just that to Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican nominee for Vice President.

Vote, completed in 2009, shows a horrific image of a rabid Palin, with Smurf-like blue blood foaming from her mouth, representing the facial expressions democratic politicians frequently made during her campaign interviews with Katie Couric. The former governor of Alaska’s snarling, bloodthirsty expression, saturated in Republican red and Democrat blue, dominates this twenty-first century political cartoon and rip-off of Shepard Fairey’s 2008 Hope poster.

The print also alludes to the poster for the film 30 Days of Night, in Palin’s vampire fangs, drool, and the blue Smurf blood sprayed across this clever piece of propaganda. To top it all off, the word “VOTE,” splayed underneath the blood spilling from Palin’s mouth, denotes the artists true message: participate in the election, but know what you’re doing. The satire and spirit of the work can be seen in the energy, devotion, and flawless product created by this skilled artist and her accomplice.

Frighteningprospect.com features short and sweet biographical information on its members. Dean Jansen, “the jerk,” admits that he, “blatantly ripped off Shepard Fairey,” apologizing, the sincerity of which is questionable, for the message of frighteningprospect.com’s campaign. Jennifer Feller, the artist behind this soon to be cult-sensation image, is highlighted as the more tech-savvy of the pair.

Also mentioned is Sarah Palin, “a danger to the United States, not to mention the world at-large.”

We especially love this website because it provides viewers with resources about voting in the United States. Some artists simply speak out against what they dislike, while others, like frighteningprospect.com, provide their viewers with outlets which can them lead them to action. While frighteningprospect.com urges its viewers to vote in U.S. elections, without lobbying for one party over another, they also list the qualifications for voting in U.S. elections. “Go Vote: Yes you can,” reads the artist’s statement, which follows up with, “unless you’re not a US citizen, are under 18, or forgot to register. If you don’t know where to vote at, try this handy tool.”  By clicking on the words, “handy tool,” the viewer is brought to vote411.org where they can find their local polling place. How cool is that?

If you are ineligible to vote in the United States, no worries, frighteningprospect.com provides directions on how to print out Vote and paste it on the street using wheatpaste, an organic glue. The artists suggest working quickly and, “not looking overly suspicious.”

The only cover frighteningprospect.com allows itself is its Useful Disclaimer: “Don’t do illegal stuff. We’re not responsible for your fuck ups.”

In addition, frighteningprospect.com features links to sidesplitting hilarious quotes from Palin’s notorious interviews with Katie Couric, epitomizing her “I have foreign policy experience because I can see Russia from my house” campaign contributions.

The writers of hidden gems recognize that the first two weeks of a new semester can be the hardest and we hope this website will provide you with as many laughs as it did us!