Banksy's "Village Pet Store And Charcoal Grill"

Even though his statements are all too obvious in his art, and his whole "mysterious identity - no pictures please" persona is a tad gimmicky, I've always been a fan of the artist Banksy.

His latest show is part of the Wooster Collective. This time, Banksy has opened an animatronic pet shop in New York's West Village. It highlights our relationship to animals, and it looks pretty fucking cool. Check out the BBC short on the exhibit...

So the artist Banksy has gone mainstream, but it's all good. I'll draw the line, however, if he starts dating Madonna.

COWifornia Dreamin'

Ever seen a grown cow naked?

San Diego will be soon be invaded by 200 cows of a different color.

Held January through March, the international CowParade art festival will spotlight San Diego as one of their featured cities for the 2009 exhibition.

200 artists from San Diego and Tijuana (Mexico) will participate by designing and painting life-sized fiberglass cows. The finished pieces will be displayed throughout the mean streets of San Diego, forcing most residents to ask themselves, "What the fuck?" But after all, isn't that what modern art is all about?

This week I got a sneak peek at what some of the artists are doing to innocent livestock.

Tijuana artist Jorge Tellaeche proves that his cow is not just a piece of art. It can also be used as a handy leaning post.

San Diego artist Lowell Niles de-ASS-itated his bovine.

These aren't your normal livestock colors.

"I'm not just another pretty face", Bessie exclaimed mooingly.

All wrapped up and nowhere to go.