Dreams of Obama

The Current’s cover story this week is an essay by activist Tom Hayden about how Barack Obama will cause and affect the progressive movement in America — and how Obama alone is not enough to create positive social change.

For the cover, I decided to subvert the typical red-white-and-blue-spangled look of most election coverage in favor of warm golds (a nod to Obama’s golden image) and other party-neutral colors. I wanted to visually juxtapose Obama the Myth and Obama the Man, and where those two converge. I found it interesting that Hayden suggests that, despite his historic candidacy (which is progressive at its core), Obama will invariably disappoint many liberal progressives since he will move closer to the center as the campaign rolls on. Thus, Obama’s larger than life shadow isn’t grinning optimistically, but rather more stoic and reserved, with a hint of uncertainty (it’s subtle, but it’s there … I think).

Anyway, read the article, it’s pretty interesting. This week’s cover in its completed form below (and check the lower left for some Brent Evans/John Cougar sleevefacing — more to come on that soon).