Exit Through the Gift Shop - An Art History Lesson by Banksy

I was not expecting to get rapped up in another movie, I thought this was just going to be another documentary about another street artist. I had no prior knowledge of what I was about to embark on or the excitement and ideas that were about to spin around in my head. Even after watching the Roadsworth documentary I was not inclined to get off the couch but this film, Exit Through the Gift Shop, brings on a whole new meaning in my book. Even as you roll through the first part of the movie I am thinking that this is just pretty good, nothing more. Then, at some point, Terry's role in the documentary takes on some serious.... well watch the movie and you can see for yourself.

By the end of the movie I wanted to get out the overhead projector, exacto knife and start cutting stencils. Wasn't that the point of the movie?? I want to join the revolution now, the one that Terry joined, the one where Sheppard Fairey is a leader, people like Wordsworth,  Invader, Mr Brainwash, or Swoon, to name a few. It is street art the revolution and this movie points out its place in the world of art, on top in my opinion. That surely is up for argument, we will say it is my favorite movement then. What Mr Brainwash does in this movie, the enormity of what he pulls off is just mind blowing. How one man just all of a sudden puts together a body of work like this, how does he do it? 

I did not pick this interest up yesterday by the way. It was 1994, I was attending Memphis College of Art and certain people were tagging walls inside the college. Actually the idea of graffiti really started in eighth grade when I would spend an entire class hour drawing Rat Bones. That year in 94 it became quit controversial  since the administration of the school were threatening expulsion of who ever was caught, luckily it never got to that. I had my own tag line that I came up with hanging out local punk rockers who were from the old faithful band Man With Gun. Mark Gunner always carried a big ass black marker in his pocket and would tag the hobo sign for man with gun of random objects we would run across. If we were at a show, he would tag the bathroom walls. If on the street, a  utility box would get a tag and so on. So it was not long before I was carrying around a similar black marker and started doing my own tags. It was a variation of the man with gun but I would write horsfly under neath, so I was HORSFLY.  I never got more sophisticated with it other than that, no cutting of stencils or big murals to speak of, other than my tag ending up a various outdoor objects in  mostly downtown Memphis along with a few inside MCA, very small time.

This movie has done two things for me at the moment if you were wondering. The first has educated me on how powerful street art has become in the eyes of collectors and I hope art history. Don't get me wrong, this just did not occur to me on the whim, it is realizing some details I did not realize before because of the movie. Banksy and Sheppard Fairey are my two favorite street artist, the best in my opinion. I don't know where they even stand as far as the art world views there work. For me they (street artist) are the next generation of artist, for me they are the only real artist of our generation, their work is the truth. It speaks miles above most all contemporary art, no, this is not me comparing this piece of art to that piece of art and trashing peoples work, no, none of that. Everybody is entitled to create art and call it what ever they want, do with it what ever they want. What I am saying is these guys (actually Banksy and Sheppard this time) are the leaders of a movement called street art like you have never seen art before. The work is commentary on society, politics, fame, everyday ordinary life and much more, that is the truth I am talking about. The Number Two part of it is the action of doing part. I still have ideas that could be acted upon. I really did go to art school for three and half years before I realized you didn't need an art education exclusively to create good art. Then there are the art teachers who most of which should stick to just teaching the skill and stay away from their judgements. My Mom asks me for a piece of art every year and I never turn up the goods.

So what now?? I dont know, watch the movie, go enjoy street art, google Banksy and see if you notice anything familiar. My next trip to London will include a guided tour of street art for sure, can't wait.