There are official-looking men on the street corners in downtown Denver, and eying them while they whisper top secret information into their pen caps is sort of exciting. However, even men in black lose their mystery, and when that time comes there are more vibrant things worth watching at the Democratic National Convention. Manifest Hope Gallery, for example, is a paint-packed exhibition of over 10,000 square feet of art created in support of hope, change, progress and patriotism. It’s one of the best things to hit the political scene since term limits.

Participating artists include Shepard Fairey, Adrian Tucker, Scot Lefavor, and Sam Flores (among dozens of others), and after hitting up the press unveiling on Sunday, I will say that the gallery lives up to what it wanted to be and more. It’s thrilling enough to go to any one of these artist’s shows, but to go to one of this magnitude, with talent of this significance and a voice of this strength is incredible.

All of the work at the gallery has been donated by the artists to help fund the Obama/Biden campaign, and some of the pieces are up for auction on eBay (but I imagine if you want to score any and all of the art, you can find appropriate contact info on the website. For more info on the gallery, and to find out when you can swing in if you’re in the area, go here.

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The warmth is played out, suntans have lost their sparkle — even mojitos have abandoned their minty appeal. We’re ready to swap sweat for sweaters, and — as said item is among our favorite of apparels — we will welcome fall with our arms wide open and covered in shit.

Oh, hold on; La Merde, we mean. Covered in La Merde. And for you saucy bilinguals out there, yes, both words do mean the same thing, but La Merde also happens to represent a decidedly un-poopy clothing company based out of Portland, Oregon. They specialize in a breed of very outstanding hoodies — dapper, well-cut, rockstar/fop- hybrid things — that make me want to crawl straight out of summer and into the embrace of boy hovering just under room temperature.

Browse the upcoming collection here, and do your best not to lose your merde over the linings, details, and overall street sense that make this collection of toppers worth trick-or-treating in. You can’t shop on their site, nor is there a dealer list to comb through, so what the heck? Just shoot them an e-mail to get a jacket to carry you through 2009.

In the most literal use of the term, “designer plush toy,” German teddy bear makers, Steiff and fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld have partnered to produce a limited edition bear in Lagerfeld’s own image. The bear comes outfitted in a familiar black and white suit with sunglasses and rhinestone initialed belt buckle. Steiff’s trademark “button in the ear” (devised to thwart counterfeiters) will also be present. Steiff toys are known for their quality materials and craftsmanship. Founder Margarete Steiff’s mantra was “Only the best is good enough for children.” However, at a cost of approximately $1,500 per bear, it’s unlikely these toys will go into the same chest as any Yo Gabba Gabba plushes. The teddy bears are limited to an edition of 2,500 and will be launched at Neiman Marcus stores this September.

When I was a child, I saw an episode of That’s Incredible where they tested Timex’s claims. The watch company, which has been around for 50 years, had a famous slogan: “Timex: takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.” They put the watch through its paces and (for the most part) it came out perfectly able to tell time. Timex was, in many ways, the G-Shock of yesteryear. It’s an everyday man’s watch that you could wear to the jobsite and not have to baby it or worry about it getting scratched or banged against the sink. In what seems like perfect retro timing, the company has recently reintroduced their Timex 80 watch. Available in both plastic (my favorite) and metal versions, the watches have time and date features and, of course, that infamous Indiglo backlight. The straps are the exact same color as the face for a uninterrupted visual loop around your wrist. To round out the package, they come in cushioned slide boxes. Get yourself a Timex 80 and a Casio calculator watch and you’ll be set!

An impressive group of artists and vinyl toy companies have come together for “This One’s For The Children of Sichuan,” a charity auction orchestrated by MINDstyle to benefit victims of the Chinese earthquake. The auction includes original paintings, rare toys and limited-edition collectibles from KAWS, Joe Ledbetter, Michael Lau, Ron English, Buff Monster, tokidoki, Shepard Fairey, Devilrobots, Amanda Visell, Doktor A, Tim Biskup, Kathie Olivas, Brandt Peters and many more. A few of the auction’s highlights: Lau’s sold-out “Jordon” Gardeners, Ledbetter’s signed lot of monotone toys, a 4-foot tall KAWS companion (and pair of promo Nikes) and numerous large-scale resin figures. There are 29 lots posted with pictures and estimates on eBay here. The auction commences August 31st at 6 p.m. PST, but absentee bids can be placed immediately. Be charitable if you can afford to, and be sure to read all the rules of the auction, which may include additional shipping costs.

Justin Melnick is an avid photographer, digital artist, and has spent time oversees in the Middle East. All of these influences have come together in his latest project, titled Arm Me, Melnick imagines — quite vividly — what Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Pucci, and Chanel would add to standard ammunition. The exhibition starts September 2nd at Gallery 385 in New York City. The outcome is a compelling statement that questions how we — individually and as a nation — spend our money, contrasting the abundance of weaponry with the scarcity of high-end luxury goods and some pretty amazing imagery.

Each week, JoshSpear.com explores the latest projects by top creative professionals in the Behance Network and highlights a few that are pushing the edge of creative industry. Josh Spear also serves as an Adviser and Guest Curator for the Behance Network.