Changes generates discussion
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Now that Barack Obama has been elected president, discussion over what kind of leader he will be is front and center, especially on one wall in downtown Colorado Springs.
The famous image of Obama and Abraham Lincoln merged into one started in Boston with artist Ron English.
That image was then posted in public places throughout the country, and in September, on the wall of Poor Richard's in downtown Colorado Springs.
Just over a week ago someone secretly changed the image, adding war helmets and the symbol of Islam.
Tuesday afternoon those who originally posted the signs were again changing the posters adding a new message.
The image, known as the Abraham Obama Project, is becoming a conversation board in Colorado Springs.
"We're having a public discussion on the side of a building, and I think it's something that is fun and lively and makes people think," says Richard Skorman, business owner.
The picture started by comparing Obama to Abraham Lincoln, and has taken on a new life since someone snuck up onto Poor Richard's roof and changed the message representing Obama as a soldier for Islam.
"I'm not impressed at all. There seems to be a real need to decide what religion and what kind of thing is going on in his head," says Carol Scott
"If you are an artist you should know better than to mess with other people's art," says James Carpenter.
The original artists say the changes are more of a modification than a vandalism.
"I don't call it vandalism, because as far as I'm concerned the minute you put something in public it belongs to everybody," says Don Goede with the Abraham Obama Project.
And since it belongs to everybody they decided to work with the mysterious artist's new message instead of erasing it.
"I thought, 'Well, why not keep going with that and go with lots of ideas people have about Obama,'" says Kat Tudor the artist who made the latest modifications.
No police report was filed in regards to the changes. The artists say the modifications are generating conversation and they are interesting to see where it will lead within reason.
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