Banksy vs. Bristol

The SDSU clan wakes up for its final coach excursion at eight in the morning for departure at eight thirty.  Driving that two hours to Bristol, minds were full of wonder regarding this Banksy character, an artist that we had heard about but had never truly experienced.  The two and a half hour line in front of the museum entrance says heaps about Banksy’s influence.  There is a fascination with him because he is an anonymous figure who wishes to keep his artwork free of charge.  This is an enormously admirable trait because it shows that he is not interested in wealth or fame, only in providing art to the public that will move them and capture their attention.  Not only does he hold these noble intentions, he is also an amazing artist.  He does not solely flourish as a grafitti artist, but his paintings and sculptures are brilliant as well. 

Journeying through the Bristol Museum was like a one of a kind scavenger hunt.  The name splashed on the walls was “Bristol vs. Banksy”, a title that demonstrates the intention of the exhibit.  Entwined between more traditional pieces of artwork were works that stood out when you looked closely.  All of these works had “local artist” printed on the plaques beside them, undeniably standing for Banksy because he is thought to have grown up in Bristol.  Viewing more conventional art beside the radical art that Banksy offers is a blatant contradiction that makes the mind reel.  This is rarely experienced inside an art gallery and is a much more stimulating way of viewing art.  As I walked through the hallways on this art hunt, I could not help but look at the people in the gallery as well.  Was one of these innocent art viewers the brilliant Banksy himself?  One can never know.