45 | OutBoise Magazine | NEWS
OutBoisemag.com | Issue 18 | April 2016
Art and Politics
There is an expression that the pen is mightier than
the sword. Is paint the new pen? Is paint power?“I like
to take simple iconic images and turn them on their ear.
I like to poke fun, with a sense of humor, at all kinds of
cultural and regional stereotypes. The Butch piece is a
good natured poke at the politician by taking a simple
word and pointing out how words have multiple meanings and are sometimes as elusive as a politician’s principles and values themselves. My main goal is always to
get a chuckle out of the viewer. I am not about hate or
being mean spirited.”
Hooper took the normally blasé headshot of Governor
Otter and made a stunning piece of pop art, which channels Warhol, Lichtenstein and Fairey.
Hooper produced this piece as a t-shirt design exclusively. Boise Pride board member, Joseph Kibbe, “saw
the image [in] late November as a limited edition print
and suggested to the board [that] we approach Ward
and ask for the image.” [The Board] loved the design
and message of the shirt; [I], Gretchen Bates, Jennie
Rylee obtained the image and ran with it.”
“I told them they could use the image for whatever
they wanted with my blessing.”