When the international but secretive artist Banksy started painting rats, a friend pointed out that rat is an anagram for art. Meaningful, no? In street art, Blek le Rat is largely credited for bringing the rodent into visual language. He said he paints rats because “only rats will survive when the human race will have disappeared and died out.” Oof. Either way: art or extinction, a display of one of Banksy’s rats is certain to spark conversations. Banksy’s Haight Street Rat is on exhibit Feb. 14-April 14.
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An opening reception, in conjunction with the affiliated show Writing on the Walls, Visual Literacy Through Street Culture, is 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Main Library, Makerspace, Downtown, jaxpubliclibrary.org.
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