Mr. Brainwash Show

Almost smack dab across the street from where we shoot Dexter, there's been this series of graffitti/stencil/(Banksy ripoff?) pieces at the site formerly known as CBS Studios. Apparently, Mr. Brainwash, a French filmmaker who was working on a documentary about graffitti art, got caught up in his subject and decided to make art, rather than make movie about making art. And now it seems like he is in the process of making a movie about his making art because of making a movie about graffitti artists. Or something like that.

Anyway, consider me intrigued. So when we broke for lunch on Friday, another writer and I ran across the street to check out what Mr. Brainwash had in store for us. It was a big mix of Banksy lite oil paintings, with lots of stencils, as well as enormous installations.

Upon walking in, a security guard with missing teeth checked to see if I had any spraypaint or sharpies. Apparently, they've been having problems with people tagging the place. Ironic, right?
Animals in cages.
All we need is punk.
You talkin' to me?
Most of the walls in the large space were covered in graffitti. This one really caught my eye. Right up Zane's alley.
That's a real motorcycle in there.
Giant TV robot.
Out in front of the show, they also had a mountain of books. Mr. Brainwash is fascinated with literature filling space.
Run DMC in the hizouse.
You can't read the inscriptions on these reduxxed photos, but it says Cat Mama and Bat Papi.
At times, this completely encapsulated how I felt. Everything is completely derivative of what has gone on before in the stencil art scene. I couldn't help but wonder what Banksy thought of all of this...
He had another piece with Run DMC, but all of the black parts were made from broken records.
Bowie.
Peace paint by numbers.
Half-way into the room, it opens up into this large space, filled with other small rooms containing more of his works. If you have the time, or inclination, it's worth a look-see. Closes on Sunday.

Better group of pictures and better description of what was going on can be found here:
SUPERTOUCH