Space Invader Arrested in New York City!

This is not rumor. The streets are hot after Banksy's month long artist residency, and, Space Invader got arrested last night in New York City. Seriously.

Today, the NY Lowdown published a story that Space Invader got arrested last night while installing this Snow White mosaic. The police took him into custody, and then contacted the property owner Mark Miller, who runs an art gallery at the location.

Not sure exactly how things work in New York, since the NYPD was saying it needed a property owner to charge Banksy with vandalism. The article does not say whether Miller is pressing charges or the NYPD. But Miller says that he plans on keeping Space Invader's art work. So if he is not pressing charges, who is?

This is not the first time Space Invader has been arrested. He has already been ticketed multiple times in Los Angeles as well.  

The NYPD Can't Catch Banksy! (but they did catch BanksyNY's balloon)

This is rich. The NYPD decided to confiscate Banksy's Balloon Graffiti Throw Up. Guess the NYPD can't catch Banksy, but they did catch his balloon!

All humor aside, this could be more devious than cops merely confiscating illegal art. America's police departments have been known to seize money or other quetionably illegal stuff, and then the person they took it from must prove that it is not illegal. Its an unfair practice abused by many police departments to try and garner more money for themselves. So, its kinda like the NYPD 'stole' Banksy's piece. Lets see if the police cash in, or if the balloon gets 'returned' to the building owner.

Or perhaps the NYPD just wants the Balloon for fingerprints. (Yikes!)

Also, the dudes who tried to steal the balloons ended up getting arrested. M&F is not condoning what they did, but out of everyone who claimed a Banksy this month, these dudes seemed to do it the right way risking life and limb to grab a 'public' piece with no clear owner. Survival of the streetest? And now they are getting arrested? Something smells sour about this situation.

All in all, Banksy couldn't have scripted a better ending. This is not using art as decoration. This is 'making' art in real life. This is why he came to New York. Like Banksy said, "Nobody comes to New York to bathe in your well mannered common sense. We're here for your spirit and audacity."

Indeed. Stay up, New York~

Oh Shit! Shit's Gettin' Real at BanksyNY's Balloon Throw Up!

Oh shit! Shit is gettin' real at Banksy's Balloon Throw Up piece.

It turns out, when the dude who snagged Banksy's piece jumped off the roof, he got physically mugged by a couple of tough looking Banksy Hunters. Problem is, all of the drama happened right in front of the cops, so some people might be getting arrested for this!

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~

Banksy DID Update His Website - The Police Love Banksy

Although Banksy's release today has only been a teaser so far, Banksy did update his website recently with this new image added.

Haha. The NYPD 'hearts' Banksy. That officer and the balloon should get a room already~

Click the jump for more pics of the NYPD's crush on Banksy

NYPD Creepin' on Banksy

Mayor Bloomberg has said that the New York Police are on the look out for Banksy.

Indeed, it looks like the Vandal Squad has been paying attention to Banksy's illegal street pieces. And from the looks of it, paying close attention to anyone with a suspicious backpack around the Banksy pieces.

NYPD Wants Banksy! -- ***UPDATE - Banksy Responds***

The New York Post just released an article featuring an interview with NYC's Mayor Bloomberg. Bloomberg says that the NYPD cops are going after Banksy with every tool they can.

Check out the article below

This clown is wanted.

The NYPD’s vandal squad is on the hunt for the notoriously elusive graffiti artist Banksy, who has racked up 16 installments across the city — most of them spray-painted on walls — in what he promises will be a monthlong New York “residency.”

Police sources said Wednesday that cops are scrutinizing all the surveillance videos they can find from areas where the guerrilla artist has left his famous wall-art stencils so far during his two-week-plus spree.

“They want to question him in connection with the vandalism,” one law-enforcement source said.

“If they catch him, he will be charged with vandalism.”

Mayor Bloomberg on Wednesday echoed that sentiment, calling Banksy a vandal, not an artist.

***UPDATE: Banksy responded to this article this morning with a quote saying "I don't read what I believe in the papers."***

A Note to the LAPD

Street art happens in all types and forms.  Sometimes, it is as simple as a note of social justice aimed at a enforcer of the peace who is violating the code of conduct.  Like here, a citizen with a sense of social justice writes a note to this LAPD Officer calling them out a healthy police person for parking in a handicapped parking zone.

After all, if the police don't follow the most basic laws themselves, how can they expect to enforce any laws?

Police Street Art

Police play a role in the street art world, but it is usually as the bad-guy enforcer--not as the subject material for the art.

But here is a painted police man hovering in an alleyway behind Santa Monica Blvd. in East Hollywood.

Snyder - LAPD! - Fight or Flight

Snyder gets up so much in prime spots, and his pieces ride for so long that most people don't realize that most of the time Snyder's pieces are not commissioned but put up in an unsanctioned manner.

Snyder came face to face with a primal realization of that last week when LAPD police responded to a traffic accident right next to Snyder's illicit phone booth installation on Melrose.  A lesser artist might have been frightened off the streets, but Snyder, cool as a cucumber, held his ground and finished the piece.

Snyder calls these street art installations 'Omnipresent Art', and check out Snyder's description of his motivations--and the police excitement, down below.


The goal of these drip sculptures in to emphasize the artistic qualities of the overlooked, forgotten and mundane objects of each day. I exaggerate shape, form and space through texture and color, ultimately highlighting the notion that art is in everything and all around us at all times.

About 45 minutes into the 3.5 hours installation a minor car accident occurred on Melrose just where I was set up. The cars parked immediately behind me followed by the arrival of multiple investigative police police officers. My fight or flight response immediately kicked in. I chose fight and stood my ground while cops conversed amongst themselves. I continued working. At that point I became one with the background and finished the piece uninterrupted.

Dig it. Stay up~

Stop Doing Graffiti, Or Your Mom Might Get Busted!

Prosecutors are constantly trying to increase the punishments associated with graffiti, even though it has not diminished the amount of graffiti around.  

Well, the government in Lake Forest have begun prosecuting parents of suspected graffiti vandals, and going after them for fines.

It seems like a ridiculous solution.  Its not like most parents wouldn't already be trying to stop their children from doing illicit graffiti.  This new law seems to just add insult to the parents ineffectuality.  

Sounds crazy.  Is this technique even legal?  States are already prosecuting teenagers as adults for violent crimes, and they don't charge the parents in those cases.  How ridiculous would it be to charge a parent for a murder their child committed?  And how is it even legal to hold someone else responsible for another person's actions--even if that person is a minor?

So, Stay Up! (and sorry Mom~)

Here is the full press release story down below:


LAKE FOREST (CNS) - A Lake Forest woman who became the first prosecuted
under an anti-graffiti ordinance that holds parents financially responsible for
their children's vandalism is facing fines up to $15,000.
Three more cases are in litigation and three others have been settled,
which resulted in thousands of dollars being paid to the city, The Orange
County Register reported. In the pending cases, the city is seeking $4,621.64
in damages.
Maria Gutierrez, the first parent prosecuted under the ordinance passed
last year, and her teenage son could have their wages garnished or liens placed
upon any property they own, according to attorney Matt Silver, who represented
the city in the case. The son is accused of tagging at least 23 spots,
something the city said cost it $5,800 to remove.
Authorities declined to name the youth, saying that making his name public
could compromise related investigations.
Under the ordinance, parents and teens are held equally liable for cleanup,
repair, attorney, court and law enforcement costs.
Mayor Kathryn McCullough told The Register she hoped ``this case serves
as a warning to parents, guardians and youth about the consequences of
committing acts of graffiti."
If no assets exist when a judgment is entered, the city can continue
recovery efforts for up to 10 years, Silver told The Register. He is also
seeking attorneys' fees and civil penalties against the taggers.
Because the ordinance classifies graffiti as a public nuisance, it
enables the city to remove graffiti from private property if it is visible to
the public or to adjoining property owners. It also enables the city to recover
removal costs if property owners do not remove graffiti in a reasonable amount
of time.


***Thanks to LOUDLABS for the heads up on the story***

Community Watch Area - Police Not Welcome

Interesting sticker saying 'Community Watch Area - Police Not Welcome'.

The fine print says 'Trust, respect and communication are essential to healthy community; protect your friends and neighbors from Uniformed Gang Members and other suspicious characters.'  And there is a link to Crimethinc.com/police.

Oh snap.  Looks like the tables just turned on the PoPo.

M&F has reach, and this sticker was spotted all the way out in Mutha Fuckin' Pearblossom.

Graffiti Arrest Inspires Picture of the Year

Fuck Police

Drawing a Line in the Chalk

The LAPD heightens aggression towards chalk artists and fires rubber bullets into the crowd!

No doubt about it, the police are the bad guys!

You Too, Copper

Police Bullets

Banksy Starts a Riot

Life imitates art as the police in riot gear mirror the Banksy police riot piece up in the background.

Oh Shit! Now You Fucked Up!!

There are some walls you just don't touch--and especially when the owner wants the art on the building. The buffman fucked up by taking down this particular piece on Fairfax that featured some of the top graffiti and street artists in the world, especially since they took the fence down and broke an entering to get in. Click the jump for more

Busted!