Pittsburgh offers so many options to entertain out-of-town family members. They can take a jaunt in the Strip District, enjoy some brunch, ride on the Mon Incline, maybe see a show Downtown if the mood strikes.
Depending on when the visit happens, the city offers another, somewhat more confounding option that Boomers and Gen Xers (possibly even elder Millennials, depending on their life decisions) find strangely irresistible — traveling immersive art shows.
Yes, the thing my college interns turn to when they cannot bear to spend another second alone with their parents has returned, this time with some street artist edge. The concept that has lured audiences into warehouses to gaze passively at giant projections of works by Vincent van Gogh and Frida Kahlo will exploit yet another artist, the ever-elusive Banksy.
Opening March 31 and running for one weekend only, Banksyland comes courtesy of One Thousand Ways, profiled by one Seattle Times article as a nonprofit that may or may not donate a portion of the show’s profits to arts charities. The entity describes itself as an "international experiential arts collective specializing in innovative immersive events throughout the globe," adding, "With an established presence in North America, Europe and Asia, our global team of curators and producers create experiences in the service of our mission: To inspire social change through art that captures the attention of diverse audiences and unites cultures."
A release from One Thousand Ways describes Banksyland as a “multimedia art experience” containing “multiple authenticated works and installations examining the mystique and cultural impact” of Banksy. It is, of course, unauthorized by the artist.
How to even begin with this? First of all, for the layperson, or for the person who has spent the last two decades cut off from all media (honestly, must be nice), Banksy refers to a guerilla graffiti artist whose politically charged, slyly whimsical works have mysteriously appeared all over the world. The oft-criminal nature of Banksy’s work means their identity must be kept secret, so no one knows to who or, perhaps, to whom the art belongs. As a result, profiteers have pounced on these now-popular images, slapping them on everything from throw pillows to framed T.J. Maxx art with little to no recourse.
Like other guerilla artists, Banksy loves to prank, mostly at the expense of the big-money art world. The most high-profile example of this happened in 2018 when a print of Banksy’s famous “Girl with Balloon” piece was automatically shredded after being sold at auction for $1.37 million. (Collectors of course still salivated over the half-destroyed bits of confetti.)
Banksyland attendees are promised, “signed and authenticated editions” from Banksy’s own studio, “salvaged street works,” never-before-seen installations, and more. It’s also being touted as “bringing work from private collections to audiences in geographical locations who might not otherwise see Banksy’s work,” which means we’re as lucky as those in wartorn Ukraine or Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.
Banksyland has, so far, made multiple stops during its current 22-city tour, including in Florida, California, Texas, and other states. Local coverage around the show mostly boils down to favorable previews free of skepticism. One article from the arts and culture publication Sightlines, however, took a more critical approach, casting doubt on the philanthropic intention of One Thousand Ways.
Still, maybe I’m not giving Banksyland a fair shake. Maybe it’s coming at a bad time, after years of similar shows have passed through one city after another, leaving many unsatisfied with what they viewed as little more than life-sized screen savers. After all, maybe it would be fun to romp through a reproduced version of Dismaland, Banksy’s dystopian take on the crass, cynical greed around entertainment experiences. I’m sure after a while I’d forget the irony of it all.
Banksyland. Fri., March 31-Sun., April 2. CADENCE+ At The Strip Event Center. 2400 Smallman St., Strip District. $22-59. banksyland.com
Oh FFS, now there’s an immersive Banksy exhibition
