Street art has been taken to new heights with this year’s Santa’s Ghetto. The pop-up, low-fi art show originated by various artists from London including Banksy, come together each season to showcase the “sham and drudgery of the Christmas season.” What’s quite extraordinary, other than the artwork itself is that this year, the Oxford Street gang has re-located to a former chicken shop on Manger Square in Bethlehem. Located about a mile behind the security wall, the artists are also creating massive pieces on The Wall itself, which has of course attracted local MPs, but also curious children who live in the complicated area of the West Bank.
Santa’s Ghetto is one of the best examples of the impact that pop-up art and retail can have on a local community. In it’s very temporary-ness, it is attracting other artists to journey to Bethlehem, and very curious onlookers to see what’s going on. Overall, it also highlights the insane conditions that people live with in the West Bank, the effects of the massive cement wall, and on-going religious conflict.
The artists who participate in Santa’s Ghetto, including Banksy, Faile, Swoon, 3D, Sir Peter Blake, Blu, among others, are also selling their wares in an online store throughout the Holiday season with proceeds to benefit local children’s projects.
Check-it out at www.santasghetto.com before December 25th—on that date, Santa’s Ghetto will be gone.
