I heard a radio program on NPR the other day all about the importance of playing. How it may be more important than anything in the social upbringing of a child to let a child play freely. In this newest work for charity, Shepard Fairey paints two girls knitting. Just knitting. Just having the free opportunity to do what every child should have the opportunity to do –

play!

This painting is up for auction in support of the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation which is “dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant arts exposure, access and education as well as providing exhibition opportunities to early and mid-career artists and artists of color.”

Shepard Fairey
Close Knit, 2009
Spray Painted Stencil & Mixed Media Collage on Canvas
44″ x 60″

“I chose to illustrate this image of two girls knitting (in a Rush Arts Education program) because I think it really captures the idea that learning art in schools is about more than crayon drawings — it’s about creativity, something that transcends all class and race boundaries. I think the joy of making something is universal, and it’s an opportunity that every kid should have.”

- Charity Buzz

World Famous Design Junkies believes Shepard Fairey to be one of the most important political artists in a generation, and loves to get hell of sneak peeks at his works. Take a better peek here: