How Banksy's New Orleans Mural Was Secretly Rescued from Demolition
By
Tom May
Right out the toaster. Reliable, with some real depth.
Summary
The article tells the remarkable story of how Banksy's "Boy on a Life Preserver Swing" mural was rescued from demolition in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina. A dump truck driver named Ronnie Fredericks, with help from art enthusiasts and preservationists, orchestrated a clandestine operation to save the artwork from being destroyed with the building it was painted on. The story involves secret planning, disguised cargo, and creative chemistry to preserve the valuable street art that had become a symbol of resilience in post-Katrina New Orleans.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledA dump truck driver named Ronnie Fredericks, armed with nothing but a flashlight and an eye for art, was about to pull off one of the most remarkable street art salvations in recent memory
Three years after Hurricane Katrina, Bristol street artist Banksy had left his mark on New Orleans with 17 provocative murals scattered across the urban landscape
From clandestine calls and disguised cargo to breakthrough chemistry and Anna Delvey, you'll think we made this story up. But it's all true!
One of them, Boy on a Life Preserver Swing, adorned the side of the Fat Cat, a biker bar
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