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Last night before a benefit he was scheduled to participate in at a loft in Soho, the street artist known as Poster Boy was arrested by an undercover cop. Poster Boy was listed on a flyer for the event, a festival put on for Friends We Love, a series of videos documenting the process of a dozen different artists, including Poster Boy, who talked with us just last week.
Photographer Jim Kiernan tipped us off to the arrest. He arrived at event at Broadway and Howard Street to meet up with Poster Boy around 7 p.m., but police had already arrived after spotting the Poster Boy's name on the flyer. Kiernan says, "There was an undercover cop on the block and they came and picked him up. As far as I know, he's still in Central Booking right now and waiting to get in front of a judge...It's the second time they've gotten him."
There doesn't appear to be one specific piece or incident that triggered the arrest, but Kiernan wonders if it might have something to do with Poster Boy's recent move above ground, taking his "photochop" style and applying it to a Van Wagner billboard in Brooklyn. He told us, "He's f*ckin with money. He's cutting up advertising. Advertisers aren't happy about that. And I'm sure the Van Wagner people weren't thrilled."
Friends are waiting for Poster Boy to go before a judge and have bail set with hopes that it will happen today, but fearing that it may not be until Monday. Collaborating artists Ellis G. and Aakash Nihalani photochopped up a couple of impromptu pieces at last night's event declaring "Free Poster Boy!" and "NYPD=Joke". When asked if he thought the arrest would deter Poster Boy, Kiernan said, "It definitely won't—no way. His whole concept is that it's a movement. It's bigger than him."
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Since advertisers pay for the 'right' to bombard us with images and points of view, why not let those images be altered by the public as they see fit.
Fine. As soon as the public shells out just like the advertisers did. Pay up or shut up.
I hope Poster Boy is willing to do it again. NYPD has his number (and home address) now. Next time, they can put him in a cell and throw away the key. Then when he makes new "friends," the lipstick in the "piece" above will be appropriate.
Yeah but I didn't ask to be bombarded with ads everywhere I go, so how about if you can't beat them join them!
So you support sexual assault and rape? And you feel deep concern for advertisers and their ads? Someone has their priorities all out of order.
Tingo, I like the way you think.
Can't wait for the task force that nabs the Sharpie-wielding subway poster-defacing crowd!
I'll bet he played with colorforms as a kid.
Nice to see NYPD is spending it's time and money wisely.
now we know who runs this city.
... because the NYPD should only arrest those who cause vandalism that's unsightly to the general public like taggers in Brooklyn, right? Just because businesses have bank accounts doesn't make it all right.
I was attacked by a guy who then got in his car and drove off. Put me int the hospital with medical bills over a grand. I had a description and a license plate number and the cops said they couldn't do anything.
Nice to see their sleuthing skills are being used where it really matters.
And what do you suppose the undercover foot patrol that made the arrest or the NYPD's vandalism squad could have done for you? I suppose you'd be ecstatic if your case took precedence over the thousands of other cases in a city of 8 million.
//insert eye-rolling emoticon here//
Yes but it is still using police resources to catch some artist no matter how you look at....
And is your life so lame that you have to roll your eyes online?
I'm impressed by your attempt to present an intelligent response. Don't get too excited though; it isn't in your favor.
//still rolling...//
I'm tired of all the subway advertising, too. I wish more people would take a stand like this guy. I don't particularly care for the artistic value of it, and I don't necessarily condone vandalism. But whatever... he's like the Batman of Billboards, returning hijacked public spaces to the people.
van·dal·ism \ˈvan-də-ˌli-zəm\
: willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property
All of this went down at our festival on Friday. We featured 3 live artists, 6 bands and 4 djs but no undercovers. Everyone was there to support our documentary series and help us raise some funds. Unfortunately art, artists and 500 people peacefully coming together doesn't make the news, but an arrest does.
If you're interested in seeing the creative process of artists and not the sensationalism of "news," please take a look at our series Friends We Love. We cover artists from a variety of disciplines and at different stages of their careers. I hope you enjoy it!
Actually, the advertising space which Poster Boy is supposedly devaluing is not owned by rich corporations but by the city. Oh, wait a minute....