[daveinbrooklyn]

gawker.com/388892/banksy-sighting


A tipster writes "I saw the elusive Banksy doing a stencil on the corner of Bleecker and Sullivan last night. Its on the side of Thunder Jacksons." Can anybody confirm this (and whether it is, in fact, from Banksy or just some random guy)? Send a pic to [e-mail] and win my appreciation! [Further description: "He looks like a guy you would see in the cheap seats at a soccer game...He did come in and have a couple beers at Thunder Jackson's afterwards but he doesn't like to chat."

I'll head down after work and try to get a shot of the new piece.

[fuzzed]

Be interested to see pics of the work

[jffriedman]

Can you describe it at least?

[Wearology]

As a member of BONGO'S ARMY - I will go down there and secure the perimeter immediately. I will bring my camera and dispatch photos asap. US Private Jon reporting for duty.

[valium]

I couldn't see any picture of Banksy just some of his work, has it been taken down?

[daveinbrooklyn]

May 9, 2008 16:24:02 GMT 1 valium said:

I couldn't see any picture of Banksy just some of his work, has it been taken down?[/quote


It was just a report that someone saw him and the piece is up/or going up now. It is a nasty rainy day here in NYC. I'll report back after checking out the corner in a few hours.

[eddiedangerous]

how do you sign up for BONGO's army?
sounds like a wize career choice!!

[daveinbrooklyn]

gothamist.com/2008/05/09/nick_walker_not.php

Update. Guess Nick had some fun with someone at the bar.

[sm]

thumbs up to nick, looks great!

[felix]

Looks badly done to me But I have just been spoiled by the quality at cans...

[bobbymeachamjr]

Lookn' good. I'm a few blocks away ...

[bobbymeachamjr]

Yeah its terrible here in nyc today

[hitme]

^is it me or does it look like the bar owner may have known Nick was going to do this? it looks like the wall (up to the height of the Vandal guy) was given a fresh coat of paint before Nick sprayed.

[Wearology]

I just came back from Thunder Jackson's restaurant after spending around 20 minutes talking with the owner and 2 of his employees about their visitors from across the pond last nite. I told them that I was a representative of Bongo's army and they were very receptive to all the attention they have been receiving in the past 24 hours since last night's sighting. They said that the guys with the heavy British accents were really nice ate burgers and wings and had a few beers. There connection to the restaurant is that a guy that used to work there is friendly with Mr. B and or Nick Walker. I have pics of their work from the side of the building and will post them in the next few minutes. One of the guys introduced himself as Nick Walker and the other gentlemen for obvious reasons was a bit camera shy. They were very well organized with scouts canvasing the area days prior to the project , surveillance tapes requested to be destroyed, and would only spray with permission of the owner of the establishment. This is just the first of several bombings we'll see in the next few days in New York City. I have been given information about the upcoming locations and will post pictures asap. My only goal is to inform the forum about Mr. B's and or Nick Walker's work in NYC and not interfere with their whereabouts or unconfirmed gossip. I can tell you that they were true mens men - beer , wings , burgers - It is raining like crazy in New York - not good conditions to paint. I also received a lot more info. and will divulge details as deemed necessary. My only warning is if you see work that looks a lot like a Banksy original stencil be very careful - Although it says I am a new member of the forum - I actually have been active under the name jonjonjon723 for quite some time - enjoy the pics.

[thinkbank]

thanks for the pics, badly executed by the looks of it.

[Wearology]

will have to post later I am at work right now - my pictures are similar to the photos already posted - but I took shots of his tag that seemed to be a B circled to look like a rat and a 2008 that looks like very familiar handwriting -

[daveinbrooklyn]

WOW!
Has this idea been floated before?

gawker.com/389054/banksy-unmasked

"According to a waitress at the newly stenciled Thunder Jackson restaurant, who witnessed Banksy painting the wall last night, "the whole thing took him about 15 minutes." When asked if she was positive it was Banksy, she emphatically stated "yes," and then awkwardly added, "Banksy is Nick Walker, they are the same person. Oops, I don't think I was supposed to say that." When pressed on why Banksy would use different names, she spilled, "He uses that identity because of visa and passport issues." The waitress added that Banksy is going to make a big announcement about his identity but not while he's in town, "He has a whole master PR plan, but he's waiting till he leaves the country."

[icky]

Ok. i don't believe this for one second. But a funny thought:
Banksy paints LA while NW has an exhibition.
NW explodes Banksys rats
Banksy paints NWs portrait as a Monkey
NW is not at Cans
Banksy defaces NWs exploding rats

Hows that for a conspiracy theory?

Repeat: I don't believe this for one second.

[matbat]

yeh that definitely looks awful in my opinion. I hate the concept. (er what is the idea) I hate the uninspiring Vandal in virgin logo. I mean i was mocking up stuff like this when i was doing GCSEs. C'mon. Utter crap. Please stop discussing it.

[fuzzed]

Bloody hell, interesting theories coming out of this! Don't really know what to make of it myself. That new piece is deffo Walker's though.

[romanywg]

Fuck me I don't believe all this dialogue. It's Walker end of story! Whenever I have filmed artists doing pieces on the street members of the public always, without exception, come up and ask "Is that Banksy?"

[fuzzed]

lol, it does make for an interesting read though romany!

[felix]

Nick Walker isn't Banksy, Damon Albarn is

[Wearology]

well gawker boy said most of the stuff - i didn't want to say publicly - the guy at the restaurant did claim that Nick Walker and banksy are synonymous and the spray's last nite were a joint effort - i will download Mr. B's new tag once I figure how to post a picture on this reply

[killerkellah]

this is the most ridiculous piece of speculation since Mohammed Al Fayed accused Prince Philip of murder.

Nick Walker wishes he was Banksy! And how fustrating for him, you try and carve out your own career and everytime you hit the streets, someone says, oh look, theres Banksy.

Theyre alleging that NW actually said he was Banksy, I forgot they dont get irony and sarcasm in the States. Bunch of muppets!

[rosstierney]

what do you say to banksy being a collective?

i) the scale of some of the work
ii) the inabability to draw feet/hands on some of the work
iii) the change in signature

feel free to add more points

[killerkellah]

May 9, 2008 23:31:47 GMT 1 @rosstierney said:

what do you say to banksy being a collective?

i) the scale of some of the work
ii) the inabability to draw feet/hands on some of the work
iii) the change in signature

feel free to add more points

4. Banksys from Bristol.....so is NW
5. Banksy is a street artist...... so is NW
6. Banksy is a man....so is NW
7. Banksy cant draw feet....NW can! Damn.

[rosstierney]

May 9, 2008 23:35:39 GMT 1 killerkellah said:

4. Banksys from Bristol.....so is NW
5. Banksy is a street artist...... so is NW
6. Banksy is a man....so is NW
7. Banksy cant draw feet....NW can! Damn.

you're still comparing him to nw, i meant in general

maybe people have been & left the collective hence the change in signature?

we all know banksy must get help if he is an individual but do you think the same person/people have been helping him all these years? do you not think someone would have spilt by now?

iiii) the different pictures claiming to be banksy (maybe they are but part of the collective)

[kahuna]

Nice coverage for Nicks' work in the days leading up to Bonhams NYC

[krazy]

Perhaps Nick Walker is part of the 'Banksy Collaborative'... BANKSY might actually be an acronym:

B = Bast, Blu, ??
A = ??
N = Nick Walker
K = ??
S = Silky
Y = ??

I love these conspiracy theories.