Spray-painted Banksy rat finds new audience in 'enemy territory’

A newly restored work by British graffiti artist Banksy is on display at the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles after it was saved from the side of the Red Victorian in San Francisco. A newly restored work by British graffiti artist Banksy is on display at the U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles after it was saved from the side of the Red Victorian in San Francisco. Photo: Save The Banksy Photo: Save The Banksy Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Spray-painted Banksy rat finds new audience in 'enemy territory’ 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

The U.S. Bank Tower, which soars above downtown Los Angeles, is one the most overt symbols of capitalism west of the Mississippi River. But it is now home to a piece of art salvaged from the streets of San Francisco — a giant spray-painted rat by Bansky, whose works often target the capitalist establishment.

The transfer of a work by the mysterious British guerrilla artist into the lobby of a skyscraper that embodies American consumerism may seem blasphemous. But Brian Greif, who saved the painting from destruction, disagrees. Rather, he says the exhibit is well-placed in “enemy territory” — the better to show Banksy’s work and deliver its message to a new audience.

“We thought we’d expose people in that environment to Banksy and maybe plant a seed and make people more aware of that message,” Greif, 53, said.

In December 2010, Greif saved the work from the side of the Red Victorian, a bed-and-breakfast on Haight Street. The rat, clutching a marker, was depicted as scrawling “This is where I draw the line” across the side of the building. The now-deceased owner of the inn, Sami Sunchild, was about to paint over the rat, which arrived during a 2010 visit by Banksy to San Francisco that coincided with the release of his documentary, “Exit Through the Gift Shop.”

But Greif cut a deal with Sunchild, and with the help of Brothers Collins Woodworking in Cotati he carefully removed the piece — which was stenciled on 10 slats of Redwood siding — and had it reassembled by art restorer Scott Haskins in his Santa Barbara lab.

Greif has been trying to find the Banksy a home ever since. But rather than leaving the restored rat crated in a garage, he said he decided to allow the piece to be shown at several locations around the country.

After The Chronicle published a front-page story in June detailing the restoration, “We were swamped with calls and e-mails from people wanting to display it,” Greif said. “Until we have a final home for it, we thought it might be nice to display it publicly.”

The idea to show the work at the U.S. Bank Tower, though, came from Éva Boros, 26, who curated the exhibit and is working on a documentary with Greif to raise awareness about the theft and sale of street art.

Banksy, whose works have famously sold for more than $1 million, has been the target of such thieves, who have ripped his works from walls in the West Bank and in England.

“We are never going to sell it or profit off of it,” Boros said. “It also coincides with raising awareness for the theft and sale of street art and of taking art out of context.”

Part of Greif and Boros’ stipulation for the limited display is the work must be free and open to the public. It is accompanied by a projection of images of street art from around the world submitted through social media.

“This is a way to take a work by Banksy and put it in a place where it typically isn’t displayed to generate discussion,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been doing all along. We love the debate.”

Next to the work, officials at the tower posted a plaque inviting “corporate viewers, street art enthusiasts, critics and supporters to come together and discuss the wonderful (or shocking) dichotomy of this street art exhibit.”

The painting will be on display at the tower until Nov. 28. Greif said he is making arrangements to bring the rat back to San Francisco for display at a yet-to-be named nonprofit art center. He also is shooting for showing the work at the Red Victorian for a couple of days.

“The old image and rules of street need to be erased,” he said. “Why not put it in front of the people who don’t understand it, or may not like it, and make them look at it?”