Tape Artist Sam Bassett Gets Stuck in Jail
Sticky street artist Sam Bassett was arrested last week after a failed attempt to tape up Sotheby’s as “a guerilla action to bridge the gap” between the “new creative generation” and all the dead artists up for auction. Tragically, the building’s ledges were too narrow to work on, forcing an abortion of the masking mission.
But the night was still a success: Bassett spent a street-cred bolstering 20-hours in jail before a judge dropped trespassing charges and the Post wrote up his installation effort. |NYP|
Photos by Sam Bassett
by Will Sherman on November 16, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Editor-in-Chief:
Sotheby’s ledges were “tragically” too narrow? Apparently not since this idiot’s plan was pure self promotion. He obviously didn’t have a sack big enough to actually pull off the stunt.
Where does this Bassett guy get off vandalizing private property? Sure, maybe Sothebys didn’t get the memo that its supposed to be “art” and instead thought it was some insane person imposing their fetish for caution tape on the whole world. The color chosen for these ribbons is a cry for attention or is that the artist expressing himself through his art?
I saw an interview with this juvenile online so whats with the dark glasses? Does she think she’s Jackie Onassis? Jackass Obnoxious, maybe.
Find something to say besides “Everybody else is dead and full of shit.”
What a dumbass.
This is whats supposed to pass for Art? How much does he pay his Publicist?
Publicist? WTF planet yoo frum?
Anyhoo, the tape comes off, it’s not like he’s destroying walls with that sloppy extinguisher bullshit.
I’m from planet earth and, yes, how much does this obviously very needy person pay his publicist?
If he had ever attended an event at Sotheby’s then he might have more respect for their property but, typical of his generation, he demonstrates no regard for anyone but himself.
Yah, of course the tape comes off. But why should Sotheby’s or the City of New York be running around cleaning up after this wannabe?
Hmmmm…going around calling himself “the next Cristo?” I don’t know whats more presumtuous — his trespassing or the nonsense that comes out of his mouth. Or trying to tell the newspaper that NYPD cops would have any idea who Cristo is…what a fabrication.
At least Cristo got a permit from the city for those stupid and disruptive gates in central park.
What a complete twit Sam is. When the Hotel Chelsea wanted to have an elderly tenant declared incapacitated two months ago wasn’t it the same Sam who stomped up and down about being her “guardian”? I’d like to know what exactly what this “good samaritan” has done since then to help her — HOW ABOUT NOTHING!!!!!!!! Maybe if the media was on that story like they are on this non-story about an idiot who was too scared shitless to crawl out on a ledge? But we all know he’s only about getting attention for himself and then moving on to the next potential newspaper blurb. Get a life!
OF COURSE THE PHOTO IS BY SAM BASSETT. NOBODY ELSE CARES TO WASTE FILM ON HIS AMATEUR DOGSH*T. I’M HALF SURPRISED HE DIDN’T USE PHOTOSHOP.
AND I’M QUITE SURE CRISTO IS THRILLED ABOUT SAM CALLING HIMSELF THE “NEXT CRISTO” THE SAME WEEK THAT JEANNE-CLAUDE DIES. THAT WAS A REAL CLASSY TOUCH, DUMBASS.
10/27/09 @ 4:30 PM
several NYPD patrolmen on 23rd Street cutting down this no-talent’s masking tape from 25 feet above the street. he should be thanksful none of them got hurt doing it or he’d be on his way back to jail.
Seriously…why wouldn’t you applaud an artist whose constantly creating and crossing frontiers with his photography, films and tape sculpture…
He’s a human being with a spirit to create…he’s not hurting anyone- if anything…he could hurt himself creating his work…which stands for a destination point…
Your narrow minds/judgment will kill the world -
Love this guy…his photos rock too
Keep It Up Sam. The tape sculptures are refreshing
These sculptures have brightened my day on several occasions.
I love to see them in the air. Its kinda like a game of connect the dots.
NOTHING ORIGINAL AND F*UCKING ANNOYING. A CHEAP 3RD RATE WANNA BE ‘ARTIST’ WHO BAD MOUTHS AND ANNOYS HIS NEIGHBORS. DUDE SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR CREATING BAD AND ANNOYING DISPLAYS OF SELF GRATIFICATION.