Photo Friday - Banksy and the Presidential Donut

I wrote this week about the Banksy exhibition that was held in Bristol over the summer with fans coming from far and wide to see the work of the illusive Bristol-born street artist who’s made the big time.

This photo is one of the pictures from the exhibition that stuck in my mind although I thought it was just a kitchy bit of fun. But today I had one of those Eureka moments and got the joke (at least I think I did but maybe it’s about something completely different!)

If I say ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ would you get it too? Or perhaps you got it immediately. Or perhaps you think it’s about something completely different. What do you think?

This photo is posted as part of Photo Friday hosted at Delicious Baby - head over to see all the other Friday Photos

Friday photo - Snow on the Downs in Bristol

Although the brief cold snap in Bristol that we had over Christmas has now passed and we’re back to the usual grey skies and drizzle, I thought you might enjoy this snowy scene.

I took the photo on my way to work one morning (as I always walk to work, I didn’t have any transport problems like many people) On the Downs - the large open park in North Bristol - I passed this stand of trees. They’re a landmark beloved of teenagers in summer, who congregate under them to chat and have picnics, illegal barbeques and generally hang out. On this morning they were stark against the snowline, and I caught someone passing with walking poles who looked almost like a cross country skier.

What sort of weather are you having this weekend and what sort of weather are you wishing for?

This photo is posted as part of Photo Friday - hosted at Delicious Baby. Head over to Delicious Baby to see all the other Friday photos.

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The Banksy exhibition in Bristol

A while back I wrote a short piece about the Banksy Exhibition that took place back in July and August 2009 at the Bristol City Museum. You may never have heard of Banksy (until now), but here in Bristol he’s big news as the Bristol-born street-artist who made the big time. There are still a few pieces around town of his that I pass on my way to work every day although most of them have long ago been rollered over by the Bristol City Council. If ever Banksy had a major exhibition it was in Bristol that he was going to find an appreciative audience.

When the exhibition opened, the first thing I noticed were the long lines outside the City Museum which I pass on my wasy to work. Being a Banksy fan, I made a mental note to visit as soon as the crowds had died down after the first few days. But the crowds never did die down, bearing in mind that the Museum is free and so was this exhibition. Every day they got longer and longer until the side road was blocked by the queue and had to be closed and signs were put up showing how many hours you’d have to wait.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

What you need to know about Banksy is that he carefully cultivates his anonymity and no-one knows who he really is (except the other street artists he used to hang out with and my son who apparently goes to the same school) The fact that he might be next to you in the queue always adds a little frisson of excitement. Banksy still comes up with the occasional piece of street art but he now seems to have moved on to collectable pieces. There was definitely a thing going on with the Old Masters theme in these Turner-esqe landscapes and the pieces in the gilt frames that were blended in with the other 19th century artwork on the first floor.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

I just love the humour that you find in Banksy’s work, casting a slightly mocking eye over the ’serious’ art world, like this take on a Damien Hurst spotty picture that’s been rollered over, no doubt by one of those rats from Bristol City Council that are a real Banksy trademark.

There’s the patriotic ‘Best of British’ theme but then you realise that the little girl’s wearing a Flak Jacket and the kitchy Americana to the glory of the aerosol. Children often feature in Banksy’s street art when he uses them with irony to make a political or anti-war message.

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

Banksy exhibition in Bristol Museum

I loved the exhibition when I finally visited and it was worth every minute of the wait and I even had to go around a second time to make sure I had all the pictures. It was also refreshing to be in an art exhibition where you could take as many pictures as you liked, as Banksy’s ethos is that art is for the people.

Take a look at the Banksy Website for more of his work.

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