Picturing the President: Inauguration Day 2013

In a grassroots effort I painted this portrait of Presidential candidate Barack Obama
in 2008 and together with friends we shipped it to swing states. The image was
popular with field workers who brought it to the attention of the national campaign.
I was asked to create Voz Unida based on this image and it became
an official poster at Artists for Obama.

I will never forget attending the inauguration of President Obama in 2009 and
created this portrait to commemorate the event. It was part of the Manifest Hope
Show in Washington D.C. and Shepard Fairey purchased the original painting.

In 2012 I was honored to participate once again as an Artist for Obama
by the national campaign. My contribution Estamos Unidos targeted the Latino vote.
With permission I printed this poster Adelante. I felt my art coming full circle
when once again we shipped it to the swing states in grassroots support
of President Obama's re-election effort. Today is about celebrating our future.

We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always -- home,
always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon
like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop
and every window, of one country -- all of us --
facing the stars
hope -- a new constellation
waiting for us to map it,
waiting for us to name it -- together"

Listen to the powerful words of America's first Latino inaugural poet Richard Blanco. His poem gives tribute to our American experience. In an artist's voice this is a call for unity that will keep our nation moving forward.
One Today by Richard Blanco in the Los Angeles Times.