A Closer Look at Banksy's Beaver

Its been a crazy and eventful day for Banksy's Beaver.  From its disclosure, to the disappointing realization that the piece has been staged, to some guy trying to chisel the piece out of the wall, to some other guys charging folks to see it.  What a wild ride!

Well, some folks managed to get around the gauntlet, get harrassed for the opportunity, or just paid to pose with Banksy.  Click the jump for more pics of Banksy's Beaver!

Banksy = $$$$

A stencil saying Banksy = $$$$ going up on Melrose.

Its kind of true.  Banksy is money these days.  In fact, his pieces of art are so money that he has single handedly changed the way that the governmental councils in Britain evaluate street art.  Because of Banksy, now someone has to evaluate a piece of street art before buffing what could be a valuable piece of history.

Its true.  Banksy is money.  But like Banksy has said, you don't eat to shit, and people shouldn't create art to get famous, or rich.  If you are good at what you are doing, those things will come naturally.

Chod Gets a Taste of His Own Treatment . . . Kind Of

Months ago, Chod did one of the most uproarious things that has happened on the streets.  Chod visited a local gallery, purchased a $2,500 painting by Annie Preece, painted over it, and then returned it to the streets where it hung for a full day before being recovered by Annie herself.  It was a fascinating saga, and you can check out the original story HERE.

As Chod later explained in a rebuttal, the piece was done to explore "the ideas of what values we assign to objects and who specifically attaches value to them".  It is fascinating how $2500 cash--or really most any bulk material or product, however, that 'value' was failed to be recognized by everyone else on the streets.  The value of art is arbitrary, and it was a brazen and bold move on Chod's part to put his money where his idea was.  Chod has since continued to play with the idea of money with his art.

Well, today Chod got a taste of his own treatment . . . kind of.  Someone just released the above video on Youtube where Chod's painting was similarly purchased from a local gallery for a reported $1500, then completely painted over, and then also reportedly resold at the Melrose and Fairfax flea market for $150.

The video says that the pieces are 'art born of the same canvas', but it is not clear what the point of this takeover is.  After all, Chod's painting was completely painted over so that by selling the final piece, it only seems to say that the second image was not worth as much as the first.

M&F can confirm that Chod's painting was purchased, however, the video also implies that Chod might be somehow involved with this production.  In a rambling discourse, the description of the video on Youtube also suggests that M&F is involved in some sort of film conspiracy with Chod.  That is not true.  There is no conspiracy.  The art is what it is and we report it accordingly.  You are welcome to make up your own mind after that fact, but there is no film in the works and no image this blog is trying to put out in conjunction with Chod, or anyone else.

So what is the point of this?  Chod's seems like real art with a strong statement.  This seems like a waste of money to prove an unclear point?

Funny Money

Some decorated dollar bills getting pasted up in downtown Los Angeles.

Each is unique and pokes fun at the idea of 'play money'.

Dig it~

Chod - The Relationship Between Street Artists and the Gallery

Chod made some waves with his purchase of a gallery piece from Annie Preece, and his subsequent painting 'NONE OF THIS IS REAL' over it, before finally putting it back on the streets.

Some people have accused Chod of coming out of nowhere and aiming those words at that particular piece.  But Chod did not come out of nowhere.  Chod has been solidly putting in work on LA's streets for a couple years now.  His street art game is goes from the tops of buildings, down to the streets themselves, like with this sidewalk dollar bill cat paster at the corner of Melrose and Fairfax.

Furthermore, this is just another example of how Chod has continued to work with the theme of money.  And 'NONE OF THIS IS REAL' has been Chod's tag line since he began getting up.

Indeed, Chod did not come out of nowhere.  He has been putting in work on the streets and building the foundation around his name long before this situation ever came up.  As someone pointed out in the comments, Banksy has done something similar painting over a Damien Hirst.  In fact, that unofficial collaboration is the most expensive Banksy painting to ever sell.  Even with the piece from Banksy, Chod's piece is still like nothing that has been done before.  While Banksy's piece presented a conversation about the role of street art in relation to high brow fine art, this situation with Chod is unique in that it forces a dialogue between the role of a so-called street artist and the street relationship with a gallery.

Chod's one-sided collaboration has raised all kinds of opinions on the piece, and the role of street art in the gallery society.  Big ups to Chod for being bold enough to go big on the streets, and with his wallet to put his money where his point is.

All the Money in the World Can't Buy Back Those Days Again

Mini paster saying 'All the Money in the World Can't Buy Back Those Days Again'.

True.

Think this piece is from 27!.

Money On the Ground!

Another customized dollar bill from Chod.

This series has been really well done, and we hear that these are made with actual dollar bills.  This one is entitled 'You Are Dying' next to the face of an aging man.

Spotted on Melrose.

Dig it~

Graffiti Gods

Cans + Money = Graffiti Gods.

One such god in the middle of the UTI piece holding up a can and some money like a Mayan God.

Monkey Money

Chod takes over a dollar bill with some ape heads, and then pastes it at a busy intersection in front of the CBS Studios on Beverly and Fairfax.

Mr. Money Bags

Alec Monopoly Lifting Money Like Weights

The Orakel Prophecy - Art Money Sex

Score!! Found $100!!!

Oh hell yeah!

Its All About Money

Puking Money

This is real ripped up money!

Banksy Gets Saved!

Another Banksy gets boarded up, but this time its to protect it. Click the jump for more

Free Humanity Goes to The Bank

Free Humanity tweaks Banksy's balloon girl stencil image, replacing the heart from Banksy's piece with a green dollar sign.

Click the jump below for more

The Things Lindsey Lohan Will Do For Money

Now that she has hit rock bottom, Lindsey Lohan will do anything for money--even pose with a banana in her face!