This picture was taken in October 2015, and the wall has since been refreshed by Deamze, and featured here a few weeks ago. It has taken me a while to work out who this fine triptych was by; I think I have it now.
Voyder and Soker, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
The face in the centre is by Voyder, a sensationally good street artist in Bristol, and it really draws the viewer in. It looks like the left hand side wildstyle is by Soker, although I cannot be certain.
Voyder and Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
The right hand side is by Deamze I think. The three elements together have a lovely symmetry, but for me the face wearing ski goggles? wins the day for me. I’m glad I captured it before it disappeared.
It was an accident of fate that took me to this encounter yesterday. I spent my lunch break walking to the Post Office in the Galleries, and then nipped into M&S for sandwiches…a treat I don’t usually afford myself. I intended to return to work, but thought I was so close to The Bearpit, I would just see if there was anything new.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Better than that…a graffiti artist was spraying in one of the tunnels. The colours of paint on his trousers pretty much gave him away – red, grey, white and black – I approached him and asked “excuse me, but are you Decay“. Not a phrase I use often. It was, and we struck up a conversation.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay has only recently moved to Bristol, but it would explain the proliferation of his work around the place. I asked if he would be at Upfest 2016, and indeed he will. I will look him out. Finally I asked if he would mind if I took some pictures, and he said it was fine, but not the face. The whole experience was a bit ‘Exit through the Gift Shop’, a Banksy film I thoroughly recommend.
My first real contact with an artist in action. A good day, which only got better, as on my way home I spotted Alex Lucas working on a commission, and chatted with her too…more on that in a future post.
A beautiful sunny day in November 2015 treated me to some fabulous walls that still sustain me now. This is a well worked collaboration by Feek and Soker on the side of the Manor Scrap Company, and opposite the playgrounds of the Hannah Moore Primary School. It also appears that Deamze might have had a hand in this too.
Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015
The characters either side of the wildstyle are by Feek, and you can read the lettering ‘Sokem’ by Soker. I don’t yet know why all his wildstyle burners say Sokem and not Soker. I guess it is a bit like Deamze writing Deam, Deams or Deamze…they probably do it because they can.
Feek and Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, November 2015
I like the slightly unsettling clown and bumper car rider in this piece…there is something menacing about them. Probably not ideal opposite a school, but hey, that’s how it is.
Some time ago, when I was strolling around the back streets of St Pauls and Montpelier I came across this really unusual wall by Jack Dones, who is one part of the Paintsmiths, although I think he painted this as a solo piece.
Dones, Brook Road, Bristol, November 2015
It is a very clever and rather touching idea and very different from most of the street art in Bristol. It is a well known image, but I’m not sure how many people know where it is as it is a bit off the beaten track. I would have liked to seen it in its pristine condition, but I came rather late to the party.
It is a strange thing with hunting down street art that you can be completely ignorant of a particular artist, and then within a few days see several of their works. One such artist is Laic 217 who I featured for the first time on 31 March 2016. Earlier this week I spotted another of his pieces in the skate park in Dean Lane.
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
What I like about these is the character within the burner that seems to be common to his works, and the colours he uses.
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
I look forward to finding more of his stuff, especially as I now know where to look.
I am still coming across street art that was created during Upfest 2015, and on my walk yesterday I found this wonderful piece by Gemma Compton.
Gemma Compton, West Street, Bristol, April 2016
Compton is an artist and fashion designer who is based in Bristol, and another graduate from UWE (University of the West of England). A lot of her work incorporates wildlife and birds in particular. She has an interesting website that shows off her extensive work. Street art is clearly not her main focus, which is a pity, as this is rather good.
There may be one or two visitors who are reading this blog for the first time. To provide a little context, it would be worthwhile having a quick read of the first entry ‘An Ill Wind‘. In short this is a faithful digitisation of a journal I kept when working in the Falkland Islands and South Atlantic in 1988. Enjoy.
Wednesday 1 June 1988, Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
Summer isn’t here at last. It is clearly Autumn, the plethora of leaves littered by the London plane trees tell the story well enough. Got my camera past the dock gates – took some Montevideo piccies, but not many. It is quite nerve racking using a camera, each picture may be your last.
Since this is a stick in page, I may as well put in some misfits.
Falkland Islands May Ball 1988, ticketEmma’s Guest House bill, May 1988
I was mightily pissed off by all on the KM30, they were not helpful at all. I think there is a conspiracy against me.
Iguazu is out for me, it seems that it must be for eight days or nothing. I can’t give up the time.
We went to the el Fogon a restaurant (still there, I just checked on google) for lunch and also for supper and then on to a topless nightclub.
What an experience! It was like watching an American film- the two uninterested dancers weaved and twisted out of time to the music on podia which allowed a maximum half-stride in any direction. After a while at the bar, Jim and I were approached by a call girl/prostitute who couldn’t understand why we were at the club if we didn’t want a girl. Were we gay? No.
Basically it was a knocking shop and although Jim and I want to return, I think it could be a mistake. Nonetheless it was an experience and life is made up of experiences.
Thursday 2 June 1988, Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
Fun, fun, fun – Jim and I bought leather jackets. His was much nicer than mine, but was also more than double the price. Mine was US$75.
I have decided to get another like Jim’s but at US$185 (£100) it is a little on the expy side.
Belfast Leather Factory, the place for leather jackets. Montevideo June 1988
Jim has decided on the jacket and Iguazu, lucky thing, meanwhile I am to be left, festering in Monte. I’m so glad he has been here up to now.
Nicer weather, clearer skies.
Friday 3 June 1988, Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
Shaved again – I’ve got those lumps and spots once more – it is definitely shaving that produces these infections. Will I ever be free of them?
My jacket, the more I look at it the more I feel is cheap. It will be ok for a ‘rough and tumble’ in the UK, but I am only proud of it because it is Uruguayan.
The sun is at this moment pouring into my hotel room, a seemingly impossible feat given the angle of the room, window and sun.
View from the roof of the London Palace Hotel, Montevideo. June 1988
I am quite pissed off that Jim is going on Sunday, I have enjoyed his company – being alone will be quite boring, but perhaps I’ll meet someone or something – things usually work out alright in the end.
We went again to the topless bar (called Baires). What a seedy dump. Once again we were both approached – in my case by a girl called Giselle? Anyhow we kept a stiff upper lip, refused all approaches and thought ourselves very cool for being so good. I think Jim could quite easily be tempted if I wasn’t here, but if I wasn’t here then he wouldn’t be here at all, so all’s well.
Saturday 4 June 1988, Montevideo, London Palace Hotel
A sunny day to wake up to.
Today we went wandering and Wandering. La la la. Jim cocked up on the money front and I bailed him out with US$100. I have worked out that he owes me on the basis of $1.83 dollars to the pound: £54.65 + £8.21 for the other money I lent him, giving a total of £62.86.
Went to the boat and took a hook and line (snood). Watched a German league football match on the TV.
Bought a gourd for Deb and a leather notebook, perhaps for Emily.
Lovely day all day. Jim and I went out onto the hotel roof.
After a very pleasant meal at Otto’s – a more exclusive restaurant than el Fogon we pootled on to the show below:
Flyer from the nightclub, Montevideo June 1988
It was really seedy – it included a ‘free’ drink in the £1.60 entrance fee. What a laugh. The film was a very cheap British Caligula Caesar film, terrible. The strip was more like modern dance performed entirely without interest. The girls and bloke can’t earn much more than about a tenner a day. It was a real gas. Jim and I then went off solemnly to our hotel rooms.
It was a gorgeous sunny day yesterday, and now that I am back in work after the holidays, I couldn’t wait to escape for a long lunchtime walk. I was rewarded with some new street art that I haven’t seen before. This cheeky piece is by the ubiquitous Cheo – I knew he had recently been busy from his Instagram account, but wasn’t sure where this work was.
Cheo, North Street Green, Bristol, April 2016
I think it might be called ‘gorilla gubbins’, although that might just be a label he gave it.
Cheo, North Street Green, Bristol, April 2016
This particular wall has changed at least three times in the last 6 months or so, and it will change again during Upfest 2016, which I am getting rather excited about. I have pictures of two other works on this wall.
Cheo, North Street Green, Bristol, April 2016
I love the bad gorilla smoking a cigar. I think the piece is only a few days old.
Natural adventures 