All predictors are
in place; there’s no going back,
let battle commence.
by Scooj
Month: June 2016
265. New York, 10 Ave & 22 W St
The High Line is one of the most fantastic urban regeneration projects I have had the pleasure of visiting anywhere in the world. It is a linear park built on a raised railway, that fell into disuse after it was no longer required, in the meat packing area of New York. It has been brought back to life under the direction of the ‘Friends of the High Line‘. If you are visiting, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
On my recent family visit to New York, we started walking the High Line and after a little way decided to drop down to street level to find a bite to eat. This was indeed serendipitous, because as we emerged onto 10th Avenue, I could see a lift truck with a couple of artists on it painting a huge wall above a closed deli.
I instantly recognised the artist as the fabulous Pixel Pancho, whose work is so incredibly distinctive. I felt privileged to watch him and his team at work, and rather lucky to have accidentally stumbled on this. I have tried to convince my wife that this was pure coincidence; I don’t think she bought it…but it was.
Immediately I got snapping while my family checked out the Don Giovanni restaurant two doors away. I couldn’t stay long, and unfortunately I didn’t get to see the completed work, which looks rather good, don’t you think?
264. The Bearpit (20)
This is a beautiful triptych photographed in the West tunnel of the Bearpit back in January 2016. At the time I didn’t know very much about Mr Draws, the artist, and the images disappeared in my ever expanding archive.
Mr Draws appears to be getting more active on the street art side of things and his work is popping up all over the place. The last of his works I featured was in Dean Lane skate park, and you can see his style pulsing through this creature.
This piece is absolutely wonderful, I like to think of it as a fox, but on closer inspection, I’m not too sure what animal it is. Top marks for this lovely work, sadly long since gone.
The frog and the princess
There’s always room for
two, when one of them is you
and the other’s me.
by Scooj
263. The Thekla
When I first arrived in Bristol, some 26 years ago, I was a young man with energy and an appetite for clubs and boozing. The Thekla was one of my favourite haunts and I regularly drank more than was good for me on this fine vessel. Many ships and boats on Bristol’s floating harbour have been converted into clubs, cafes and restaurants, and they add to the maritime tradition here.
This beautiful Inkie piece is not the first to be sprayed on the side of the Thekla. Some years ago, Banksy sprayed the Grim Reaper in roughly the same place. This piece by Inkie is perfect for the location, and one of my favourite works in Bristol.
There is a little bonus piece near the bowse of the Thekla of Homer Simpson. I am not sure who the artist is, but it brings with it additional colour to the flank of the ship. All a bit of fun.
Clifton suspension bridge
Spanning two high cliffs
suspended in time and space
Brunel’s finest bridge.
by Scooj
262. Dean Lane skate park (8)
Now I am back in the UK, after a wonderful trip across ‘the pond’, I can resume my posts on Bristol street art/graffiti (with maybe a couple of guest entries from New York).
This is a truly brilliant collaboration from a few weeks ago in Dean Lane between Zesk and Hemper. Zesk has appeared in these pages a couple of times, and his writing is becoming much more familiar, especially his choice of colours (purples and golds) combined with spheres. Hemper I haven’t come across before, which is a little surprising as he has been writing in Bristol since 2009. There is a lovely profile on Hemper here – from the great ‘Weapon of Choice‘ website.
This collaboration was a bit of fun, and I think was sprayed at the same time as the recent Inkie piece. You will notice that a writer – Suger – has made an appearance. His improving burners are turning up all over the place in Bristol.
Now back to the streets, where I have already noticed a whole bunch of new stuff has gone up while I have been away.
Ambition
I can jump so high
to the moon and stars above
believe me I can.
by Scooj
Groundhog day
Saw my first today
only a fleeting glimpse; I
saw my first today.
by Scooj
My recent trip to the United States offered so many new experiences, and wildlife encounters…expect more to crop up in this blog.
England
Farewell New England;
old England awaits, flights booked
we’re on our way home.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 