Urban Prankster

Pranking the Westboro Baptist Church in San Francisco

Charlie Todd — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:45:32 +0000

When the notorious Westboro Baptist Church traveled to San Francisco to protest outside of Twitter headquarters, some local pranksters showed up with ridiculously hilarious signs to counter them.

via Laughing Squid

God Hates Signs
Corduroy Skirts are a Sin
I Hate Crowds

Anger Release Machine

Alex Scordelis — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:59:39 +0000

Are you stressed out and feeling the need to break something? Just pop a few coins in the Anger Release Machine and choose a porcelain item to smash. This clever “venting machine” is the work of Berlin-based artists Katja Kublitz and Ronnie Yarisal.

via psfk

Ice Cube Ice Cube Dispenser

Charlie Todd — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:22:36 +0000

Reminds us of the Tom Hanks Trash Can

via

Corduroy Skirts are a Sin

Charlie Todd — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:57:08 +0000

A brilliant counter-protest sign on the campus of Syracuse University.

The creator Chris Pesto writes:

I noticed two adults on campus holding signs that said “Homosexuality is a sin”. First, I would just like to say that I support people with their own opinions. I think that everyone is entitled to their right to think what they want. However, when someone comes on my campus, where I pay tuition to live, I don’t think it’s appropriate to rub such a hateful sign in someone’s face. I decided that because this woman thought it was okay to make me feel uncomfortable in my home, I would retaliate and make her feel just as uncomfortable, if not more.

This woman was wearing a ankle-length corduroy skirt, which, as we all know, is a fashion nono. So, in order to make her feel uncomfortable, I stood next to her and held a sign that said Corduroy skirts are a sin! I don’t think I have ever drawn so much attention in my life. SO many people asked to take a picture with me, I got laughs, high fives and there were the few that even cursed off the woman standing behind me.

As I drew interest to what was going on with myself and the woman with the hateful sign, I started to draw a crowd that stood with me in support. Before I knew it I had 100+ people holding signs for gay rights asking people to honk their horns to support. I was interviewed by a news station, and more than 5 student organization papers, and the post standard of syracuse.

I never expected anybody to come stand by me and support and I appreciate it so much that everyone came! It meant so much and it proved to those ignorant people that we aren’t afraid, and we will put up a fight.

I’m proud that Syracuse has such a homosexual friendly community.

via F Bomb

God Hates Signs
How to Hack an Electronic Road Sign
Floating Above Commuters

Dead Body Prank

Charlie Todd — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:51:00 +0000

Improv AZ, a group that formed on the Urban Prankster Network set up by Improv Everywhere, recently dressed up in shirts that read “Coroner” and took what looked like a dead body around Phoenix.

Project page.

Dead Pixel in Google Earth
Living Sculptures
Three Year Epic Prank On One Stranger

Improv Everywhere’s No Pants Subway Ride 2010 Video

Charlie Todd — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:57:59 +0000

(No Pants Subway Ride 2010 in HD on YouTube)

From Improv Everywhere:

On Sunday, January 10th, 2010 over 5,000 people took off their pants on subways in 44 cities around the world. In New York, the 9th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride had over 3,000 participants, spread out over six meeting points and ten subway lines.

See the full report and photos: No Pants Subway Ride 2010

New Improv Everywhere: Subway Yearbook Photos
Subway Dance Party in Toronto

Awesome Digital Billboard Alteration

Charlie Todd — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:43:22 +0000

Posterchild did quite a few digital billboard alterations during his stay in New York last year (including one very special one), but this might be our favorite. The face is of Star Fox character Andross. Even if, like me, you have no idea who it is, it’s pretty damn cool looking!

Andross project page

Abraham Obama Billboard Liberation
Billboard Silhouette

Nostalgia Train Tea Party

Charlie Todd — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:30:37 +0000

Every so often the MTA runs vintage “Nostalgia Trains” in the New York subway for special occasions. Last month the Levy Family organized a old-timey tea party on one of those trains, effectively completing the “turn back the clock” atmosphere.

video via the Subway Art Blog

Subway Dance Party in Toronto
Ikea Housewarming Party
Ninja Turtle Pizza Party

The Subconscious Art of Graffiti Removal

Charlie Todd — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:17:09 +0000

I snapped the above photo in downtown Manhattan a month or so ago. There were several stone rectangles around the property that all looked similar. What a great example of the subconscious art of grafitti removal! If you are unfamiliar with the art form, see this short film from 2002 directed by Matt McCormick:

Smell Graffiti

DOOM Display Billboards

Alex Scordelis — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:38:59 +0000

If you were a video game geek in the early 1990’s, this is probably up your alley. A quartet of street artists named Mr. Talion, Epoxy, Baveaux, and Kone have added the heads-up display from the first-person shooter computer game DOOM to a number of billboards throughout Berlin. You can see more here.

via Laughing Squid

Paintballed Billboards
Using Legos to Repair Building Cracks
New York Street Advertising Takeover