How to Steal a Billboard
August 31st, 2007 admin
Last night I watched the movie POPaganda, The Art and Crimes of Ron English. For me it was a profile of an artist that raises a lot of questions. (which is good) Ron English has made a career of attacking consumerism and corporate america. (though he has an online store that sells mass produced plastic reproductions of his work. hmm?) He found his place on the map by high-jacking billboards in big cities. Joe Camel, the fun loving, cigarette smoking, cartoon camel was his first target. Ron would play up the already cartoon image to show what he believes the cigarette ads were really saying.
From there his billboards grew to target other corporations, politics, and religion. English has also moved on to creative oil paintings that attack pop culture.

“The Last Breakfast”
The movie is only 75 minutes and well worth watching. Though it can be hard to find. And at the end he teaches you how to steal a billboard! Ron’s web site has a lot of his work as well. It can be found at www.popaganda.com
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