Banksy's World

I am employed by the artist who egged the Turner Prize winning installation, Martin Creed's Lights Going On and Off, in 2001. She was subsequently banned from all Tate museums for life, but her protest struck up the age old debate, “What is art?”

After the results of a new survey were revealed on June 18, it seems young people are expanding their horizons from the traditional view more than ever. 6,000 people aged 18-25 took part in a survey commissioned by Arts Award that begged the question: Who is your art hero?

While the general list brought Leonardo da Vinci to number one, this age group placed him at number four, overtaken by the likes of Walk Disney, Peter Kay, and Banksy.

Banksy?

Yes, the infamous yet mysterious graffiti artist is considered more of a hero than da Vinci. I have to admit, I see the appeal and have made it my personal mission to discover as many hidden Banksy works as I can find.

.
As a matter of fact, I discovered a new one right around the corner from where I work in Archway yesterday. It was Charles Manson hitching a ride to 'Anywhere'. I took a picture.

.

There is endless speculation about his true identity, but the message seems to be more important than the man. Using the world as his canvas, the artist spreads his messages of anti-war, pro-freedom, anti-establishment and anti-capitalism. At least someone is still spreading the spirit of peaceful rebellion and raising a bit of controversy that helps raise the important issues.

.
His work is so popular, this April saw a new record sale for his piece 'Space Girl & Bird' commanded £288,000 (about $576,000).

.
With an endless array of stunts, you never know where you will spot Banksy's touch. I discovered one in Brick Lane last Sunday, one in Chalk Farm a few days ago. At a muddy Glastonbury festival last weekend, he created a portable toilet version of Stonehenge.

Photo: The Guardian

While his work is found everywhere from New York to Israel to Bristol Zoo where he reportedly left the message, “I want out. This place is too cold. Keeper smells. Boring, boring, boring” in the elephant enclosure, London is still the best place to spot a Banksy.

To read more about Banksy and check out some work by this art hero, visit his website at http://www.banksy.co.uk/ and keep your eyes peeled.

The list of art heroes
(18-25 year olds)/General
1. Walt Disney/Leonardo da Vinci
2. Peter Kay/ Bob Dylan
3. Banksy/ Andy Warhol
4. Leonardo da Vinci/ Walt Disney
5. Bob Marley/ Peter Kay
6. Jane Austin/ Jane Austin
7. Bob Dylan/ Banksy
8. Tim Burton/ Bob Marley
9. Marilyn Monroe/ Nick Park
10. Will Smith/ Picasso

They Put U in Color

"The Americans are identical to the British in all respects except, of course, language."
Oscar Wilde

Friends spent the night at my house in New York when we were at that age where sleep-overs were cool and involved giving each other total makeovers with our mother's make up collection. My dad would often cook us dinner. He would ask if we wanted 'toasties” and my friend would inevitably turn to me and whisper, “What's a toastie?” In America, they're just called grilled cheese, boring as it may sound.

My dad's British-English was there throughout my childhood whether he was telling me to help my mother with the laundry and put the flannels in the cupboard or use more washing up liquid on the dishes. Friends were fascinated with his accent and called to listen to his voice on the answering machine when they knew we were out.

Then there are the dreaded spelling differences, the u's in colour and neighbour, the double 'l' in travelling, the 's' instead of 'z' in organisation, the added 'ue' at the end of catalogue. It's easy to forget, and a pain for one attempting to transfer journalism training from one country to the next.

This is not intended to come anywhere near being an exhaustive list, but here are some small yet amusing differences I've picked up. If you know any that make you giggle, use it in a sentence in a comment and I'll add it.

England: I'm full up.

America: I'm full.

England: Drive straight on to the next town.

America: Drive straight to the next town.

England: What do you reckon?

America: What do you think?

England: Mind the gap.

America: Watch out for the gap.

England: That's wicked!

America: That's awesome!

England: Throw the rubbish in the skip.

America: Throw the garbage in the dumpster.

England: Where's the toilet?

America: Where's the bathroom?

England: Check out the fit bloke in that shop.

America: Check out the hot guy in that store.

England: Come meet my mates.

America: Come meet my friends.

England: Can we crash at yours?

America: Can we crash at your house?

England: Did you rent that flat?

America: Did you rent that apartment?

England: Take the lift to the 9th floor.

America: Take the elevator to the 8th floor.

England: I'll do the washing up since you did the cooking.

America: I'll do the dishes since you cooked.

England: I lost my mobile.

America: I lost my cell.

England: Look at that tourist's bum bag.
America: Look at that tourist's fanny pack.

England: I need to stop at a cash point.

America: I need to stop at an ATM.

England: I'm going to pick up some lozenges at the chemist.

America: I'm going to pick up some coughdrops at the drugstore.

England: Switch on the tourch; it's dark in here.

America: Turn on the flashlight; it's dark in here.

England: Toss your muddy trainers in the boot.

America: Toss your muddy sneakers in the trunk.

England: He's on the pull.

America: He's picking up girls.

England: Let's go to the cinema and see that new film.

America: Let's go to the theater and see that new movie.

England: I wore my new trousers, knickers and jumper today.

America: I wore my new pants, underwear and sweater today.

.

Other random things you hear in England but rarely in America: dodgy, fry-up, chips rather than frenchfries and crisps rather than chips, football rather than soccer, innit, chav, proper, shopping trolley, selotape, gaffer tape, pavement, wonky

How to Transport Your Life Across the Atlantic

Love is blind. Heard that one before? Keep that in mind, because it's the only way you will make it.

My love for London teetered on the borderline of obsession when I made the decision to come back the instant I left after studying here in 2004.

While I finished up my bachelor's degree in New York, I spent many a lazy afternoon in the back of my Integrated Marketing Communications classroom doodling Union Jacks along the top of my notes, red pen in one hand, blue in the other. I only focused when journalism was involved. In my spare time, I buried myself in magazines.

Mark that. University had indeed taught me what I wanted to do with my life: magazine journalism in London. Considering there are thousands of magazines in London, it would be easy, eh? Pah!

Step one: Find a way to get back to London with a working visa
This is when I discovered BUNAC, http://www.bunac.org/. Through this organization, I was able to obtain a blue card, which would let me work legally in the country for up to six months. The cost was only $290. The catch? I had to find my own job and flat. I attempted this from home before I left with no luck.

Step two: Find a job
After a month of staying with family, my funds were quickly diminishing. (Note: the exchange rate was NOT in my favor and Oxford Circus operates like a vacuum on the pockets.) Picky as I was, I had turned down a number of offers in hopes to find some sort of writing position. I had forgotten that I posted my CV on gumtree, www.gumtree.com when I got a call from a London artist who had a gallery full of work and an open position as a marketing executive. She wanted someone who could write. After two interviews and a freelance assignment, I had my first salaried job. And making British pounds.

Step three: Find a flat
This goes hand in hand with step two as I was living in Kent and working in London, dishing out my life in train fares. I saw at least 15 places, all of them either coated with a thick layer of grime, full of flatmates who didn't speak a word of English, or far out of my budget. (One guy even invited me in for tea and a movie, which I politely declined.) Again, gumtree to the rescue. It so happened that a huge double room was available later that week in Kensal Green. I scooped it up for £200 deposit and £360 rent per month. Beautiful.

Step four: Get a National ID Card
More appointments, waiting rooms, copying documents, spilling more information. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Step five: Open a bank account
This was a long process. I went with the same bank I have in New York and waited ages for an appointment. After photocopying every single document I own, they said I can only draw out £100 per day and it can not be used in shops or online. A month later, they wrote me a letter saying they needed alternative proof of address or they would close my account. Nothing I had was acceptable until I transferred the bills to my name.

Step six: Figure out how to stay in the country past my six month visa
This is where I got lucky. With a British father, it turns out I was entitled to a British passport all along. After being thrown through loops for a month on the phone with embassies, being told I would have to revoke my American citizenship (and later, after a minor crisis, that I wouldn't) having one appointment cancelled because my photos had red eye, retaking pictures, asking my parents to bring all sorts of original documents to the country when they came to visit for a day in April, getting someone to cosign my application,and paying lots of money, I finally got my British passport. That day was glorious.

Step seven: Learn to make quick decisions
Just because I had my passport didn't mean I was completely sure I wanted to stay in the country for ages. Unfortunately, our lease in Kensal Green was expiring and we would have to move out...unless we took over the lease. In about two days time, I decided I would cosign the lease to stay in the country for another year.

Step eight: Transfer bills to your name
Finally, I could prove to my bank I lived where I live and rescue my flailing account. After about four hours on hold with BT and Thames Water, wanting to throw the phone at any unfortunate soul who happened to walk by...

Step nine: Choose new flatmates
Because two flatmates were moving out, we had to fill the empty rooms. Gumtree it was. Within an hour of placing our ad, we had at least 10 people call. That night, we unplugged the phone. The next week, we weeded through names and faces and decided on a young professional Kiwi couple to take one room.

Step ten: Take chances
The night after I arrived in the country, I met my current boyfriend. The boy and I were serious, but only dating for four months. Not usually the time for someone to move in. However, with one empty room begging to be filled immediately and the boy wanting to move out, I accepted his suggestion and he moved in.

I have been in London for five months now. I have two lives. One American passport, one British, a job, a boyfriend, a flat lease in my name, a bank account, a Tesco club card, an Oyster card, a social life, and the slight beginnings of British vocabulary invading my speech. Now, for that whole journalism thing...