It’s spunk what does it

by Bill Davenport August 24, 2009

DIY art philanthropist Mat Benote hung a small painting surreptitiously in Houston’s MFAH over the weekend, then sent out a press release to Douglas Britt at the Houston Chronicle, and Sean Carroll of B.S. art blog, but not to me! Both Carroll and Britt denounce the artist as a loser Banksy copycat, which is true enough, but misses the point-he’s a loser Banksy copycat with spunk!

10 comments

10 comments

salvo cheque April 28, 2009 - 11:16

Who is “everyone else”?

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Ivan L April 28, 2009 - 14:39

Yeah good point. I’m assuming “everyone else” shows up. I guess for the “yuppies [who] feel special and cultured in between runs to Whole Foods and Terra Toys to buy their kids prizes for behaving in public.”?

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kuoskies April 30, 2009 - 11:59

However, even if I bought into your Us vs. Them (the city? the yuppies?) mentality, I think that this post is pretty insensitive to a lot of the Austin artists that you are championing.
Also, if we have to work towards a more productive relationship with the moneyed people in this town it’s probably wise not to approach them from a place of resentment.

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The Art Guys August 24, 2009 - 09:21

Hiya Bill,
Long before Bansky (shit derivative crapola) or Benote there was Jeffrey Vallance. His “Wall Socket Plate Installation” pre-dates them all and by at least 20 years. What goes around…
I doubt you’ll find any images on the web about Jeffrey’s piece but here’s a link to a recent show that mentions it.
http://www.ocweekly.com/2007-06-21/culture/in-the-basement-with-jeffrey-vallance/
They is tons others too, besides Jeffrey et al.
I’m just sayin’…

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Bill Davenport August 24, 2009 - 09:36

I recall a few years ago another mystery artist had the wit to inscribe the tiny signature “RYMAN” in pencil on a vacant white panel (to mount a poster on, I believe) in one of the MFAH’s out of the way corners. 28,000 years ago, some joker snuck into the cave at Lascaux and scrawled a few silly cartoon hunter guys near the sacred buffaloes . . .

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b.s. August 24, 2009 - 15:24

I’m gonna call out Ray Johnson for sending his drawings to the registrar at the MoMA back in the day (he knew they would be filed and thus part of the collection at the museum) for adding one part graffiti to two parts righteous jealously and bombing the museum way before any of ’em. But Britt brought it up first, so I can’t call dibs on that one. You’re right about the uselessness of the ‘origin’ search bill.

Banksy is legit, Guys. You should recognize.

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rainbird August 25, 2009 - 12:30

You guys should count your blessings/curses for being where you are. Bill, I think that the cave painting thing was a G. Larson cartoon. Lines get blurred all the time. I need B.S.’s direct line. I want to send him a gift and he never responded to the other emails at his place of employment.

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b.s. August 25, 2009 - 18:32

… but I’d bet it really happened too.

rainbird my line is diagonal. b.sartblog at gmail.com

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Asshole August 25, 2009 - 22:09

I’m going to send him a picture of myself.

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b.s. August 25, 2009 - 23:02

bring it on!

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