Splasher Splashing Again

After months of silence, it looks like Shepard Fairey's recent work on the streets of New York has brought the Splasher out of retirement. Not clear yet if this is related to last week's stinkbomb arrest. Matt Barber writes:

Was down on Wooster today at the candy factory building and snapped this photo, the wheatpaste and paint look pretty fresh to me, Shep just put the same poster up near my house last week so thought it may be new, hit me back if you know if it is new or not.

If you spot any fresh Splashings, email the pix to photos (at) gothamist (dot) com!

And in unrelated streetart news, Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. is trying to revive his anti-graffiti bill. The last version got thrown out by a federal judge after Mark Ecko challenged it on free-speech grounds. The new bill would "allow people under 21 to possess spray paint and large permanent markers if the materials are carried in a sealed container or a bag closed with a key or a combination lock." It's not clear to us how that solves the free-speech problem, but we'll leave that to the courts to decide.

UPDATE: we went by the Candy Factory to examine the crime scene-- it's clear that the Splasher just targeted the Shepard Fairey piece and left the surrounding streetart untouched. This is looking more and more like a battle-to-the-death beef between the Splasher and Shepard Fairey for control of the soul of the New York City streetart scene. The last round went to the Splasher, with 20 out of 23 Obey pieces obliterated-- what will happen this time?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in Arts and Events on June 25, 2007 8:27 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

I THINK IT'S DASH SNOW, UM BUT WITH A TWIST

guest

DON'T CARE

garbnzgh

[5] well said.

guest

[14] yet you seemed to have used it.

guest

[14] It's not that bad. On the bright side, it looks like they've finally turned off the auto-refresh.

guest

Agreed on enough with this story... if someone splashed some wheatpasted posters for a hip hop album, no one cares. but if its Shepard Fairey's self-promotion (somehow you never mention he sells his designs to corporate america via his Studio Number One), then we have art crime! woo.

Nick S

OH THE HUMANITY!

guest

enough with this story already. PLEASE.

warren

Graffit is vandalism and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

guest

also, the new register to comment idea or post as a "guest" stinks. highly unusable.

garbnzgh

who... cares....

guest

agreed the late 70's early 80's brand of graf was a bit nuts. I have nostalgia for the graff days of the early 90's. When graff in NYC was clever, and writers were choosing insane ledges and rooftops to get up.

The Twist screws, Claw, Cost & Revs, JA, Mque...

Aristocrat

Yes, please bring back graffiti. I really miss the old days when the subway cars and stations were covered in a godawful mess.

robingee

Splasher boring.

Gregoire

The Splasher is the Pollock for the 21st Century. That wall above will now sell for millions of dollars. I want a hipster version of Lee Krasner to walk by and proclaim, "You've cracked it wide open, splasher!"

guest

It's a bunch of crybaby pantywaists. They are artistes!

You see these are not your run of the mill graffitti artists. These are suburban brats that believe their "art" has a message that truly deserves to be heard. The flip is that they are not ready for the realness of a true urban stage that has some real competition. The splasher is probably a cry baby too, but at least he/she is not openly whining about it.

I wish Cope 2, or JA would come back downtown and show these kids what time it is.

guest

I actually think the Splasher has the edgiest street art out there. At least he's actually saying something. He's saying that street art has a short lifespan and it's unpredictable that someone will splash over it. For example, it's not like Shepard Fairey just posted or painted over a blank piece of wall right? he posted and painted on someone else's street art! the splasher did the same thing but everyone is pissed off at the splasher?

guest

where can one acquire the splasher's work? i think it's great stuff and would look fantastic in my foyer.

guest

Can you please stop with the BREAKING headlines about this guy? I enjoy these splasher stories

but you are becoming nothing more then a rumor mill churning out half-truths and innuedo. Please be more responsible and authoritative in your reporting and leave the gossip and guessing to the comments section.