Thursday, October 17, 2013

De Blasio: Banksy who?


He drew a blanksy.


While the whole city has been riveted for weeks by the enigmatic and – to some – criminal pop-up work of British graffiti artist Banksy, Democratic mayoral nominee Bill de Blasio said Thursday he’s never heard of him.


Despite de Blasio’s light, one or two event-per-day campaign schedule, he’s somehow missed days of front page headlines about the artist’s playful cat-and-mouse game with people in the five boroughs.


“I don’t know who that is,” de Blasio said when The Post asked for his opinion on the anonymous prankster.


An attempt to ask a more general question about graffiti art on public buildings also fell about as flat as Banksy’s Red Hook balloon mural.


“I don’t know the artist so I can’t comment,” insisted de Blasio.


Despite his popularity, Banksy is being sought by the NYPD’s vandalism task force for leaving 16 art installments spread throughout the city — most of them spray-painted illustrations.


This includes one on the Brooklyn promenade that City Hall officials said they’re planning to remove – because it’s on public Parks Department property.


“Graffiti does ruin people’s property and it’s a sign of decay and loss of control,” Mayor Bloomberg said when asked to weigh in on Wednesday. “You running up to somebody’s property or public property and defacing it is not my definition of art,” he added. “Or it may be art but it should not be permitted and I think that’s exactly what the law says.”


Banksy’s real identity is unknown, and outing him has become a mission for some New Yorkers — even as his fans deride those attempts via Twitter.


The secretive British artist has installed a number of playful creations on the city’s streets – including a meat truck packed with stuffed animals and several huge Ronald McDonald statues getting their over-sized feet shined by a live actor.


He also had an associate set up a temporary stall in Central park, where his work — valued at thousands of dollars — sold for $ 60 a pop.





Yahoo Local News – New York Post




http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info/?p=15856

via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info

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