Satan's Ghetto

I got e-mail this morning from Pictures on Walls about the annual low-concept art event, Santa’s Ghetto, put on by graffiti wizard Banksy and a few of his pals. This year they chose Bethlehem as the location for their annual Christmas shoppe in order to cast further attention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

At first, I was a little pissed off by this concept. I thought that the whole thing was some sort of political wrangling in support of the Palestinians' war against Israel, but upon further investigation, I read on The Point page that, "We would like to make it very clear Santa’s Ghetto is not allied to ANY race, creed, religion, political organization or lobby group. As an organisation the only thing we’ll say on behalf of our artists is that we don’t speak on behalf of our artists. This show simply offers the ink-stained hand of friendship to ordinary people in an extraordinary situation.

Every shekel made in the store will be used on local projects for children and young people. Not one cent will go to any political groups, governmental institutions or, in fact, any grown-ups at all."

That put me a little more at ease about the exhibit. It seems that Banksy and his associates are interested in helping the Palestinian children and don't support the Palestinian call for the eradication of Israel. Personally, I have nothing against the Palestinians on an individual basis, I am just against their call for the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the Jewish people. I think the Palestinians and Israelis could come to an easy solution to their conflict if that weren't the case. Or if one of the neighboring Muslim countries were willing to contribute some of their land for a Palestinian homeland.

There are 230 million Muslims in the Middle East and only 6 million Jews squished into a country smaller than the state of Rhode Island. You would think that some place like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, etc. would have a little extra land to support their fellow Muslims, but most of them also support the destruction of Israel, so that won't happen. At least Banksy and his crew are doing their part for a little peace and that is something to be thankful for this holiday season.

Banksy Does New York

One of my favorite graffiti artists, a man whom I admire for his shunning of the spotlight, the mono-cognominal Banksy will be having a solo exhibit at the Vanina Holasek Gallery in Chelsea from December 2 - December 29, 2007. This is Banksy's first exhibit in New York, although he does have some of his graffiti around the city if you are lucky enough to spot it. The opening reception will be held this Sunday, December 2 from 1-5pm. If I was in New York, I would definitely be at this event. Hopefully, when I am up there at the end of the month, I will get a chance to check out the exhibit before it comes down.

[Via Josh Spear]

Shopping Carts To Us Yanks

   P.O.W. (or Pictures on Walls to us Yanks) has got some new Limited Ed. Banksy Trolleys prints [pictured above] in stock. These, of course, are extremely rare, very limited and especially expensive. Not as expensive as some of his work, but £250-500 is a little out of the price range of anyone I know. According to P.O.W., with these prints, "Mr. Banks attempts to capture all the timeless poetic majesty of tracking a pack of chicken nuggets in the dawn light." Available in original black 'n' white or new technicolor version. Only one of either version will be sold per person. You must contact P.O.W. at enquiry@picturesonwalls.com to purchase this masterpiece.