BROOKLYN STREET ART LOVES YOU MORE EVERY DAYShots from the weekend here by photographer, artist and frequent BSA contributor Geoff Hargadon. He caught a lot of new pieces as they were being installed, as well as some newly fresh ones.
Heads were rolling as soon as Anthony Lister hit the ground in Miami. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
These tires on the back of large vehicle looked like they were going to burst loose, which alarmed some and thrilled others. Rob “Bear” Fogle. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Obey was there to meet people at the dead end of the tracks. Shepard Fairey (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Obey . Shepard Fairey (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Obey . Shepard Fairey (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
People took a break on the grass in front of the wall-sized Tony Goldman tribute at Wynwood Walls by hepard Fairey (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Artists are often asked to give their work for free. You don’t typically see signs like this for accountants or plumbers. ISO… (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Invader (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Cash For Your Warhol has something new in Miami this year. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
CFYW (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
The ever more conceptual Cash For Your Warhol takes it to a abstract level here, purposely obscuring his own message while placing the real thing in relief. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Action shot of one of Paris’ early stencil artists, Speedy Graphito, at the Art Miami fair. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Melbourne’s REKA on tour and in town. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Os Gemeos. Detail. The Brazilian Twins were represented by their Brazilian Gallery at the Main Fair: Art Basel this year. From the Street to the Glitz. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
A Nathan Vincent and Alex Emmart collab exhorts you to behave at Fountain via Mighty Tanaka Gallery. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Asif’s Guns. A pop-up with cardboard replicas of the machines that kill. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Asif’s Guns (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Banksy. Is the guard there to protect or to reclaim stolen goods? (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
While there was some mindlessly pompous chatter surrounding the heralded display of actual walls by Banksy at the Context fair, the sometimes vandal’s work was surprisingly unremarkable to most attendees, who glanced at it and kept walking. If anything, the security guards helped garner a little interest. It is illuminating to find that outside of the hyper-excited Street Art fandom bubble that we are often in, an actual Banksy work doesn’t have as much magnetism that you might expect.
The walls (or pieces of walls) that were on display are said to have been stolen and the artist is said to be angered about it, but no arrests have been made and no property seized. Since the majority of graffiti or Street Artists are not wont to ask for permission to do their thing, most understand that no “rules” are typically invoked to protect their work on the street, or off it. Now that Banksy’s work is so high profile and sells at auctions and is in museums, it’s like putting a luxury watch or crystal vase on a wall out in the public – its market value is just too tempting for certain individuals. While this is an unsavory outcome to some, it’s not likely to change much.
“I am not a fan of what Bankrobber did, but, presuming it’s not some elaborate collaboration, I’m amused by the fact that Banksy doesn’t control it, and how his work is being displayed: among people who apparently don’t care about it nor did they come to see it… where Banksy is not necessarily the center of attention,” says Hargadon, remarking that one piece is shown behind a velvet rope.
La Pandilla returns to Miami again. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Chanoir and El Xupet Negre (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Occupy All The Streets…with parties. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
En Masse collective took over a wall in their monochromatic way(photo © Geoff Hargadon)
The Bask Truck was giving out free stickers from a leggy art lover (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
DWOT . All Nation Team from Vancouver was doing some night work in the Miami heat. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
DWOT . All Nation Team. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
Dabs & Myla collab with Craola and Witnes. (photo © Geoff Hargadon)
