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player ready...Barack Obama has yet to finalize the economic stimulus package, but his inaugural festivities have given the arts — and the politically involved artists — a major boost.
It was evident during the swearing-in Tuesday with the crowd sprinkled with A-list celebrities. Steven Spielberg, who paused to chat with activist, actor and filmmaker John Cusack, surveyed the vast crowd in the National Mall, and he quipped to a reporter, “I could never afford to do this shoot in one of my movies.”
Dustin Hoffman, looking distinguished enough to hold office, was among the viewers. Oprah stood nearby on the steps, as did a buoyant Bruce Springsteen, who looked appropriately working class in a pea coat with upturned collar (no Madison Avenue-style cashmere topcoat for this boss).
Although many celebrities were on hand to view the inauguration in person, others were expressing their support for the first Internet savvy president’s program on — where else? — MySpace.
On the eve of the inauguration, more than 50 celebrities teamed up with MySpace to record videos making a “pledge of service” to the next president of the United States.
Among the celebrities who have already finished their videos are Sean P. “Diddy” Combs, Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria. (You can see them at: myspace.com/ presidentialpledge.)
Others making pledges include will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, actresses Marisa Tomei, Courtney Cox Arquette, Lucy Lui and Laura Linney and actors Jason Bateman and Tobey Maguire. The video will be directed, produced and edited by actress Demi Moore. (Viewers are also invited to record their own personal pledge and upload it to the site.)
If there was one big winner among the artistic contingent at the 44th president’s inaugural it had to be Shepard Fairey, who has gone from starving artist to artistic celebrity over the course of this campaign.
His iconic image of the then-insurgent candidate Obama found its way onto everything from the Internet to the side walls of taquerias. It also found its way into the National Portrait Gallery.