Elizabeth Ladzinski
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
NOLITA — A new work by yarn artist Olek will pay tribute to famed British street artist Banksy, just in time for the Oscars.
Olek, whose real name is Agata Oleksiak, gained fame after crocheting covers for Wall Street's "Charging Bull," as well as bikes, cars, and people. This week, she installed a pink camouflaged print in the silhouette of a girl being carried away by balloons on a building at 358 Broome Street.
The silhouette is actually a work by Banksy, for whom Olek wants to show her support for the 83rd Academy Awards that will air on Sunday.
Banksy's film, "Exit Through The Gift Shop," which is the story of a French documentary filmmaker who tries to document Banksy but ultimately fails, has been nominated for best documentary feature.
"It's a way for me to pay homage to Banksy, to make a statement about the authenticity of art," Olek said.
The piece is the first of five that will appear throughout the city. Olek had hoped to install the others on Friday — she said the locations are a surprise — but was stopped by the rain. She still hopes to have all of them up by the time the Oscars air on Sunday.
Olek made news recently when she announced that she would begin to teach crocheting classes as part of the Educational Alliance's "Crochet Sculpture" course.
Olek's work can been seen at the Christopher Henry Gallery in SoHo, as well as at a new collaborative exhibit at the NY Studio Gallery called "Suffolk Deluxe Electric Bicycle, I" which is on display through March 12, 2011.
