The legendary city by the bay has a certain romantic attraction for visitors from all over the world. For those who live here, it’s also got a special place, being one of those rare cities that few residents ever want to leave. Sure, the rents are about as high as they can get on the entire West coast, but it’s worth the struggle. Surviving here means being part of an eclectic and energetic scene, and helping to shape the cultural economies of the world.
Travelers have a special place in the city, where they can taste all the fruits without having to put up with the difficult commute, making it one of the most exciting spots to visit. There’s access to all the arts events, the five star hotels San Francisco offers, along with access to some great art.
San Francisco is never short on museums and galleries, displaying works by some of the greatest artists in the world. The local art scene is one characterized by an amazing capacity for looking at the global picture, along with a seemingly endless energy to create new and innovative works. They also have a very dear appreciation for anything that’s happening on the world art scene, and this appreciation may be what brought Banksy to the city.
In April of 2010, the anonymous artist’s work started to show up, and six locations were suddenly showing his work. Banksy is one of the pre-eminent artists working these days, and that makes it even more remarkable that he’s kept his identity shrouded in mystery. He doesn’t work in the usual ways, and doesn’t show in gallery spaces. His canvas is found on the walls of the world, whether they be city walls or even walls of the London Zoo (where he once painted, “We’re bored of fish,” at the penguin enclosure). In San Francisco, he got permission for all of his works, paying store owners upwards of $50 to paint the walls outside.
The city is known for its public art as well, and there may not be a public artist more astute than Banksy. Ironically, his prominence is still one that’s coupled with his anonymity, raising interesting questions about the idea of art in the world today.
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