Aritst Ron English, recently interviewed here on the AMOEBLOG about his new books and interviewed again here for this report, has just returned to the US after a most interesting visit immediately before Christmas to Palestine where he was a part of the unique Santa's Ghetto Bethlehem 2007 art project - where he joined several other "street artists" from around the world including renowned British artist Banksy (the project's mastermind).

While in Bethlehem Ron posted his art on the controversial Palestine wall and fence as well as in places nearby the wall.  The unique ongoing annual art exhibition was held in Bethlehem this year by Banksy reportedly in the hope that it would focus attention on the poverty of the West Bank and draw tourists back to the traditional birthplace of Christianity.

To the left and down below are some of the pieces by Banksy. Immediately above and below are two of the pieces by Ron English.  All of these pieces along with many others were posted on the website SantasGhetto which, note, in the days before posting this  blog, had just been been "closed" but may be open again.  Meantime check out both Ron English's Popaganda site where on the first page is  a segment titled "This Christmas in Bethlehem" and also Banksy's main website.

Banksy created the Santa's Ghetto project six years ago when, he said, that he felt that the spirit of Christmas was being lost. "It was becoming increasingly uncommercialized and more and more to do with religion, so we decided to open our own shop and sell pointless stuff you didn't need," said the artist in a statement at the time.  

The title of  prolific modern artist Ron English's book "Son of Pop - Ron English Paints His Progeny"  pretty much explains the content of his recommended  brand new 100-page, full color art book recently published by San Francisco's 9mm Books.  It is paintings, in the artist's usual  irreverent anti-corporate style (McDonalds and the tobacco industry being two of his favorite targets),  only using his two children  (Zephyr age 12 and Mars age 9 - aka "the Kiss kids") as his subjects.  For more information on the illustrious artist Ron English, who describes his work as "popaganda" and whose body of work and history is too long to go into here, I recommend you check out his website or pick up the documentary about him - also titled Popaganda.  Meantime  check out the selections of his art here and also read the interview he recently conducted with the AMOEBLOG about the new book "Son Of Pop" which also, note,  includes a mini, 4-song, CD featuring his same two kids singing such songs as Wesley Willis' "Rock and Roll McDonalds"

AMOEBLOG:  When exact;y were the paintings in "Son of Pop" made?