Paper ‘reveals Banksy’s identity’
Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy is a 34-year-old former public school pupil called Robin Gunningham, The Mail On Sunday has claimed.
The paper says it has identified the “guerrilla artist” from a photograph taken four years ago in Jamaica, which shows a man kneeling by a spray can.
But a spokeswoman for Banksy refused to comment on the report. “We get these calls all the time,” she told the BBC.
“I’ll say what I always say: I never confirm or deny these stories”.
Banksy’s stencilled artwork appears unannounced in public spaces around the world.
In January a piece of his graffiti in Portobello Road, west London - which shows a painter finishing off the word “Banksy” - attracted a bid of £208,100 in an online auction.
But the artist is also renowned for his audacious stunts - such as leaving a life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee at Disneyland in 2006.
His fiercely-guarded identity only adds to his subversive appeal - and members of the Hollywood elite including Christina Aguilera and Angelina Jolie have snapped up his paintings.
‘Extremely talented’
The only solid biographical fact about the artist is that he was born and raised in Bristol.
It has often been rumoured that his real name is Robin Banks and that his parents think he is a painter and decorator - but no-one close to Banksy has ever verified these stories.
Now, the Mail on Sunday claims to have uncovered his true identity.
The newspaper says it traced the artist using a photograph purporting to show Banksy at work in Jamaica in 2004. Former friends and acquaintances identify the man in the picture as Robin Gunningham.
Scott Nurse, who went to the £9,420-a-year Bristol Cathedral School with Gunningham, tells the paper he was “extremely talented at art”.
“I am not at all surprised if he is Banksy,” he is quoted as saying.
Luke Egan, an artist who later exhibited with Banksy initially denied knowing Gunningham, but eventually agreed he had shared a flat with him.
Asked by the paper whether Gunningham was Banksy, he replied: “Well, he wasn’t then”. Gunningham’s father Peter said he did not recognise the person in the photograph, while his mother Pamela maintained she had never even had a son.
‘Crushing disappointment’
The picture the Mail claims is of Banksy was taken by Jamaican photographer Peter Dean Rickards.
It first appeared on the internet and then in the Mail’s sister publication, The Evening Standard, in 2004.
Banksy’s agent Steve Lazarides told The New Yorker that Rickards’ picture did not depict his client - although Colin Saysell, an anti-graffiti officer in Bristol who has followed Banksy for years, concluded the photo was legitimate.
Two years later, Banksy insisted the public should never discover who he is.
“I have no interest in ever coming out,” he told Swindle magazine.
“I’m just trying to make the pictures look good; I’m not into trying to make myself look good.
“And besides, it’s a pretty safe bet that the reality of me would be a crushing disappointment to a couple of 15-year-old kids out there.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/7504132.stm
I bought this skirt from Ebay awhile back, tags still on. It is Tibi from a few years a go and I do not remember it in the retail world. But since I love anything remotely animal print and all things Tibi, I had to have it. It finally arrived yesterday.
Obviously, it is a bit over the top and MUCH, MUCH, MUCH shorter than I thought it would be. Think Pretty Woman, hooker dress short and then take off 2 inches. It is awful.
Maybe if I lost 5 more lbs I could pull it down some. The original plan was to wear it with tights, boots and a cashmere sweater in the winter. Yeah, right. Maybe if my second job was down at the Pink Pony or The Cheetah and I wasn’t going to wear it for long.
It is just not appropriate.
** UPDATE **
My mother wanted to know how I did not realize how short it was. I just didn’t. OK. I was blinded by the brand and the price.
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Tony Snow is dead. That fact makes me very sad. He was one of my favorite people in the media. I saw one of his last interviews a few months a go. The person interviewing him was talking up and positive. Tony went with it, but he had that tired, knowing look that I know well. I saw it in my father. Their body and face is thinner. Their hair is grayer. And the look of “why am i dying a 53″ is plastered all over their face. I knew Tony was going to die when I saw that interview. And I feel sorry for his family.
I don’t understand why it seems like so many people are dying young these days. Or maybe I am just more aware. It turns out that the two men that my father worked closely with when he was much younger (early 20s) have died. They were approximately the same age too. SWF (my dad) died of cancer, and the other two dropped dead of heart attacks. Literally. None of them would have been considered in poor health or likely to die. But they all did. Leaving wives and children behind. Tim Russert dropped dead too. That was disheartening as well.
My mother bought me the book Why Men Die First. There is some interesting info in it. But it is very dry and scientific. I guess, that is the point.
I was discussing some business things and the state of the world with E3 the other day and said that sometimes I wish I did not know everything I know or was not as aware. But then knowledge is power, right? Our main goals right now are making every day count and taking advantage of all opportunities presented to us. Because who knows what is going to happen to any of us.
And a little update, my aunt made me bumper stickers with the “Preppy on the Outside, Gangster on the Inside” phrase on them. It is in pink and green with black scroll work on it. I can’t put it on my car, but I still love it.
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Yesterday sucked. The helicopters started around 6:30 am due to the end of the race being so close to my condo. So I did not sleep in. And the party across the street kept me up till 3 am. Good times.
Then I went to IKEA to buy a bookcase. That was a trip with all the people who haven’t left their outer limits houses in years.
I worked all day on different projects, but at the last minute did go to a party I was invited too. It was a combo Pride/4th party. And let me tell you there were so many polos, critters and madras it would have blown your mind.
Check out the two pictures below.
They are all wearing polos to match the flag … See my Tabblo>
My plans changed from going to NC like last year to having to work all weekend. Which is fine. Story of my life. Drove to Charlotte and back yesterday too.
My favorite runner friends are running in the Peachtree tomorrow. The husband will probably come in first in his category like he does every year. They wanted me to walk up the street to the finish line and watch, but this is my one day in 3 weeks to sleep in. So we shall see.
It’s Pride here this weekend too. Always an exciting time down here in Midtown. Years ago, going to the Pride parties at the defunct Backstreet was so fun. Especially when the fire marshall would come and the drag queens would yell at them to “Get the F- Out”. Now I have to watch the boys walk in front of my condo building to the party up the block at the local Bear bar.
So be safe, be careful, be thankful and have one for me.
I am having a party in August for E3’s return. I don’t have time to do one of my buffets and full bar parties. So instead I am going to do “white trash”. Nothing but the best for E3.
There is going to be a Pabst keg, cocktail meatballs, pigs n blanket, buffalo chicken dip, etc. Stuff I can throw together. And UF colors will be flying. Since football season will be upon us.
I have to say, everyone that I have told what I am doing thinks it will be really fun and kitschy. AND for me it will be cheap.
I am going to provide one hard liquor since we will be providing the keg. Which is so cheap since it is Pabst. So vote for your favorite booze.
UPDATE: I forgot Evan Williams which is so cheap. E3 wanted me to tell you.
