Banksy Brings Art to the Masses
BURNETT: Tonight, one of the world's most mysterious figures has an idea that puts average Americans on the same footing as celebrities. Ivan Watson is OUTFRONT with a story.</s>IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The British street artist Banksy strikes again, the idea of bringing art to the people in unexpected way. This time on a random street corner in Queens, New York. Within hours, fans of all ages posed next to a stencil quoting Russell Crowe's sword-fighting general from the Hollywood blockbuster "Gladiator." "What we do in life echoes in eternity."</s>BEA MCMONAGLE, BANKSY FAN: Historical in many ways. She could say she got a photo taken in front of an original Banksy that's no longer in existence.</s>WATSON: Banksy is famous for being anonymous. Surprising audiences with his politically themed art, which pops up on buildings in cities around the world, including here on his Israeli security walls in the occupied West Bank. (on camera): Within hours, Banksy has turned this street corner in the neighborhood in Queens into an open air art exhibit, of sorts. The irony is just a few days ago, fans could have bought one of his original canvass for just $60. (voice-over): On Sunday, Banksy unveiled this photo, showing an elderly, unidentified man selling his stencils along New York's Central Park. He waited all day, yet only three people bought Banksy's art for a total of just $420. Bargain-basement prices in the high priced world of art.</s>ALEX BENRIMON, ARTNET.COM: I think this was to poke fun at collectors and different buyers of his works.</s>WATSON (on camera): People like you.</s>BENRIMON: Exactly.</s>WATSON (voice-over): Alex Benrimon is a collector who plans to auction off earlier Banksy art works for tens of thousands of dollars apiece.</s>BENRIMON: He is always accessible, open to the public, just doing things for the city, the culture.</s>WATSON: Every day this month, Banksy has said he will unveil the new piece of art in New York. The authenticity confirmed on his Web site. This truck full of puppet animals in the meat packing district, another example. But missing the opportunity to buy Banksy's art for next to nothing is driving some of his most loyal fans crazy.</s>JACQUELINE HADEL, BANKSY FAN: I think Banksy is brilliant. I think he really made a statement yesterday. So --</s>WATSON (voice-over): But you're kicking yourself?</s>HADEL: Big time.</s>WATSON: And you love this guy?</s>HADEL: Yes.</s>WATSON (voice-over): For OUTFRONT, I'm Ivan Watson.</s>BURNETT: A neat idea, indeed, and a way to sort of make something pretty expensive available to everyone. "AC360" starts right now.