…Exploring the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer and the significance of the prank in society.
BE THERE – AND BEWARE… THE FOOLS ARE AMONG US!
Is he looking for unsatisfied voters? Here’s another entry in the long tradition of unsanctioned sign art.
Why are those ‘We buy souls’ posters all over LA?, by Paula Mejía, SFGate, February 15, 2025, h/t Richard Johnson.
The signs have become a ubiquitous sight on telephone poles across town
There’s hardly an inch of real estate, private or public, that isn’t occupied by advertisements in Los Angeles. You’ve got massive freeway billboards that crowd the sky, painted murals hawking dating apps and digital ads designed to catch your peripheral vision. It also happens on the street level, with bright signs plastered on telephone poles to hopefully attract drivers, pedestrians and bikers.
Yet amid the familiar blocky posters advertising concerts, offers to buy up junk cars, hair braiding and tattoo expos, another type of telephone pole advertising has become ubiquitous around LA for its sheer weirdness. The nondescript white sign features chunky red letters spelling out a cryptic and tantalizing message: “WE BUY SOULS!” A phone number accompanies the message, should interested parties want to call and learn more.
And then? And then?
A Documentary About the Artists Who Built a Secret Apartment Inside of a Rhode Island Mall, by Lori Dorn, Laughing Squid, March 5, 2025
Secret Mall Apartment is a documentary about the eight pioneering artists known as Trummerkind, who secretly built and furnished a 750 square-foot windowless studio apartment inside the Providence Place Mall by using the unused space between store walls.
…The film, which was directed by Jeremy Workman with Jesse Eisenberg onboard as Executive Producer, is premiering in theaters on March 21, 2025.
Don’t dilly-dally in the crosswalk!
North Adams seeks artists to transform city crosswalks into public art, by John Budenas, WWLP, March 17, 2025.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. (WWLP) – The city of North Adams is calling on local artists to bring creativity to the streets.
A new public initiative will transform eight downtown crosswalks into vibrant works of art and aims to continue beautifying the city while enhancing the downtown experience for both residents and visitors.
Ah, the irony… “According to [San Francisco] state law, it is a misdemeanor to intentionally disrupt the business of public employees by obstructing or intimidating and then refusing to leave upon request.” Perhaps this law should be applied to the real DOGE.
SF City Hall ‘DOGE raid’ was a YouTube prank; authorities weigh whether to pursue charges, by Alise Maripuu, Bay City News, February 27, 2025
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether federal Department of Government Efficiency impersonators committed any criminal acts earlier this month when they entered City Hall and allegedly demanded access to employee computers.
On Feb. 14, three men wearing MAGA hats and DOGE shirts entered various offices at San Francisco City Hall and apparently asked employees to turn over digital information related to alleged wasteful government spending and fraud.