Saturday, August 30, 2008

Banksy @ New Orleans


Banksy's graffiti has been popping up in New Orleans over the last few weeks.

It's all pretty awesome, but this is my favorite:


In the months after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans was filled with these fridges. Can you imagine the smell that comes from a fridge after it's been sitting in water and sunlight for a few weeks? Cleanup wasn't easy, and you can still stumble on Katrina Refrigerators around the city, either waiting on a curb to be picked up, or still in flooded homes.

The Nola Rising blog has a great post on Banksy's recent additions to public art in Katrina. (I can't say enough good things about this blog. If you're at all interested in public propelled art, this is the place to look.)

6 comments:

troylloyd said...

big-ups to Banksy!

perhaps one of the most socially relevant artists working today & it's all been from the ground up.

thanx for the Nola Rising link, yr right -- itsa goodstuff.

the "no loitering" rockin' chair guy is so poignant it makes refrigerators fly kites.

Anonymous said...

Timely and much needed. Let's hope the work survives this storm.

Ben Grad said...

Banksy's great. If you ever need a laugh, check out galleries doing "Banksy Exhibitions."

LibertyBell said...

these are beautiful! i'm feeling inspired to do public art. this is bringing to mind a guy (or gal) who would decorate smashed wads of chewing gum on the sidewalk. Have you seen those? really tiny intricate drawings all on a 2" diameter chewing gum canvas. they're also beautiful, but in a more discreet way.
-Elizabeth

LibertyBell said...

here we go:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/93564737_e44772b0ed.jpg?v=0

lizzieg said...

I am writing an art history thesis on Banksy and was thinking about coming down to New Orleans to look first-hand at his work. I need to know more information both for my research and before I book any plane tickets.

So, would anyone happen to know:

1) Is much of Banksy's work still in New Orleans? (ie has it been painted over yet?)
2) Where is most of his work? Could you give me any specific locations?