Just when you thought all the bees disappeared and humanity was headed toward a pollen-less future where no crops could be grown, the little buggers are swarming all over Manhattan: 15,000 just visited Chinatown.
According to George Mason University’s freedom index (PDF doc), New York is the least free state in the country based on the “public policies that affect individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres.” Between ultra high taxes, huge social spending programs, eminent domain abuses, strict gun control laws, and regulations permeating every aspect of residents’ lives, like smoking, the Empire State has a totalitarian grip on its citizenry.
It’s highly unlikely that this is a real Skittles ad, but more importantly, why did a Chinese designer blatantly rip off Invader’s work to make it? Just thought I’d point it out since the “campaign” is getting so popular.
In the rare event that New Yorkers elect another out of touch billionaire who often flies his private jet out of town and refuses to tell anyone where he’s going, Councilman Peter Vallone is proposing a bill that would require mayors to inform the City Clerk when they travel 250 miles outside of the city limits. That would mean no more hush-hush trips to Bermuda, a destination about 770 miles away and a place Bloomberg frequents, but hates to talk about.
Anish Kapoor has rejected an invitation to the National Museum of China in Bejing because duh. Since fellow artist Ai Weiwei was arrested, the Chinese authorities have been vigilant at making dissidents dissappear, including a statue of Confucius in Tiananmen Square where Kapoor was invited to exhibit. Clearly, not the venue.
When the TMZ crew caught Shepard Fairey at LAX and asked him if he still goes out to put up his own posters, his wife answered for him: “Long time ago…” and he snapped, hard. Oh, the scandal! Not. Why so hissy, Shep? It’s no secret that the street artist who has put up a large amount of work on his own now delegates the legwork to his devoted minions, just like Koons, Hirst and such. TMZ’s ooohs over this “exclusive” “revelation” are hilariously unnecessary.
Parting Shot
A foxy model celebrates the summer weather by striking a mythical pose in Bushwick. (Photo: Chris Arnade/Flickr)
It’s almost impossible to tell what’s going on in this YouTube footage first posted by Gothamist, but according to the video’s description, the violence “started over a seat on the train,” which sounds about right. Brawls in the subway have erupted over much less.
Self-taught painter Aaron Nagel’s portraits reveal the divine, which is, from his perspective, the female nude, splattered with jet black paint in a pattern of a cross. To emphasize the holiness of his undressed subjects, he adorns them with halos of light and carefully hand-lettered type, similar to Orthodox icons. See 15 new pieces at “A Thin Line,” Aaron Nagel, Opens Jun 11 – Jul 2, Shooting Gallery, San Francisco
Banksy wants people to see MOCA’s Art in the Streets exhibit so bad, he’s sponsoring free admission on Mondays through August 8th.
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