WEBSITE OF THE DAY - santasghetto

A message writ large on a controversial wall

5 December 2007 0:00 GMT / By Ian Hughes

'Tis the season to be jolly. Unless you live in Bethlehem that is. Tourism has dropped to only a trickle of diehard adventurers, even at this time of year when the village becomes the focus of one of the biggest religious festivals on the planet.

Of course that could be blamed on increases in aviation taxes or perhaps the hotels are really expensive. Or maybe it's the sodding great concrete wall that has been built by the Israelis to keep their Palestinian neighbours at a safe distance.

The security barrier has pretty much ruined the flow of pilgrims and curious tourists that keep this region just about alive.

To highlight the issue and attract the tourists back, a group of guerrilla artists including Bristol's finest, Banksy, have got together to throw an extraordinary art exhibition in Bethlehem.

What were they expecting? Build a big wall anywhere and it's only matter of time before somebody comes along with a spray can and a sense of irony. At least this lot won't get whitewashed over. For a while at least...

If you like your art edgy, bordering on the subversive, then this is a must. The shop will be online soon where you'll be able to buy prints of the various artists' work as well as signed gear and loads of other stuff.

www.santasghetto

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