Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Port Talbot's Banksy cordoned off from fans
Source: The Observer
Port Talbot’s Banksy cordoned off from fans
Traffic wardens drafted in to protect the steel town’s new artwork
Damien Gayle
Sun 23 Dec 2018 09.00 GMT
Residents of Port Talbot have for months been complaining about a thick layer of black dust they believe is coming from the town’s steelworks.
It covers pets, children, cars, homes, carpets and furniture, locals say. But it had seemed that no one outside was paying attention – until last week.
Banksy, the street artist, visited the town in the early hours of Wednesday to paint his latest mural on two sides of a suburban garage. Now the garage has been cordoned off by barriers, while traffic wardens have been brought in to manage the crowds of Banksy fans flocking to see the new artwork. Plastic protective sheeting was due to be put up over the artwork yesterday, paid for with the help of Michael Sheen, the Welsh actor, who comes from the town.
One wall shows a young boy, next to a sledge and dressed for a snowy day, arms outstretched and mouth wide open. His tongue hangs out as he catches flakes falling from the sky. But turn a corner and the source is revealed to be less pure than the driven snow – it’s a fire in a rubbish bin, spewing smoke and ash.
In an Instagram video claiming responsibility, Banksy leaves no doubt as to the target of his commentary. A drone-mounted camera tracks up from the freshly painted mural to show, across the horizon, the dark chimneys of the town’s industrial works.
-snip-
Traffic wardens drafted in to protect the steel town’s new artwork
Damien Gayle
Sun 23 Dec 2018 09.00 GMT
Residents of Port Talbot have for months been complaining about a thick layer of black dust they believe is coming from the town’s steelworks.
It covers pets, children, cars, homes, carpets and furniture, locals say. But it had seemed that no one outside was paying attention – until last week.
Banksy, the street artist, visited the town in the early hours of Wednesday to paint his latest mural on two sides of a suburban garage. Now the garage has been cordoned off by barriers, while traffic wardens have been brought in to manage the crowds of Banksy fans flocking to see the new artwork. Plastic protective sheeting was due to be put up over the artwork yesterday, paid for with the help of Michael Sheen, the Welsh actor, who comes from the town.
One wall shows a young boy, next to a sledge and dressed for a snowy day, arms outstretched and mouth wide open. His tongue hangs out as he catches flakes falling from the sky. But turn a corner and the source is revealed to be less pure than the driven snow – it’s a fire in a rubbish bin, spewing smoke and ash.
In an Instagram video claiming responsibility, Banksy leaves no doubt as to the target of his commentary. A drone-mounted camera tracks up from the freshly painted mural to show, across the horizon, the dark chimneys of the town’s industrial works.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/dec/23/banksy-port-talbot-mural-pollution-from-steelworks
Volunteers protecting the mural say at least 2,000 people have visited it