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~

Some Dudes are ALREADY Trying to Snatch BanksyNY's Inflatable Throwie!

Some dudes are already trying to snatch BanksyNY's 'Inflatable Throw-up'.

Apparently, the dudes have a ladder long enough to get up to the upper level, but the balloons are tied to to the rooftop, so they appear to be safe--for the minute.

This piece would have been much safer, and stronger, if Banksy had actually painted the graffiti onto the building.  Have never seen one cut out of a building this high up.  Just sayin'.

Ironically enough, some of the folks on the scene are calling the cops to protect Banksy's vandalism. What a strange world we live in, and as Banksy says in his audio, why live in a world decorated by art, when we could live in a world made of art? Watching how the public fumbles over how to deal with a Banksy, its real life art (chasing after art).

Banksy is Full of Hot Air -- A Closer Look at Banksy's Inflatable Throw-Up

The pictures that Banksy released on his website looked like graffiti bubble letters, meanwhile the audio recording on Banksy's website described these as actually full of hot air. Turns out, it is both. These are actual balloons, painted with graffiti, and shaded on the wall with spray paint. But the actual letters themselves are balloons.

It seems that Banksy is having some fun poking at himself with this piece, at the same time he claims the graffiti crown. It is worth noting, that Banksy has outlasted the haters in New York. When Banksy first started, the haters were chomping at the bit to paint over Banksy's new pieces. But as the month wore on, the haters grew less and less motivated. Even last night's Bronx Zoo piece remained untouched, untagged and unvandalized even though it was unguarded for an entire night.

When Banksy started his art show and the pieces would get tagged over, some folks would talk about how New York graffiti does not take kindly to outsiders, but now, at the end of the month, its kind of like Banksy has taught New Yorkers how to behave around graffiti.

Click the jump for a closer look at Banksy's Inflatable Throw-Up.

I Saw Your Parents On The Internet

Click the jump below to see if your parents are caught in this hot tub scandal.

Mask - Salt Lake City Graffiti

MELROSEandFAIRFAX had the pleasure of meeting Mask at Suicide Rock.

Mask has held down this spot for a long time. It used to be a sick burner til it was fucked up by local hack Stonie. Mask told us this throwie was just to claim the spot back and he was going to bring the heat soon, (and he left some messages to Stonie).

Mask is up all over Salt Lake, with tags, pieces, and prime rooftop freeway spots. He was the only one to make the difficult hiking trek from Suicide Rock to make a tag in a prime spot in between I-80 and 215--if you've driven it, you know~

This guy has balls bigger than his pieces. Mask was walking around with a dog, and an open bottle of beer. He said that the beer was his cover for painting. (crazy. not only is it an open container, but this is in Salt Lake where any drinking is frowned upon.)

Dope stuff. Stay up~

Lust and Hinge Graffiti

Lust and Hinge get up like its nobody's business.

Stickers, tags, throwie's -these guys street game is legit.

And these guys go big with art without getting swept up in the drama.

Stay up~

Tang, Skasr Get Up Top

Tang and Skasr add some beautification to this abandoned spot.

Way over in the Valley.

Robs MRL

Robs MRL throwie and tags from LOVE, REOL, GR, Herb, Westk, Rome, and more.

Varp Has Style

After waking up at 4am with a bout of insomnia, MelroseandFairfax took the dog for a walk down Melrose. As we approached the corner of Melrose and Spaulding, we saw a parked cop car and then noticed a well dressed guy across the street snapping pictures of something on the wall.

This guy was wearing a tan dress jacket and looked out of place at this time of night, but there he was, furiously snapping pics of something.

We stood and watched for a minute, and then we smelled fresh paint. As the guy walked across the street towards us, we could hear cans rattling in his pockets. I couldn't believe that this this guy dressed with so much style was out painting--or that someone had hit such a prime, out in the open spot. Ground level bombing is rare on Melrose, and this wasn't down an alley or hidden at all--it was right on the busy street with the cop car parked half way down the block.

MelroseandFairfax felt unprepared without a camera, and decidedly underdressed.

Understandably, Varp was in a hurry to clear the scene, but he did say that the piece was a lil sloppy. I know that some graff writers will be hating on this lettering style, but whatever points might be deducted from Varp's total for this, add a grip more back on for having the balls to gettin up so big on Melrose.

And having seen the way that Varp rolls when he hits the streets, we can vouch that Varp most definitely has style.

(now someone get this guy a can of Montana and some caps!)



Stay Up~