Time has designated The Protester its Person of the Year for 2011. The protesters being recognized are from Egypt and other uprising around the world, but the cover image by Los Angeles artist Shepard Fairey is from a photograph shot by Los Angeles photographer Ted Soqui at a Bank of America protest in Downtown.

Soqui tells me that Sarah Mason, the protester in the photo, spent many nights at the Occupy LA camp outside City Hall. She was arrested during the LAPD's eviction action. At the earlier Bank of America protest, her bandana was soaked in vinegar "just in case the police sprayed them with gas or pepper spray." This time, Fairey's use of the photo was even authorized. * Update: It was during the B of A protest that Mason was arrested, Soqui says.

By the way: LAT art critic Christopher Knight is not impressed with Fairey's work.