POW quits and releases signed version of Sale Ends. 31 December 2017

From Pictures on Walls website:

“POW was started in 2003 by a loose collection of artists, graffiti writers and illustrators who were shunned by the controlling influencers of the day – so we set about producing and distributing our own art. The invention of the internet and the cardboard tube enabled us to circumvent the centuries-old grip of the established art world and we laid waste to their cronyism and vested interests and good taste. We delivered a new generation of art directly into people’s homes – well, the Royal Mail did most of it.

Somewhere along the way we mastered our craft and many POW prints have become benchmarks within the industry. We pioneered the use of foil block, patterned embossing and we were the first in the industry to use non-solvent based inks. We never put anything down the drain except effort. Throughout it all POW has remained an independent artist-run operation, hosting landmark exhibitions and pioneering the concept of a shit pop-up shop long before it became fashionable.

However, inevitably disaster struck – and many of our artists became successful. Street Art was welcomed into mainstream culture with a benign shrug and the art we produced became another tradeable commodity. Despite attempts at price fixing regrettably some POW prints have become worth tens of thousands of pounds. Either unable or unwilling to become part of the art market we once so self-righteously denounced – we called it quits. Here are some of the things we made…”

Source: https://www.picturesonwalls.com

A month before, POW released a signed version of the Sales End print. The first version was sold at the Barely Legal exhibition in 2006 as part of the Barely Legal print set, six prints in unsigned editions of 100: Sale Ends, Trolleys, Festival, Grannies, Applause, and Morons.

Also, in the end of December 2017, a new section labeled “Theme Park” was introduced on banksy.co.uk. It has some nice pictures of Dismaland from the book “Are we there yet?”, a photojournalistic document on Dismaland and its aftermath by photographer Barry Cawston.

New Section on banksy.co.uk

BBC to screen documentary on the “making of” Alternativity. 13 December 2017

The documentary about the performance will be screened on BBC Two on Sunday, 17 December at 9 p.m. and is said to follow Boyle overcoming the “many restrictions” to find a cast, crew, and local children and put together the show in six weeks. The performance took place on 3 December and was co-directed by Bethlehem-based Riham Isaac.

Banksy created a promotional image for the documentary showing a drone watching over the nativity scene. (Source: BBC)

20171213 - Original - Poster - Alternativity on BBC - banksyweb.jpeg

Photo: BBC

You can watch the documentary here:

British artist James Ame caught with a Banksy stencil and a spray can. 13 December 2017

British artist James Ame, a.k.a. Ame72, was caught in a photo in early December by a British tourist outside the Milk Grotto chapel in Bethlehem in front of a recently confirmed artwork by Banksy. Mr. Ame is holding a spray can and part of a stencil, which seems to fit with the star in the artwork.

James Ame participated in an exhibition curated by Steve Lazarides at Herzliya Marina in Tel Aviv in March 2017. Banksy opened his Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, just 80 km from Tel Aviv, in March 2017. Steve Lazarides is Banksy’s former agent. According to James Ame’s website, http://www.ame72.com, he also participated in The Cans Festival in London, the collective street art exhibition organised by Banksy in May 2008. A publicity stunt by Steve L, or is James Ame a member of the Banksy street art crew?

20171213 - Banksy's team - James Ame in Betlehem.jpeg
Photo: Jason Stellios

Banksy commemorates​ the Balfour Declaration. 2 November 2017.

The British government signed the Balfour Declaration on 2 November 1917, announcing support for establishing a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a minority Jewish population. It read:

“His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

Banksy commemorated the Balfour declaration with an apology on the segregation wall a few meters from his Walled Off Hotel and a small ceremony with a Queen Elizabeth impersonator.

Banksy Balfour 4.jpeg

An official statement from Banksy read:

“This conflict has brought so much suffering to people on all sides – it didn’t feel appropriate to ‘celebrate’ the British role.  The British didn’t handle things well here. When you organise a wedding,” referring to the promise of a Jewish national homeland in Palestine, “it’s best to make sure the bride isn’t already married.”

Inside the Walled Off Hotel is an interesting museum on the situation created by the Balfour Declaration, curated by the Banksy team and Dr Gavin Grindon from Essex University.

Two new pieces at the Barbican centre. 17 September 2017

Two new Banksy murals have appeared on the walls of the Barbican Centre in London. Both pieces were confirmed on 17 September on Banksy’s Instagram account. The first piece depicts Banksy’s version of Boy and dog in a Johnnypump by Basquiat. The second motive is possibly comparing the Basquiat exhibition with the London Eye tourist attraction. Jean-Michel Basquiat started his career as a street artist in New York.

Banksy’s announcement reads: “Major new Basquiat show opens at the Barbican – a place that is normally very keen to clean any graffiti from its walls”

Photos: Banksy’s Instagram

Banksy contributes to Art the Arms Fair, 11 September​ 2017

Banksy’s critique of the military-industrial complex is a child’s drawing where part of the story is told outside the frame. The piece connects two recent Banksy pieces: the stick figure and her/his house from the Bristol street art piece in June 2016 and the three drones above Jesus Christ at the Walled Off Hotel. Published on Banksy’s Instagram account today with the following announcement:

“My contribution to the Art the Arms Fair exhibition, which opens opposite the world’s biggest arms fair – held this week in London”

Photo: Banksy’s Instagram

Gift shop opened at Walled Off Hotel. 7 September​ 2017.

Banksy published two new pieces on Instagram today together with the following announcement:

“Opened a gift shop today – situated at the back of the Walled Off Hotel. Not to be confused with the “Banksy shop” next door – which has nothing to do with me at all. Hand painted mini souvenir separation walls now available. http://www.walledoffhotel.com”

The description of the piece to the right goes like this: “Military grade grappling hook and combination spiritual ornament. All proceeds stay in the local community.”

Photos: Banksy’s Instagram