I’m still fascinated by Banksy’s New York residency. I’m following him on Instagram and keeping up with the news, are you? The latest, according to the NY Post:
The famous graffiti artist reportedly paid a Manhattan property owner thousands of dollars to create his newest NY art installation near the High Line — a far cry from the days of scaling rooftops with cans of spray paint, workers involved with the project told The Post. Banksy’s website says this report is incorrect and the owner of the space loaned it to the artist at no charge.
The exhibit is an open-air gallery in Chelsea featuring two pieces on canvas hanging under the High Line. The pieces appear to be a collaboration between Banksy and Brazilian twins, Os Gemeos.
It is said that Banksy paid the property owner $50,000 to hang two canvas paintings for five days under an overpass on 24th Street near 10th Avenue.
That property owner then got permits for the project and paid a uniformed security guard to protect the exhibit, which features canvases of painted black-and-white soldiers next to images of colorful women wearing burqas. On Saturday, the guard rattled off a list of rules to viewers near the roped-off artwork, explaining no booze or dogs are allowed near the art. “This is a private exhibit. There is zero tolerance. If you act up, we will close the gates and that’s that,” the guard told a crowd of excited fans.
“You guys come in small groups. You get five minutes and then we rotate. Everybody gets a fair chance to go in and see the piece. No alcohol no dogs and if you guys behave yourselves we’ll be good to go,” the guard said. Roughly 80 fans had gathered outside the exhibit on Saturday morning. The security guard, who works for Sims Security Group, then ushered in groups of five at a time.
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