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Banksy in New Orleans

dirtythirdstreets.com — The celebrated street artist hit up New Orleans before the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

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  • basye, on 09/23/2008, -1/+16What does the first picture say? "I must not copy what I see on the Simpsons"???
    • EIEAviv2008, on 09/23/2008, -4/+3Yea, its supposed to be funny
    • philostrato, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2yeah, that's it.
    • OwdenBowden, on 09/23/2008, -3/+1Banksy = Marc Ecko

      (and for the dumb Banksy is Marc Ecko)
      • urbandistrict, on 09/23/2008, -0/+5You = Retarded

        (and for you that means you are not a smart guy)
  • presidentjapan, on 09/23/2008, -3/+23Long live the rat, long live Banksy.
  • flashpointbob, on 09/23/2008, -11/+28Banksy is one of the most influential/powerful artists of our time. More people need to pay attention to what he is saying.
    • gilbot53, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3What is it that he is saying?
      • Cenobite, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3That more people need to pay attention to what he is saying. Duh.
  • n0t0kayipr0mis3, on 09/23/2008, -4/+25He's truly amazing, he's also done some great work in Palestine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZK7D6WqzR0
    • kelmaster1, on 09/23/2008, -1/+8Here's a set of Banksy pics from New Orleans that doesn't suck:
      http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnodotcom/sets/7215 ...


      A quote from him about the Palestine wall: "“How illegal is it to vandalize a wall if the wall itself has been deemed unlawful by the International Court of Justice?"

      Also a hilarious account with Israel's fine military: (while Banksy was working on the Palestine wall)
      Soldier: "What the ***** are you doing"
      Banksy: "You'll have to wait until I'm finished"
      Soldier: "Safety's off" (to other soldiers)
  • davesss, on 09/23/2008, -0/+18wow, he gets around
    • GeorgeStone2, on 09/23/2008, -1/+4I'm not even sure if banksy is one person...
      • JammoBlammo, on 09/23/2008, -2/+8Because he makes it out of the UK once a year? Impossible!
      • Cenobite, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2I like to think of Banksy as not being a single person, but more of an idea.

        Maybe I'm an idealist, or maybe I just watched V for Vendetta once too many times.
  • ElSantos, on 09/23/2008, -9/+2loldown
  • WickedEdge, on 09/23/2008, -5/+16100 diggs in and page is already dead O.o
  • btschul, on 09/23/2008, -4/+10Mirror please.
  • Terrk, on 09/23/2008, -10/+1Digg effect, I think it's a new record. 100 diggs!
    • btschul, on 09/23/2008, -0/+5I saw an article go down with 2 diggs.
      • cawpin, on 09/23/2008, -0/+6I saw your girlfriend go down with 1.
  • Elliottx, on 09/23/2008, -10/+4Failed to Connet

    The connection was refused when attempting to contact dirtythirdstreets.com.

    How dare you refuse to connect! I'll teach you firefox!
  • petisnnake, on 09/23/2008, -6/+0dasdsadad
  • Tr33fiddy, on 09/23/2008, -1/+2Not a mirror but a good collection here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonnodotcom/sets/7215 ...
  • ieataquacrayons, on 09/23/2008, -6/+5Server: Dead and Loving It.
  • ageeksgirl08, on 09/23/2008, -1/+128He's posted his New Orleans work on his site.
    http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm
  • greatgatsbyII, on 09/23/2008, -18/+5Why do we celebrate graffiti?
    • btschul, on 09/23/2008, -2/+15Because (some of) it ***** ROCKS.
    • BlaqReaper, on 09/23/2008, -4/+10Because Banksy elevates it into an artistic form and not just random scribbles on a wall. And meaningful art should be celebrated.
    • Joe857, on 09/23/2008, -3/+13Because nobody actually enjoys art anymore. Sure, some people may have paintings in their homes, and some people may go to museums, but paintings are still too impersonal, and not public enough. Graffiti (real art, mind you, not tags) goes past this boundary by being beautiful, being controversial, and being in view of everyone.
    • laika2420, on 09/23/2008, -2/+5Because even the smallest little rat that Banksy puts on a wall is infinitely better than anything Damien Hirst has ever made.
    • jcharak58, on 09/23/2008, -6/+3but its not his wall. Unless he had permission by the owner of said wall, I think its wrong. Yup I know I'm going to be buried for this but that is how it is here. Unless you agree with the masses you get knocked down and hidden.

      BTW burying me would be counter productive to the Bansky "anti-establishment" message. If you bury me you will be following the crowds at this site.
      • btschul, on 09/23/2008, -3/+5Burying you made me happy.
      • BlaqReaper, on 09/23/2008, -2/+3Yes Banksy is breaking the law, but often times he is making protests against the government/authority figures and graffiti becomes the perfect medium to get his point across.

        Plus at least his graffiti is artistic and can be appreciated. Even if you don't like him breaking the law, you have to admit his works are meaningful and a contribution to society.
      • jcharak58, on 09/23/2008, -2/+4BlaqReaper,

        I admit that some of his work is really good. But I would not want anyone destroying my property at all.

        If he is protesting the government/authority, then why is he doing these paintings on personal property instead of government property?
      • mrraven200, on 09/23/2008, -2/+1Because we must always follow the law right? Even if the law says no blacks will be served at this lunch counter, DUMBASS!
      • jahreed, on 09/23/2008, -1/+0Banksy's work is often in reaction to/critique of the notion of public and private property and space. In a modern capitalist society these things are taken for granted. Banksy does a wonderful job of bringing these issues, among others, to the light of day.
  • petisnnake, on 09/23/2008, -1/+0 man i liked that simpson one
  • iamichi, on 11/12/2008, -1/+13I must not copy what I see on the Simpsons.

    But the kite-fridge is my favourite. I wonder how long before the grey ghost copies over it all... :-(
  • burketo, on 09/23/2008, -2/+5http://gawker.com/5042936/banksy-does-new-orleans
  • Torx, on 09/23/2008, -5/+33I wish all graffiti had more meaning like this, not stupid tagging of names. Banksy is setting the bar and evolving the art of graffiti.
    • bichimpaid, on 09/23/2008, -1/+5art is subjective...
    • sammydeath, on 09/23/2008, -12/+4shut the ***** up
      Banksy is not doing anything new, its just to common fools like you it seems new, so you jump on the bandwagon ad his dick like everyone else.
      Stencil art has been around for ages, search for blek le rat and youll see where banksy got inspired. Its only the places london he hit up that got him the exposure and then all of a sudden it became cool, and daily mail reading pricks got on his dick aswell.
      As for stupid tagging, even the egyptians wrote there names on walls, and there is alot of talent out there. Anything that is paid for publically is ours to do what we want with, not adverts rammed into our faces that we didnta ask for.
      • Pandalemon, on 09/23/2008, -3/+9Sir, you're going to get dugg down, but don't worry; you deserve it.
      • garvallagh, on 09/23/2008, -3/+5bye emo.

        No one said he was doing anything new. If he is doing it in places that gives him more exposure then so what, in my book that makes him smarter than Blek.

        PS, "common fools"..... you need a few more years under your belt, cant wait to you say that to the wrong person and wonder what you done to get your jaw wired.
      • sammydeath, on 09/23/2008, -3/+2well yea im saying his is more smarter, and props to him for getting in some of the most visible areas in london.

        ok internet hardman, all im saying is its just another person jumping on the bandwagon cos everyone else does, the real artform from where it evolved you dont like, which is just an ignorance to the appriciation of graffiti heritage.

        and here in england we can have serious debates about subjects without resorting to violence. Its called conversation, and yes sometimes we all have cups of tea too.
      • phoenixshard, on 09/23/2008, -2/+3Anything that is paid for publicly is not yours to do with as you will, and the vast majority of grafitti goes on private buildings, not public ones.
    • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -7/+8Hey Torx, I'm glad that you are now an expert on graffiti because you've seen some Banksy pictures on the front page of Digg.

      But really, and I think I speak for everyone that has participated or appreciates the art, STFU.

      Like sammy has said, stencils and political graffiti have existed long before Bansky. I'm not saying he isn't good (he is) but to ride him like you all are and saying dude is "evolving the art of graffiti" while IN THE SAME SENTENCE talking about the "stupid tagging of names" is evidence that you don't know ***** about *****.
      • Torx, on 09/23/2008, -4/+4I could give two ***** about your passion for graffiti, and you're right i dont know ***** about it. Maybe thats why ive been so accustomed to your scribbled garbled *****-tastic artstyle on tax-payers property. And when i see something like this, it brings an enlightenment to already worn down structures.
      • TheCollective00, on 09/23/2008, -3/+3I agree with Torx. Most of the graffiti I see in Las Vegas is dumb ***** gang banger stuff that looks like it was done by someone with the mentality and literacy level of a first grader. DigxDug needs to simmer down and realize that the vast majority of his prefered artform is utter *****.
      • sammydeath, on 09/23/2008, -2/+4yea you know if someone writes a name or wateva on a property its illegal, and if someone does a realtivly simple stencil on someones property thats not illegal is it.

        its funny watching people suck off banksy to be like everyone else and all of a sudde have an intrest in art and "graffiti". Thing is, you yourself know you never gave a ***** about any of this until it became popular, but of course its never cool to admit that
      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -2/+4There is a huge distinction between gang graffiti and writer graffiti. It's not even my preferred art form as I'd school you in Paint/Print/Photo/Litho/Sculpture/Installation knowledge as well.

        The fact remains that Banksy is a graffiti artist in the position that he is in not only because it is timely and he is talented, but also because of artists that have come before him.

        If you mouth breathers google Blek Le Rat you will see that Bansky is not the only person to do this. And given that Blek was getting work done in Paris in the 80's he was likely influenced by American graffiti which has its roots in NYC.

        Originators of NYC graffiti such as Taki 183 started as simply writing on on a wall. No real stylistic effort. As he and others became known people began to write their names as well. Soon style became as important as sheer numbers.

        Basic "tags" became pieces. As the style and medium progressed, the art progressed as well. To say that "the vast majority" of graffiti is "utter *****" is very likely true in the same sense that the vast majority of any artform is utter *****.
      • phoenixshard, on 09/23/2008, -7/+1Sorry, but graffiti isn't art, its vandalism. Some of it is very impressive looking vandalism, but its still vandalism. If it isn't commissioned to be done on the building its done on, it isn't an art form, its a crime.
      • 032483, on 09/23/2008, -0/+4@phoenixshard

        For the second time this week I'm saying this. Just because it's vandalism doesn't make it not art.
      • phoenixshard, on 09/23/2008, -4/+1And for the second time in this thread, it is not art, it's vandalism. You've defaced something that belongs to someone else that is going to cost them money from their pocket to get rid of. Just because its a well done painting doesn't make it art, all it makes it is vandalism that is beyond the typical gang related graffiti.
      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3@phoenixshard

        "Just because its a well done painting doesn't make it art"
        In other words
        "Just because it's art doesn't mean it's art"

        /Facepalm

        Something can be art and vandalism....

        There's been instances of people stealing side panels and large metal pieces with work from some of the more sought after artists for sale in galleries and ebay and such.


      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2@phoenixshard

        For instance...

        http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/ ...

        "A wall stencil of a black silhouette of a rat bouncing a ball underneath a "No Ball Games" sign has been removed by thieves using an angle grinder at Gloucester Gardens in Paddington.

        The Standard reported that the thieves had cut out the wall with the image on and put the whole lot up for sale on eBay for £20,000 but after complaints, the item was removed from sale."
      • phoenixshard, on 09/23/2008, -3/+1Just because someone offers something for sale doesn't make it art either. What you just described is theft/vandalism of the property in question and then is offering it up for sale. If he wants to call it art, put it in a medium that is commonly used such as canvas or *gasp* ask the owner of the building if he can do the painting on the building in the form of a mural. Then it can be called art, up to that point, its called vandalism.

        BTW, those 2 paragraphs you quoted never mention the word art in them, all they refer to is the theft of an image that someone had painted on a wall, vandalizing it.
      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2"BTW, those 2 paragraphs you quoted never mention the word art in them, all they refer to is the theft of an image."

        Are you daft?

        Did you click the BBC link?

        The headline is.

        "Banksy wall art stolen"

        If the thieves weren't trying to sell it as art, what where they trying to sell it as?

      • IpecacNeat, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2What if the Mona Lisa was painted on the side of a building? Would it not be art?
      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+1@phoenixhard

        Are you aware of an artist named Duchamp or the Dadaist movement back in the 60's?

        http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4059997.s ...

        Seeing that you don't actually click and read the links before responding I'll break down some key points.

        Headline "Duchamp's urinal tops art survey: A white gentlemen's urinal has been named the most influential modern art work of all time."

        Duchamp shocked the art establishment when he took the urinal, signed it and put it on display in 1917.

        As bichimpaid stated a couple posts up, "art is subjective."

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Duchamp
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaism

        Just because YOU don't think it's art doesn't make it so.

        I suggest you take the same advice that I gave Torx and STFU.
      • phoenixshard, on 09/23/2008, -0/+1I used the words that you quoted in your reply.

        They were trying to sell something that was painted by someone that has a name. No different from someone selling something like a homerun baseball from someone like Barry Bonds, or anything else associated with someone that is famous.

        From another story on the BBC.

        "Tower Hamlets councillor Abdal Ullah said: "We need to be clear here, graffiti is a crime.

        "It spoils the environment, makes our neighbourhoods feel less safe, and costs thousands of pounds each year to clean - money that could instead be paying for valuable local services." "



        Sorry, its considered a crime to do it by the majority of people.

        Again, the man has great talent with his painting skills, but its still vandalism and is not art.
      • BN2L, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2The question isn't is it art or not, of course its art. Art is simply something thats appealing to the senses. The question is is it vandalism?

        'Vandalism is the behaviour attributed to the Vandals in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable.'

        So are these flood damaged walls 'beautiful or venerable'? I think not. Look at Banksy's pictures across the world. He's not defacing beautiful buildings he's making ugly walls and buildings beautiful and interesting and who cares what permission hes got thats completely irrelevant.



      • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2@phoenixshard

        No one is arguing if graffiti is a crime or not, I am in agreement that it is a crime.

        Your argument is that because it is a crime it is fundamentally not art.

        That is where we disagree.

        Eh, I've spoken too much about this so I'll let you all take over.

        Truth be told I'm more into grimey east coast artists like Nekst, Rate, Skuff, and Alert than Banksy anyways.

        If I can't convince you that an "artfag" like Banksy is art, I'd have a harder time explaining my love for a Kem5 wholecar... ;)
  • Tr33fiddy, on 09/23/2008, -17/+22From Banksy's site;

    "I came to New Orleans to do battle with the Gray Ghost, a nototious vigilante who's been systematically painting over any graffiti he can find with the same shade of grey paint since 1997.
    Consequently he's done more damamge to the culture of the city than any section five hurricane could ever hope to achieve."

    Now I like Banksy's stuff. I REALLY like some of it but he went there to battle this Gray Ghost? Not thoughts of giving the city come of his art work as his way of helping them recover from Katrina?

    And more damage than a cat 5 hurricane could ever do?

    Talk about over stating the value of your own trade...
    • GeorgeStone2, on 09/23/2008, -9/+7Hurricaines don't really do much damage to the art community.
      • Tr33fiddy, on 09/23/2008, -6/+3I reckon hurricanes (spelling) damage pretty much everything.
    • ianbirtwistle, on 09/23/2008, -2/+14"Three years after Katrina I wanted to highlight the state of the clean-up operation. Only later did it dawn on me that if you chose to do this by drawing all over their stuff, you're actually only slowing down that clean-up operation."
    • gils126, on 09/23/2008, -1/+4If you'd read further along, you'd surely see the hurricane was the real point. Not to mention if you'd really focused on the actual artwork. The intention's pretty clear if you ask me.

      On the second picture after the one that dawned you're quoted caption:
      "Three years after Katrina I wanted to highlight the state of the clean-up operation."
    • Tr33fiddy, on 09/23/2008, -6/+3I did read it, why would I not have? But just because he wrote that it doesn't mean that what he wrote first is invalidated. "I came to New Orleans to do battle with the Gray Ghost" is no less relevant and I don't see how what he wrote afterwards makes the hurricane the "real point". Frankly it is at best an equal point and maybe an ancillary one judging on what he wrote and the order he wrote it. Also note that he still graffiti'd one of the levee's when he talked of how it hampers the clean up operation.

      Please don't try to reason my point down just because it challenges your idealised view of someone you admire. I too like the work, but I don't know the person and personally I don't like the inference of his commentary and particularly the suggestion that a category 5 hurricane does less damage than someone who doesn't like graffiti.
      • nevetssav, on 09/23/2008, -2/+3It's not just someone that doesn't like graffiti, though.

        Banksy - I would guess - sees graffiti as a reflection of Art and Culture. While I'm sure everyone might agree that it's not always the case, painting over graffiti is destroying culture and art, and oppressing the expression that people are vetting through paint. That *is* more damaging than a category 5 hurricane, because it destroys more than just buildings, more than just physical possessions; it destroys culture, hope, and expression.

        And it's pretty easy to see he didn't go there *just* for this Gray Ghost, otherwise all of his artwork would've been on, under, or around these gray patches.
      • gils126, on 09/25/2008, -0/+0Tr33fiddy - gauging from the appearance of his artwork in New Orleans and taking into account what nevetssav has written in the second paragraph of his post, I would think it's safe to assume that the Banksy quote that bothers you so much is clearly utilizing a bit of over exaggeration to prove a point. The anonymous man or collective that calls itself Banksy surely deals with issues concerning city culture and freedom of expression on a routine basis. There's bound to be some pent up emotion in there, so surely, Banksy wouldn't be the one to be completely unbiased in those assertions. But in the end, the importance of what Banksy expresses is in the meaning garnered from the images he makes, not the off-hand captions only his website visitors read.

        And no I don't support the words he says because I like supporting the ideas of people I admire.
        Reader discretion is not entirely thrown out of the window when you fall in love with an artist's work.
    • jahreed, on 09/23/2008, -0/+0Isn't the whole notion of the "Grey Ghost" a symbolic representation of a conservative and exploitative value system which favors order over chaos, property/moneyed interests over free expression?

      Something of a classic foil i think...

      Perhaps the same establishment value system that ignored the plight of the poor communities of NO while favoring forces of gentrification and "modernization" in the reconstruction effort.

      or maybe i'm reading into it too much...

      EDIT-
      yeah, he's a real guy
      http://blog.nola.com/vandalismtoday/2008/05/lost_o ...
    • NoJobBob, on 09/23/2008, -1/+1Notice he said "culture". I'm pretty sure hurricanes stick to devastating physical objects (and people emotions), but tend to leave the culture in tact.
  • sq2shooter, on 09/23/2008, -26/+17"I came to do battle with the grey ghost, a notorious vigilante who has been systematically painting over any graffiti he can find with the same shade of grey paint since 1997. Consequently he has done more damage to the culture of the city than any section five hurricane could ever hope to achieve."

    Talk about taking your art too seriously. What a slap in the face of those effected by Katrina. Memo to Banksy: graffiti does not give your city culture, you moron.
    • sq2shooter, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1Dugg down with no replies because all you pussies know that his comment is *****. It is indefensible and a perfect example of why graffiti artists are viewed as the dirtbags they are. Yes we know you are making a statement but we still don't care.
  • Terrk, on 09/23/2008, -1/+6http://banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm
  • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -11/+10I love Bansky's work.

    What I hate endless comments about "Is graffiti art, is it not art, etc etc etc" that fill up every dig story where his work is posted.

    Graffiti is far more complex than you could ever imagine. If you like it, good. If you don't like it, good, it's not for you anyways and chances are the artist enjoys your dissatisfaction. No need for you to share your opinion about it being art/vandalism/ugly/pretty, because we simply don't care.

    If anyone is interested in Bansky, anyone that wants to broaden their horizons with other styles, or at least wants to stop sounding like an idiot regarding graffiti, you should visit http://www.12ozprophet.com/

    This is not an advertisement, simply one of the oldest, most respected, and most populated graff communities on the web.
    • sammydeath, on 09/23/2008, -1/+5totally agree, 12oz shows how much talent there is and what a thriving graffiti community there is.
  • Mark2600, on 09/23/2008, -1/+4Just beautiful.
  • kosmoss, on 09/23/2008, -9/+3No "BANKSY IS GENIUS!" comment yet?
  • Nikx, on 09/23/2008, -1/+13Banksy_in_New_Orleans_6

    Six? Really?
  • tarquell, on 09/23/2008, -3/+3will check them out when i visit in November, hope they dont get tagged to death before hand!
  • darny, on 09/23/2008, -3/+9soldiers looting the houses? what is he trying to say?
    • richIsBored, on 09/23/2008, -2/+14I think he's saying that the government bears a large amount of responsibility for what transpired after Katrina.
      • darny, on 09/23/2008, -4/+2Then maybe he should have depicted leaders of government doing the looting instead of soldiers?!? Men with white hair in suits instead of military fatigues? Does anyone really believe the soldiers and the conservatives were on the same side of the line?

        His artwork is amazing and this particular mural looks really cool, but what he is implying is inflammatory and has no basis in fact, in this case.
      • tidu, on 09/23/2008, -3/+3I think we should cover up his art because we don't agree with the execution. Then we should burn him at the stake with a pile of those Harry Potter books
      • darny, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2Hey man, I'm all for his freedom of expression (even if he's exercising it unlawfully by defacing property) and I even enjoy his work. I'm not saying anything should be covered or anyone should be burned. I disagree with the message of this particular piece though. No need for you to get all excited.
      • nevetssav, on 09/23/2008, -0/+5The fact of the matter is that a soldier is a depiction of government. Men with white hair in business suits could be anyone. Soldiers are symbols of the will of a government, like it or not, and a face of a particular individual would give someone a [good] reason to take it down.
      • zombies187, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3Some national guard men were caught looting in the aftermath of Katrina. It's a symbol, yes. But it's a symbol of something that really happened.
    • Tr33fiddy, on 09/23/2008, -2/+6Or perhaps that during a true disaster, even the most responsible and regimented of people regress toward base activities provoking the question of how a city actually recovers from such a disaster when even the most responsible resort to denegrating their community?
    • blumpyX, on 09/23/2008, -10/+2He is just trying to raise his profile and cash balance by making distasteful grafiti about world events - although it takes a lot of balls to go to new orleans / palestine and mock the locals like that.
      • darny, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2Thank you. That's what I was fishing for.
      • blumpyX, on 09/23/2008, -2/+3no worries m8
      • zombies187, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3People here in New Orleans are well aware that the National Guard did some looting during Katrina. It is hardly mocking the locals to portray our reality to the world.
    • zombies187, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3The National Guard looted during Katrina. He is communicating to you that it happened. Judging from the responses here, it seems that people are not aware of the basic facts of what went on during that period. But there is no shortage of people who wrongly believe that they DO know what happened.
  • shenfrancisco, on 09/23/2008, -1/+7Mirror:

    http://www.linkinn.com/_Banksy_in_New_Orleans
  • kosmoss, on 09/23/2008, -11/+3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _________
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./ It’s Banksy...
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _,,,--~~~~~~~~--,_ . . . . ._________/
    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ : : : :::: :::: :: : : : : :º ‘-, . . /. . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ :: : : :::: :::: :::: :::: : : :o : ‘-, . . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . . . ,-‘ :: ::: :: : : :: :::: :::: :: : : : : :O ‘-, . . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . . .,-‘ : :: :: :: :: :: : : : : : , : : :º :::: :::: ::’; . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . .,-‘ / / : :: :: :: :: : : :::: :::-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ; . . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . . /,-‘,’ :: : : : : : : : : :: :: :: : ‘-, ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;;| . . . . . . .
    . . . . . . . /,’,-‘ :: :: :: :: :: :: :: : ::_,-~~,_’-, ;; ;; ;; ;; | . . . . . . .
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  • sean2390, on 09/23/2008, -6/+2I got his book a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much I mapped out where all his artwork was and went on a trip around London to find them and photograph them. They are way more impressive seeing them in person. It was a great week finding most of them. Its a shame alot of them are painted over by this "grey ghost" :(
    • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -0/+4The Grey Ghost is a buffer in NO.

      Not someone that follows Bansky around.
      • zombies187, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2The Grey Ghost is a guy who paints on walls. He's no different than Banksy. I know of murals that were commissioned by property owners that were destroyed by the ghost. Also, the ghost leaves up racist graffiti until it is defaced. Only then does he point over it. Try painting a confederate flag in New Orleans next to any other random graffiti. Your flag will sit there until someone like me comes along and marks a red line over it. The next day it will all be covered in grey.
  • eugenesucks, on 09/23/2008, -12/+10More like wanksy, amirite?
  • StormHunters, on 09/23/2008, -5/+1killed it already, ill have to look back later
  • mitchography, on 09/23/2008, -2/+3banksy paints a mean server error
  • jayscot, on 09/23/2008, -10/+3What is it about this common criminal that the kids like so much?
    • ayeroxor, on 09/23/2008, -1/+5What is it about the word "common" that you people find so difficult to understand?
  • blumpyX, on 09/23/2008, -8/+4my opinions about Banksy summed up by Charlie Brooker:

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/sep/2 ...

    "Wham! The message hits you like a lead bus: America ... um ... war ... er ... Disney ... and stuff. Wow. In an instant, your worldview changes forever. Your eyes are opened. Staggering away, mind blown, you flick v-signs at a Burger King on the way home. Nice one Banksy! You've shown us the truth, yeah?"
    • OneLess, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2So do you think "Aids" is a huge problem that people ignore? I'd tend to think that "AIDS" fits that bill, but...
    • nevetssav, on 09/23/2008, -1/+2The funny thing is that he totally missed the point.

      It's about the position of the artwork more than anything. Stepping in on escapism and denial - especially with places like disneyland, though I don't think children should have to deal with it - and shattering it.

      It's not about the Vietnamese girl's clothes being napalmed off, it's not about Ronald McDonald, it's about spending some time thinking about the exploitation of workers abroad, instead of just when you watch the 6 o'clock news.

      Discussion is the first step to action, and in this day and age it's pretty easy to ignore the giant elephant in the room.
  • sinnet, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2Wow that no right click script is annoying. Too bad he didn't disable right click with the keyboard, mwahahahaha.
  • calderon0311, on 09/23/2008, -0/+5Amazing work and choice of pieces for every location.
  • MalarkeyPN, on 09/23/2008, -1/+2More!
  • d1sturbdapeace, on 09/23/2008, -0/+6I heart Banksy
  • meanswing, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3Does anyone know the street addresses to these Banksy tags in New Orleans?
    • holdie, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3I'm not sure about all of them, although the girl with the umbrella, the fridge kite, and the soldiers coming out of the window are all around the area from Esplanade to the quarter roughly (one's on rampart, one on the street before Chartres as you're going lakeside, and I think another may be on rampart although I'm not positive.)
    • zombies187, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2The soldiers are outside of the Iron Rail.
  • jeremyduffy, on 09/23/2008, -0/+9A few pictures in is this comment (paraphrased):

    "I looked out the window and said, "I can't believe how much devastation is still left. Why haven't they cleaned it up?" and the driver looked at me and said, "This street has always looked this way""

    Oops.
  • Wawin, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3funny how in every field, be it art, science, literature...people criticize other's work and become "experts" when in reality they couldn't even come close to doing something as special or get as recognized for doing it. In other words, trolls on parade.
    • sgxyay, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2You don't have to be able to replicate something to criticize it.
  • oneboy, on 09/23/2008, -0/+2Is there any hint as to how Banksy puts his work up on the walls? Does he come out under cover of darkness with a step ladder to paint some of his larger works? Does he use flashlights, or helper people? Any ideas? It's fascinating to me. (Then again, living in rural Pennsylvania, I don't see ANY graffiti ANYWHERE, except for a name etched in a tree now and then!)
  • DigxDug, on 09/23/2008, -3/+3Edit, posted as reply to wrong comment.

    Bury this.
  • Vocklery, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3Being a displaced New Orleanian and an art/objects conservator, I am familiar with the deeds of the Grey Ghost. That he covers over the random graffiti of local taggers, I'm cool with (though the gray splotches seem even more distracting than the tags are), but he takes it too far in destroying graffiti art that I feel is incredible and, in often case, beautifying. And the Grey Ghost has no problem doing this without any regard to the wishes of the property owner. Should art like this wind up on my real estate, I'd protect it, preserve it when needed, and genuinely feel honored for the opportunity to do so.

    As I see these photos almost brought me to tears with the feelings that he cares. I disagree with his epiphany, though. I think he has given New Orleans a few more reasons to smile, and given the world a few more opportunities to see the needs that this wonderful city still cries aloud for.

    Ironically, that the Grey Ghost will cover such beauty with veneers of grey vagueness, with complete disregard, does seem the American (read: current American Government) way.
  • electrifried, on 09/23/2008, -2/+2banksy should start designing tshirts!
  • and303, on 09/23/2008, -0/+3Looks like the server got washed away and/or looted.
    • SEN5241, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1It's just crashing on my couch tonight.
  • HwoarangRules, on 09/24/2008, -0/+0Banksy is so ***** awesome...
  •  

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