Street Artist Chris RWK (@RobotsWillKill) painted this version of his signature Robot character on the Eldridge Street side of The Ridge Hotel. The bright red heart he’s holding has a gift tag attached that says “From New York.” Sweet. This mural is part of what is officially called The Ridge Wall; a series individual mural vignettes by a variety of popular street artists that wraps the building’s facade from Houston Steet around the corner to Eldridge. Sponsored by the hotel and 212 Arts Gallery, which represents the participating artists, the Robot with a Heart went up in October of 2018.
OK, I have spent several days scouring the Internet for any indication that this very Banksy-sque stencil mural — which depicts a Wall Street Banker-type panhandling for “Any Job” while a female Robot hands him what looks like a Burrito (but is probably a handful of cash)– is, in fact, a Banksy, but I can’t find any evidence to confrm that suspicion. My guess is that the piece is called Looking For Any Job, as the man’s sign suggests.
The mural is painted just inside a cinderblock wall corridor adjacent to a service door at 7 Pine Street, in the Financial District, where I’m guessing employees of the building lurk while taking their smoking breaks, judging by the cigarette butt evidence that can clearly be seen. I have no idea how long it’s been there, but I’ve worked in the neighborhood for well over ten years and I just noticed it for the first time a few months ago, which means nothing. Is it a Banksy? Sound off in the comments!
NOTE: As of January 10th, 2020, this artwork has been painted over!
Sometimes, the only quality a song needs to make it into this column is that I like the way it sounds, and the way the video makes me feel. If you’ve ever tried to imagine what Echo and The Bunnymen’s “Killing Moon” would sound like reimagined as a country song, I suggest it might sound a lot like Neighbor Lady’s “Let It Bleed” — a minor chord masterpiece that captures and conveys a lifetime of memories in under four minutes. Wow.
Visually,“Let It Bleed” (which has nothing in common with the Rolling Stones‘ song of the same name) follows a lonely little robot who attempts to integrate with society, but eventually self-destructs, Or something like that. The story is definitely open to interpretation, so individual mileage may vary.
Atlanta based Neighbor Lady is comprised of vocalist / songwriter Emily Braden, Jack Blauvelt (Guitar), Merideth Hanscom (Bass), and Andrew McFarland (Drums), and the band (which began as began Braden’s solo project) has been called a missing link between indie-rock and classic country western. Braden reveals that, lyrically, her songs chronicle events in her personal life and her emotions surrounding those events. I feel her.
“Let It Bleed” can be found on Neighbor Lady’s debut album, Maybe Later, out May 11th, 2018 on Friendship Fever. Enjoy!
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