UPDATE! -- The Dudes Got Banksy's Balloons! -- Police are On the Scene!

Update! The dudes got Banksy's balloon down. But the NYPD showed up, and not sure how this is going to turn out!

Haha. Its kind of funny how the NYPD has been chasing Banksy all month, and now they are in the opposite position of defending his art work?

Yup, this is art~

Deeper Look at Twin Towers

Here is a return visit to Banksy's Twin Tower's tribute in New York City.  This stencil was one of Banksy's earlier pieces during this month, but now his later pieces with Banksy's unpublished essay submitted to the New York Times, and the 'Blocked Messages' stencil.

The New York Times refused to publish Banksy's words, but then the tabloids took the story and ran with it. Now, everyone is still talking about Banksy's letter and what he meant by it. The thing is, the level of discourse is disappointingly simple. Most of the online chatter seems to be about why Banksy cares about the way a building looks and if he has offended New Yorkers with his essay. But, that is not Banksy's point.

M&F believes that the bigger point that Banksy is trying to make, is that people and countries get judged by how they handle their trials and tribulations. And 9/11 was the worst terrorist attack to ever take place on American soil. So how has America responded to the tragedy? Banksy's point in critiquing the architecture of Word Trade One, its not just about the way it looks, its about what happened in the process. Instead of making America a stronger and better place after 9/11, the architectural complaints that Banksy is making about the building are really saying that the values America exhibited after 9/11 are not how to make things better, the values America has shown with World Trade One stand for corporate greed, compromise, and what-is-not-necessarily-in-the-best-interest-of-the-American-people. Banksy's letter is not simply about architecture, its about how America fumbled the ball after 9/11.

Banksy is not insulting New York. He is encouraging America to do better. That's what the flower means attached to the Tower in Banksy's art. After something bad happens, try to turn it into something beautiful. The World Trade One shows how America has failed.

If you still take offense to Banksy's letter, ask yourself, with everything that has happened since 9/11, is America better? or worse? -- Exactly.

Stay up, Banksy. Stay up, New York. And stay up, America~

Click the jump for a pictorial return visit to Banksy's Twin Towers Tribute--with pics from before it was defaced

BanksyNY - Takes Aim at New York Times & NYC's Shyscraper'

In addition to the Blocked Messages piece that Banksy released earlier, he also updated his website with this proposed editorial for the New York Times.  The New York Times refused to publish Banksy's article, so Banksy posted the words on his own website.

With all the mainstream press that BanksyNY's month long artist residency in has garnered, it is a bit surprising that the NY Times refused to publish an editorial from arguably the biggest artist in the world. The refusal probably had more to do with what Banksy is saying in the article, than anything else.

In his article, Banksy aims some real gut punches to the city of New York. He starts out by saying that the biggest eyesore in New York is not graffiti, its the One World Trade, the building built in place of the Twin Towers after 9/11.  Banksy calls it '104 floors of compromise' and says that it is a 'thousand foot tall sign that reads "New York - we lost our nerve'. Ouch. Banksy's main point is that the One World Trade is a symbol for how America has slipped with its handling of 9/11. It represents, Banksy says, how '10 men have condemned us to live in a world more mediocre than the one they attacked, rather than be a catalyst for a dazzling new one'.

Damn. Its true. America has fumbled its handling of 9/11 like a football. And Banksy dares say that the new empire has no clothes. And needs a new paint job. Talk about speaking truth to Power. Its so powerful, that the Power just doesn't want to publish this truth.

In his unpublished editorial, Banksy also reveals so motivations for why he chose New York for this artist residency. Banksy says 'Nobody comes here for your well mannered common sense. We're here for the spirit and audacity.' Boom.

Guess the bottom line is that the establishment is happy to look at pictures from artists, but they still don't want to hear what the artist's actually have to say. "You send us words!? We want pictures!" Lol. Guess Banksy will just keep up with writing his messages on walls~

Stay up!

Climbing Over Banksy's Pyramid - A Closer Look at the Sphinx!

Here is a closer look at Banksy's pyramid entitled 'Everything but the Kitchen Sphinx'.  Is this piece a commentary on the crumbling of modern society?

The Sphinx is located in a gnarly and gross out-of-the-way area.  This piece seems to be a favorite only amongst the most die-hard BanksyNY fans.  Nice hunting guys!

Also, there is a yellow street sign that got flipped upside down, leading many folks to speculate whether the sign is also part of the Banksy piece.

Banksy's Top 20

Its 20 days into Banksy's Better Out Than In outdoor street art exhibition in New York City. The variety of Banksy's pieces has ranged from graffiti to installations to statues to videos to moving trucks.  There is something for everyone, and each one of Banksy's pieces is probably someone's favorite.  But which is the favorite, so far.

Well, based on the 'likes' given to each day's release, here are the rankings.  (Btw, this is not Complex, so you don't have to click through 20 times to see the list~)

1.) Banksy x Os Gemeos 47,300+
2.) Sledgehammer Boy 37,600+
3.) Twin Towers 32,100+
4.) Eternity 31,300+
5.) Geisha 28,500+
6.) Ronald McDonald Statue 26,300+

7.) Central Park Canvas Sale 24,300+

8.) Sirens of the Lambs 23,200+

9.) Band Aid Ballon 18,200+
10.) Concrete Confessional 17,800+

11.) Graffiti Sign 17,000+
12.) New York Accent 15,100+
13.) Crazy Horse 14,300+
14.) Philosopher Tag 14,000+

15.) Banksy's Beaver 13,200+

16.) Garden Truck 12,400+

17.) You Complete Me 11,600+
18.) The Musicals 10,100+
19.) Staten Island Ants 6,200+
20.) Rebel Dumbo Video 4,000+

We Love You Bansky! (but not as much when you fake it)

M&F loves Banksy.  It's no secret.  We have posted how Banksy is the greatest artist of this generation.  Its because Banksy has a unique ability to use his art to manipulate the way that people see things, and then react to those things.  Its what great artists should do, right?

Right.  The only problem is that one of Banksy's greatest strengths, is using his art to engage with the natural urban environment.  But, what we are finding from Banksy's month-long outdoor exhibition in New York, is that sometimes, Banksy will fake it.  Yup. Sometimes even Banksy fakes it.

Ouch. It hurts to say that, but its true.  Banksy has staged at least one previous street piece in New York, and many people are calling into question the validity of Banksy's Central Park sidewalk Canvas Sale.  And now, this latest offering from Banksy also appears to be 'staged'.  At least a little. Notice how the part that the boy is hitting with a hammer was green before Banksy painted it.  This scenario is not as forced as the Beaver.  And some might not even call this staged. Even as we type we are feeling this is less 'staged' than 'highlighted'.  After all, the red was not there before, but the pieces themselves were.  Maybe this scenario is just good placement with highlights added to make the street art pop?  Its all paint, right? Right. Apologies if this is a ramble, we just mind-fucked ourselves.

Once again, if art is about manipulating the public's perception, then shouldn't just the end result matter?  Is it kind of like fucking, where you don't care if your partner fakes an orgasm as long as you get your rocks off?

Maybe we are being too particular.  Or too something.  Is particular the word? Oh well.

We love you, Banksy.  Even more so when its not staged.  Stay up, Banksy!~

The City of New York Removes Banksy

This piece was never confirmed as a Banksy, and there have been questions as to whether this piece is a legit Banksy, or not.

Either way, the City officials in New York decided they didn't want it there.  City workers removed this Twin Towers tribute with a drill, and then pressurized water.

Mayor Bloomberg has already said that the NYPD are looking for Banksy.  Apparently, the city officials don't want Banksy's art, either.  Too bad.  This piece sure looked good while it was there.

Wonder if the city would preserve the pieces if Banksy had painted in Detroit?

Banksy's Twin Towers Get Plexiglass Protected

A small, makeshift plexiglass protection has been placed over Banksy's Twin Towers tribute in New York.

And, it looks like another imitation flower has replaced the original that was taken.

9/11 Was An Inside Job

The 9/11 Truthers hit up a spot next to Banksy's Twin Towers tribute in New York City.

Not sure if Banksy is a 'Truther' or not.  Its clear that the flower left behind was meant to represent the explosion after the plane hit the towers (pic below).

But maybe these conspiracy theorists shouldn't be labeled 'Truthers'.  Instead, the should be called 'Common Sense Motherfuckers'.  Because there are more holes in the official 9/11 story than swiss cheese.  And if you believe the official 9/11 story, then you are believing in the conspiracy. When someone can explain why a plane crash caused multiple buildings to fall--the only time in the world anything like this has ever happened--and not just the Twin Towers--do people remember building 7!?  WTF?!  If you believe the story, you drank the Kook-Aid.

Yup.  Until some common sense motherfucker can give a common sense explanation to why the buildings fell the way they did, it seems the only commonly sensible explanation is that 9/11 was an inside job.

Dig this addition to Banksy's piece~

THIS Is the Hidden Image in Banksy's Concrete Confessional

Banksy's art is always hitting on so many levels.

Earlier, M&F posted about the hidden face that kept showing up in the night time pics of Banksy's Concrete Confessional.  Well, the same face also showed up as a mini canvas at Banksy's unannounced Saturday art sale at the park.

The face has now been identified.  It turns out that this image is from a previous Banksy work dating years back.  Banksy never repeats pieces, but apparently sometimes he revisits them.

Dig it.  Click the jump to check out all the pics comparing the images.

BanksyNY's Broken Hearted Balloon Gets Saved! (what's left of it anyway)

Banksy's Broken Hearted Balloon will have an extended life on the streets now that it has been affixed behind a protective barrier of plexiglass.  Word is the property owner even plans on leaving the Balloon on the building for the public to enjoy.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that what is left of the balloon to protect is only a bastardized version of the original. The majority of Banksy's balloon is still there, but after getting painted over, and around by fame bangers, the final result is just not the same.

Click the pics to check out the before and after

Hanging Out With According2G

G lives a charmed life.

He lives in the heart of Chelsea, right in the epicenter that is New York. And G runs a wonderful blog that shares some of his life experiences in the world of music, celebrities and street art. Click the jump for more

New York Shitty

Not our feelings, but apparently Soen feels that New York City, is New York Shitty with this sticker found here in Los Angeles.