Use the news: Banksy to the rescue
The British artist known as Banksy has won fame around the world for his street art, his political activism and pranks he has thought up to attract attention. He once painted Britain’s House of Commons legislature with all the members replaced by chimpanzees and on another occasion shredded a painting just after it was sold for $1.4 million.
More recently he has used his art for serious purposes, calling attention to the coronavirus epidemic and celebrating nurses as superheroes in the battle against it. He has raised a bundle of money for a hospital in the process. Bansky, who has never revealed his true identity, donated a painting called “Game Changer” to the University Hospital Southampton so that it could raise funds to support its operation. The painting shows a child playing with a superhero toy nurse wearing a Red Cross emblem, a cape and face mask while figures of Batman and Spiderman lie forgotten in a nearby basket. Last month, it sold for $23 million at an art auction — more than any Banksy work ever.
The money will go to the hospital
and other health-care organizations.
Throughout the coronavirus epidemic people have done a wide variety of things to honor and support nurses, doctors and hospitals.
Activity: In the newspaper or
online, find and closely read stories about some of the things people have done. Use what you read to write a letter to the editor telling how some of these activities could inspire others to help healthcare workers.