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Mr. Brainwash...or Banksy Storming the Oscars on La Brea?
With Exit Through the Gift Shop (aka the Banksy movie) getting a Best Documentary Oscar nomination in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, in the wee hours one morning a few days later this large piece of street art showed up on La Brea at San Vicente, in the oft-used Mr. Brainwash space. There is, indeed, a Mr Brainwash signature next to the giant hoodie-shrouded Oscar statuette (at the end of a sidewalk red carpet, no less) and some showbiz-y busied Storm Troopers hanging around--err...hovering around from above, too.
This new work raises a few questions: Is this Mr. Brainwash's way of getting ready for the media frenzy of the Academy Awards? If Gift Shop wins, who will go onstage to accept? And...is Mr. Brainwash really Banksy?
In this spot before:
Mr. Brainwash Brings Einstein Street Art to La Brea
MBW Paints Mural of Obama, King & Parks on La Brea
MBW Gets into Lakers Spirit with New Mural
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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