Jon Kay, West of England correspondent on Banksy’s Bristol show which

was opened in June, 2009

Whatever you think of Banksy, his art and his stunts, what he's done here is pretty
extraordinary.
Normally this grand building [Bristol museum] is home 1)_____ reflecting Bristol's
maritime history, but today the Edwardian halls are filled with Banksy's unique blend
of anger and humour. All this - and hardly anybody knew about it.
Exactly who Banksy is remains shrouded in mystery - we do know he grew up in
Bristol, and this free exhibition is said to be his way of thanking and rewarding the
city.
Many people are proud of him - he's become one of Bristol's most famous and
notorious sons – 2)_____whether a guy who spent his youth spray-painting walls
deserves to be given this platform.
Either way, you've got to hand it to him - he's done it again!
A burned-out ice-cream van is among 100 works Banksy has installed at Bristol's
museum, replacing many of the museum's regular artefacts.
The reason the museum was closed was kept secret from top council officials.
Banksy said: "This is the first show I've ever done where taxpayers' money is being
used 3)____ rather than scrape them off."
Staged in the council-owned City Museum and Art Gallery, Banksy v Bristol Museum
features animatronics, installations and a sensory display.
The exhibition and its location have been a closely-guarded secret since October,
with just a couple of museum officials provided with information.

Museum director Kate Brindley said it was a huge relief to finally be able to talk
about the exhibition, and admitted they had taken a "risk".
Plans for the show were kept from Bristol City Council chiefs until Friday - the day
before it was due to open.
Bristol has had a love-hate relationship with Banksy since he started stencilling on
the city's walls in the 1990s. "We ran a bit of a risk," said Ms Brindley, "but we knew
that it was 4)_____. Equally there are so many people in Bristol who just love
Banksy, and internationally. He's a megastar.”
"We're a gallery that wants to work with contemporary artists - he's our home-grown
hero."

The artist himself was involved in setting up the exhibits and came to the museum
to oversee its installation, but the staff were unaware who he was 5)_____.
Although Bristol has seen work by Banksy adorn the city's walls, this is his first
official indoor exhibition in the city since 2000.
Banksy has exhibited in New York, Los Angeles and Bethlehem.
He became famous after a series of "guerrilla" stunts when he painted the West Bank
barrier and put an inflatable figure of a Guantanamo Bay prisoner at Disney World.
It was Bristol where he first made his mark though, with a series of graffiti paintings
6)_____ such as the city council headquarters, an M32 bridge and the Thekla floating
nightclub.
His work has since become highly collectable, and has attracted buyers including
Brad Pitt and Robbie Williams.
(From http://news.bbc.co.uk)
TASK 1
Insert the missing parts of the sentences where appropriate.

A to hang my pictures up
B among the crew setting up the show
C on iconic local buildings
D others are bound to question
E just the right thing for the city
F to artefacts and paintings

TASK 2
Match the words with their equivalents from the text.

1) To watch over, supervise _______________

2) Relating to the sea _______________
3) The technology employing electronics to animate motorized puppets _________________
4) A feat displaying unusual strength, skill, or daring ______________
5) Current; modern __________________
6) Not conscious of _________________
7) Concealed or hidden _________________
8) Expected or scheduled ________________
9) A man-made object _________________
10) Well-known for some bad or unfavourable quality _________________

TASK 3
Mark the sentences as true (T) or false (F).
1. Nearly no one knew about setting up Banksy’s exhibition in Bristol. _____

2. The artist brought his works to the museum in a burned-out ice-cream van. _____

3. Museum director had taken a risk of talking to Banksy. _____

4. Bristol public has diverse attitude to Banksy’s art. _____

5. Banksy painted the city’s walls for this exhibition. _____

6. People assume he grew up in Bristol but there is no proof. _____

7. He has been a prisoner in Guantanamo. _____

8. Celebrities are interested in buying Banksy’s works. _____