Is it just me or is somebody having a laugh with the Prince Charles Cinema signs this week?

Currently out of the UK - if you know where this odd sculpture is you'll know where I am!

'The Ramones department at M&S' - canvas by Twinkle Troughton on display as part of the Stella Dore group show alternativity (opened 6th December for four days).

After David Beckham rocked a Crass T shirt, and Busted wore an Anti Pasti one in their "Crashed The Wedding" video it was only a matter of time before high street retailers started selling retro punk t shirts. You can get your Ramones shirts in Woolies right now.

There's alot of good work in the show, some more examples below.

New work from Jef Aerosol found off Brick Lane

Cargo, Rivington Street are having a live event this Friday featuring amongst others Flying Fortress and Herakut. Full details from Cargo are reproduced below.

LONDON’S Live Christmas Street Art Auction

Friday, December 7, 2007

Cargo, London, UK

If Banksy's new art in Bethlehem is too much of a stretch for global art lovers, the UK’s seminal live contemporary and street art auction, Evolving Styles, returns to London this Christmas offering a rare chance to invest in works of art by the biggest names in the movement. In association with fashion label, Firetrap, original works by the likes of Blek le Rat, FAFI, Dave Kinsey, Faile, DAIM, Xenz and New York graffiti legends, DAZE and CRASH will go under the hammer, while audiences watch world-famous artists including the notorious Flying Förtress, paint canvases live which will be auctioned off on the same night for the world’s largest orphan charity, SOS Children.

On Friday, December 7, there will be exclusive appearances by German art duo, Herakut (GER), Bristol based Mr Jago (UK) and Flying Förtress (GER), who will be performing live at Cargo from 3p.m., with an auction commencing at 6p.m. Audiences can tune in from around the world to watch the live art auction, which will be broadcast in real-time over the internet to allow buyers to bid online via the auction site, www.evolvingstyles.com 

An auction catalogue featuring the lots will be available for download via the Evolving Styles website. For further information, bidding instructions, artists and event news, please visit www.evolvingstyles.com

Evolving Styles: Friday, December 7 @ Cargo / 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3AY/ Tube: Liverpool Street / Doors: 15:00–21:00 / Free entry / www.evolvingstyles.com

It's a tradition that the location of Santa's Ghetto is a closely guarded secret until the last minute. Which makes it all the better that this years ghetto is directly in one of the most appropriate locations on the planet; in Manger Square, opposite the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

According to the rather excellent looking santasghetto.com there are three floors in the shop that sticks two fingers up at blatant Christmas commercialism by flogging you stuff. Which isn't quite as bad as it sounds when you find out that all the money generated by sales in the shop is going to help local children. I could just type out a list of the artists involved but to be honest you're best off visiting the site itself, which has some very nice pictures of everything (which saves me the air fare and the C02 emissions).

Adding to the locals bemusement are some new additions to the wall including several new pieces by Banksy, an escalator going over the wall by Sam3, a domino wall push over by Eric Il Cane, and a boot through the wall by Sam3 and Wisam with promises of more to come.

The greatest thing about it all is the fact that the whole thing shines the light back on this area and the fact that it is shit street for many of those who live there 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. It will also make anybody intending to go there think about just what is needed to move from place to place in the area. What do you say you're going to when speaking to immigration at the airport? How do you get through the checkpoints? If it feels like you're visiting a prison then that's because that's what it is.

Like I say, redirect your browser to santasghetto.com.