Door 30
Set in a wall on a hill very close to where I work is this beautiful old weathered door. It is the perfect ‘secret garden’ door, but it is not the secrets that hide on the other side of this wall that grabbed my attention, rather it is the small stone sculptures that pepper the outside of the wall along its length.
The artwork is by the late Bob Ballard, an artist from Bristol, and I found this tribute on the Society of Graphic Fine Art website which tells you a little more about him:
Bob Ballard was born in London in 1944. He had worked full time as an artist since 1989, when he won a Goldsmiths Travel Bursary (drawing and studying Romanesque art in Spain). Thereafter he was awarded many prizes, including the Bruckhaus Derringer Award from the Royal Watercolour Society. Bob’s work encompassed abstract and representative styles in a wide range of media, such as sculpture, print, oils, watercolour and pastels. Later in his career he was a senior lecturer at the University of the West of England, and senior tutor and research associate for COREOX, University of Oxford. Bob was a council member for both the Society of Graphic Fine Art (SGFA) and the Bath Society of Artists (BSA). He lived in Bristol with his wife Maggie.
Bob Ballard attached a number of small sculptures to the wall which the curious would notice. Little gifts of artwork that brighten up a day. I love this wall, I love the door and I love the sculptures.
I found this quote from Bob Ballard on his Facebook feed, which I rather like:
“ In my work I always try to place the unknown next to the known. Defamiliarisation is the essence of art. The closer you look at it the greater the distance from which it stares back at you.”
Thank you Bob Ballard.
by Scooj
More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0
Natural adventures 
What a lovely tribute to him from the community. Great door shot.
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I agree. Thank you.
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“Thank you” indeed. Such lovely sentiments. It’s easy to see why he had such loyal admirers 🙂
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That is some door. I love the idea of guerrilla sculpture, too.
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I agree. I think the term adds something more meaningful than ‘public art’.
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Super setting for a great door. Wonderful memorial for Bob
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A winner in all ways, Stephen. Cheers to Bob and his lovely imagination as well as the ability to bring it to life.
janet
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Thank you.
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This is Jesh StG, writing from my other blog this week with a direct link (I have no idea why it gives my gravator!!)https://thejeshstudio.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/may-studio-musings/
What a great idea to put some of his work in the walls – free advertisement:) Have not hear of him before, so thank you for enlightening me!
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He is not well known outside of the circles he lived in, but was well loved locally.
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He certainly bears the mark of an artist!
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This is what makes life interesting! Great post!
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Thank you very much.
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What a great find. I love everything about it too.
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Wonderful!
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