{"id":7608,"date":"2015-07-28T15:59:17","date_gmt":"2015-07-28T21:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lastbestnews.com\/site\/?p=7608"},"modified":"2015-07-29T08:29:13","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T14:29:13","slug":"art-alley-as-advertised-keeps-evolving-filling-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/2015\/07\/art-alley-as-advertised-keeps-evolving-filling-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Art alley, as advertised, keeps evolving, filling up"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t<div id=\"slides-7608\" class=\"navis-slideshow\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"slide-nav\">\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"prev\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" class=\"next\"><\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"slides_container\"><div id=\"7608-slide1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-7-1-of-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-7-1-of-1-771x514.jpg\" \/><\/a><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>The most striking piece of art in the alley is this portrait of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Click on the arrow at top right to view the whole gallery.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide2\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-17-1-of-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-17-1-of-1-771x514.jpg\" \/><\/a><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Some of the buildings in the alley have been untouched, at the owners' request, but few available spaces are not filled with aerosol art.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide3\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-2-1-of-1-771x544.jpg*771*544\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-2-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>One of the larger, more striking pieces features a performing elephant.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide4\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-3-1-of-1-771x571.jpg*771*571\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-3-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Sad puppy, can of paint.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide5\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-15-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-15-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Your Last Best News correspondent was not always able to decipher the writing.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide6\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-4-1-of-1-771x559.jpg*771*559\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-4-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>That's not a metaphor. He really is.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-5-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-5-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>An eyeball-intensive section of the alley.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide8\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-6-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-6-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Translation? Anyone?<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide9\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-8-1-of-1-771x525.jpg*771*525\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-8-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>\"Never avoid spots.\" This is advice I have never been given before.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide10\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-9-1-of-1-771x519.jpg*771*519\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-9-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Everybody's a critic.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide11\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-10-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-10-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Another crowded section of wall.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide12\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-11-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-11-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Graffiti palimpsest.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide13\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-12-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-12-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>An interesting jumble of text and imagery.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide14\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-13-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-13-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>Near the south end of the alley, an entrance to Pug Mahon's.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide15\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-14-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-14-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>This is definitely the most unsettling image in the alley.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide16\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-16-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-16-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>No word on whether the proposal was accepted.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide17\" data-src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-18-1-of-1-771x514.jpg*771*514\" data-href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-18-1-of-1.jpg\" \/><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>You have to look closely, and sometimes up, to see all the pieces.<\/p><\/div><div id=\"7608-slide18\"><a href=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-20-1-of-1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-content\/uploads\/Artalley-20-1-of-1-771x514.jpg\" \/><\/a><h6>Ed Kemmick\/Last Best News <a href=\"#\" class=\"slide-permalink\">permalink<\/a><\/h6><p>One last peek at a small piece of art.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><script>jQuery( document ).ready( function() { loadSlideshow( 7608, 'https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/2015\/07\/art-alley-as-advertised-keeps-evolving-filling-up\/', 18 ) } );<\/script>\n<p>The &#8220;art alley&#8221; in downtown Billings, as promised, is quickly changing.<\/p>\n<p>In the six weeks since I first ran <a href=\"http:\/\/lastbestnews.com\/site\/2015\/06\/art-alley-filling-up-quickly\/\">a photo gallery<\/a> on the alley, it has filled up and many of the original artworks have been painted over or have been so heavily altered that they are all but unrecognizable.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>As one of the artists behind the project <a href=\"http:\/\/lastbestnews.com\/site\/2015\/05\/prep-work-begins-for-art-alley-in-downtown-billings\/\">said when prep work was still being done<\/a> on the alley, &#8220;It\u2019s going to be a living wall. It\u2019s not like they\u2019re going to do this once.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I like it now even more than I did six weeks ago, and I&#8217;ve yet to talk to\u00a0anybody who hasn&#8217;t at least been interested in the project. Many, many other people have told me how much they have been enjoying it.<\/p>\n<p>I did hear from one rather severe critic, who emailed me this message (which I present verbatim) after I ran the first photo gallery:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>who is responsible for creating that eye sore and destroying what was clean <span class=\"il\">alley<\/span> with wonderful brick and now is a blight, art prehaps in the looses terms they should respray the whole <span class=\"il\">alley<\/span> and never attempt such foolishness again. UGLY UGLY UGLY\u00a0 I say if this is such a good idea\u00a0 prehaps you can convince the city to use city property. Now that youve destroyed the <span class=\"il\">alley<\/span> what next in your path of destruction. Walk the <span class=\"il\">alley<\/span> talk to the people SHAME SHAME ON YOU<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>As for my personally having destroyed the alley, I&#8217;m afraid I can&#8217;t take any credit for it. I am completely devoid of any skills having to do with painting and drawing, and I have no experience at all with aerosol art. But I was happy to bear the brunt of this gentleman&#8217;s wrath.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, I encourage you to have a look for yourself. The alley is on the 3200 block between First and Second avenues north, with the Good Earth Market\u00a0on one end of the alley and Pug Mahon&#8217;s on the other.<\/p>\n<div class=\"well\"><div class=\"dfad dfad_pos_1 dfad_first\" id=\"_ad_652\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/mjhWkW\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/lastbestnews.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/201703_capeair_variable.jpg\" alt=\"CapreAir_Variable\" width=\"510\" height=\"180\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18069\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The &#8220;art alley&#8221; in downtown Billings, as promised, is quickly changing. In the six weeks since I first ran a photo gallery on the alley, it has filled up and many of the original artworks have been painted over or have been so heavily altered that they are all but unrecognizable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[2568,745,1061,2562],"class_list":["post-7608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-art-alley","tag-downtown-billings","tag-good-earth-market","tag-pug-mahons","prominence-top-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7608"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7608\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/montana-mint.com\/lastbestnews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}