(Rolls Eyes) . . . Nope, Still Not Banksy

M&F has said it before, how Banksy's influence alone is bigger than the rest of the entire street art genre combined.

Perhaps that's why when people who are not engaged in the street art community think that any, and sometimes every, piece of street art is a Banksy.  Its even funnier how the mainstream art and media news outlets jump on the story without fact-checking anything.  Next time ask someone who is in the community.

This new piece of art that is reported as being a new Banksy piece in response to a recent announcement that another street Banksy being set to get cut off a wall and go up for auction.  However, to clairfy and set the record straight, the piece pictured above is not from Banksy.  Anyone with any knowledge in the street art genre could have told you this based on the content itself, the overspray, the layout and the absent legs.  This piece is from a new artist named Stromberg, and the content is a humorous take on vandalism becoming valuable.  Or further vandalized.

Next time ask an expert, or anyone at all who follows the genre.  Even though folks love to think every piece of street art might be a Banksy, its probably not (because if it were it would be under plexi-glass or cut off the wall within a day or two~).

All humor aside, props to all the other street artists who are getting up on the streets!  Stay up and be careful, especially when vandalizing vandalism!

Nick Walker - Vandal?

What makes a street artist?

Nick Walker is one of the biggest name stencil artist's in the world.

Walker visited Los Angeles in 2012 and put up some of his signature images, including his signature 'Vandal' image of a guy in a suit . . . at the Boys & Girls Club in Santa Monica.

Walker left the word 'Vandal' off of this piece, but it is a humorous juxtaposition to see Walker's commissioned Vandal riding on a legal wall next to some playground equipment and some human size Alvin & the Chipmunks characters.

As for the art, Walker cuts an impressive stencil and this is an interesting piece with a fist in place of the man's face.  The work is good, but this piece begs the question--What makes a street artist?  Walker is one of the biggest names in the world, yet he has no street cred.  Shouldn't a street artist have street cred?  Or does that not matter?

Tastes-Like-Hate Artist Sentenced

The artist who painted 'Tastes Like Hate' on the side of a Chik-fil-A restaurant, Manny Castro, was just sentenced to community service and fined for his actions.

Castro painted the vandalism on the side of a Chik-fil-A location in Torrance in response to the owner of the chain speaking out in support of institutions that fight against gay rights.   Castro's vandalism received international coverage, and fueled the conversation about which is a greater crime--bigotry or vandalism?

In our book bigotry is a much more heinous offense, but until the morality police show up, vandalism is the only one that warrants an official punishment.  

You can check out the original piece HERE.  Read about his arrest HERE.  And more on the charges HERE.   And browse the full press release below to see the extent of Castro's slap on the wrist:


A West Hollywood artist who admitted vandalizing a
Torrance Chick-fil-A restaurant with the words ``Tastes Like Hate'' in protest
of the company president's comments against same-sex marriage pleaded no
contest today to a misdemeanor vandalism charge and was sentenced to three
years probation.
Manuel Castro Jr., 31, was also barred from possessing any paint, paint
brushes, spray paint, aerosol cans or vandalism tools outside his home,
according to Torrance Assistant City Attorney Patrick Sullivan.
Castro was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, pay
$400 in fines plus penalties and a $419 booking fee. He also must stay away
from all Chick-fil-A restaurants while on probation, Sullivan said.
In exchange for Castro's no-contest plea, a misdemeanor charge of
possession of vandalism tools was dismissed. Castro was not in court for the
hearing, and the plea was entered on his behalf by his attorney.
A restitution hearing was set for Jan. 9, Sullivan said.
Castro painted the words ``Tastes Like Hate'' with the stenciled image
of a cow holding a paint brush on an exterior wall of the restaurant in the
early morning hours of Aug. 3. Castro was arrested Aug. 8 after giving a
statement to an online news publication claiming responsibility for the
vandalism.




***Thanks to LOUDLABS for the story***

Vandal's Van

What People Are Saying About Banksy

"We were flattered Banksy tagged on our Ad--it was epic!" --This is a quote from a representative of The Light Group, the company that owned the sign that had the Banksy 'Livin the Dream' piece put on it.

And just like a spokesman from the billboard company that was defaced says he was flattered by the vandalism, people have been saying some really interesting things about the new Banksy pieces in LA.

This post grabs a bunch of people's comments to put out there for discussion. Most are taken from the MELROSEandFAIRFAX exclusive on the Huffington Post. Click the jump to read more, and add your voice to the comments!

Jerry Brown Threatened in Orange County- Quit Giving Graffiti a Bad Name!

Some asshole with a spray can and a limited spelling vocabulary has written some threatening messages in Orange County towards California Governor Jerry Brown, and nearly every minority group one can think of.

We are just as pissed as anyone and hope this asshole gets caught-too often any thing sprayed gets classified as 'graffiti' and he's giving graffiti writers a bad name. Furthermore, this isn't even graffiti because the hack didn't sign a name . . .