A California man plead guilty this week to charges that he defaced works illegally painted by superstar street artist Banksy in Park City, Utah. David William Noll,36, admitted to vandalizing two pieces that were painted during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, when Banksy’s documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop debuted. At the time, officials in Park City buffed multiple Banksy pieces. The remaining ones on private property were quickly covered up with plexiglass and preserved.
As part of a plea deal, Noll can avoid jail by paying $13,000 in restitution before November. That’s the amount it cost property owners to fix the plexiglass on the cameraman pulling up a flower piece and hire a professional to restore Banksy’s angel boy, that got hit with some spray paint. At a hearing, Noll cited his bipolar disorder as part of the reason he tried to destroy the art, and barely remembers the events. But there are other theories about his motives.
Citing YouTube videos police say Noll posted about the vandalism, Summit County Attorney David Brickey said he appears to be a frustrated artist who didn’t understand the acclaim that surrounds the elusive Banksy.
“He said it was graffiti, and he was just marking it up again,” said Brickey, describing the videos.
Noll is still on probation in California for vandalism of Banksy works in Los Angeles, landing him in jail for five months. His Utah sentencing will take place on November 17th. David Brickey, the Summit County attorney prosecuting the case, had some good advice for the despondent artist: “I think Mr. Noll recognizes he needs to move on with his life.” (Photo: Melrose and Fairfax )
