Month: June 2018

1524. M32 roundabout J3 (84)

This is a not-quite-finished piece from the magnificent Sled One, and it was his contribution to the ASK paint jam at the M32 roundabout. He was actually a day late, because he had had a hangover the day of the paint jam and didn’t feel like painting – so these guys are human after all.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018

I am always completely amazed at how Sled One seems to be so at ease with his cans, he seems to create his work with the minimum of fuss and is able to put ehat is in hes head onto a wall. He is comfortable with both writing and creating fantastical characters, and is a real asset to The Paintsmiths, who he works for.

Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018
Sled One, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018

This piece, even incomplete, looks stunning and I will have to go back to get a finished picture.

Last week I was cutting the lower branches and shoots off a lime tree that lines the road where I live – the council used to do it but have no money for such things any more – so that I could park the car without smearing it with aphids and get out of it without walking into a jungle. Anyhow, I digress, while I was pruning, I looked up and saw Sled One. We stopped for a chat, and it turns out he lives only a few doors up from me…I can’t believe that we haven’t bumped into each other before.

Clothes moths

 

Unwelcome hatch of

malevolent marauders

chomping through my clothes.

 

by Scooj

1523. The Bearpit (150)

Object…is tireless in his campaigning to keep The Bearpit open as an available space for all…including artists. It seems that Bristol City Council are determined to clamp down on the amount of spraying that goes on in the Bearpit, and new graffiti is routinely painted over, leaving an ugly landscape of patchwork walls where the paint doesn’t quite match. Also, by painting blank walls, the Council are simply inviting the less savoury elements of the graffiti scene to make their mark with tags and throw ups.

Object...,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

This piece contains a quote from Tom Flemming Creative Consultancy, who I assume have been doing some work for BCC. It is a nice quote and one that I can relate to. The messy and the marginal – it works for me. The artwork from Object… is actually really good and contains many things I associate with the artist – feathers and wings joined to slightly contorted hand and of course the strong political message. I like the #BearpitIsBeautiful too. I doff my cap to Object… whose passion drive him and others forward.

1522. The Bearpit (149)

Once again I am introducing an artist new to these pages…I don’t know how I’m going to keep up with only two posts a day. Some good work may never see the light of day. This fine abstract piece is by Bristol-based artist Run Z, and it is one of two that I hve spotted in Bristol. I have not been aware of his work before and I think he is reasonably new to the scene.

Run Z, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Run Z, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

There aren’t too many abstract artists on the streets of Bristol, so Run Z is among the elite group that includes Mr Klue and Decay, both of whose work I admire. This piece uses complementary colours in organic swirls, creating an overall effect that is rather pleasing to the eye. If you look close up, it is all a bit raw, but step back and it makes sense. Nice to see something a bit different.

Thursday doors

Door(s) 35

For the second week running I am stretching slightly the definition of doors, but in my view these do qualify.

Bristol has been a significant port in the development of European and world trade through the centuries and brought great wealth to the nation. As shipping traffic increased there were significant challanges to be faced, the most important of which was navigation and berthing in a port with the second largest tidal range in the world. At Avonmouth in the Severn Estuary the tidal range is 14m and in Bristol itself it is 12m.

This meant that the larger vessels navigating the river Avon would have to wait for spring tides, causing congestion. Additionally, any vessels in the harbour would be left high and dry every day, some would tilt and some would get stuck. What I’m trying to say is that although a significant trading centre, Bristol was not an easy place to sail to.

The solution was to dam off the city stretch of water, creating a ‘floating’ harbour and to divert the course of the tidal river around the city in what is called the New Cut. This all happened in the early 19th century and at the time was the largest civil engineering project of its type anywhere in the world. The impoundment allowed ships to tie up alongside the docks and keys without the hassle of rising or falling tides. Entry into the harbour was via one of two locks in what is known as the Cumberland Basin.

The doors (lock gates) are huge and very impressive, and although they don’t see much use these days (the port closed as a commercial venture in 1975) they are still operational.

So here are the doors:

Cumberland Basin upper lock gate, Bristol
Cumberland Basin upper lock gate, Bristol
Cumberland Basin lower lock gate, Bristol
Cumberland Basin lower lock gate, Bristol

The Beady eyed among you will notice Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the Avon Gorge

Colliter's Brook inlet into the New Cut, Bristol
Colliter’s Brook inlet into the New Cut, Bristol

More doors, this time managing the flow of one of Bristol’s brooks into the New Cut.

Bristol's floating harbour and SS Great Britain
Bristol’s floating harbour and SS Great Britain

This is one part of the extensive (28.3 hectares) floating harbour which is now a major leisure attraction and waterside housing asset in Bristol. Another of Brunel’s astounding achievements, the SS Great Britain permanently rests here.

Maybe back to some rather more conventional doors next week.

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

1521. M32 roundabout J3 (83)

Right up there with my favourite Bristol artists is 3Dom. This dream-like piece was created during the recent ASK paint jam at the M32 roundabout and is just so typical of his weird and wonderful creative mind.

3Dom, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018
3Dom, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018

For those who know his work, there are several familiar themes going on here in this piece, including the purple striped trousers the character is wearing and the birdcage for a head. 3Dom often uses inanimate objects to create the face of his characters, bringing those inanimate objects to life and personality to the whole piece. I think a psychiatrist would probably have a field day with 3Dom’s work.

3Dom, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018
3Dom, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018

I love the little details like the fly, the lock on the birdcage and especially the upwards drips on the bicycle. I love this piece to bits.

Rose chafer

 

Emerald thunder

crashing through the shrubbery

sweet sound of summer.

 

by Scooj

1520. Dean Lane skate park (129)

As so often happens in this game, I go in search of one thing and find something else. I had seen a post on Instagram of a beautiful new collaboration by Face 1st and Tasha Bee in Dean Lane, quite unusual, because it is not a spot that Face 1st regularly paints and their collaborations seem to be a bit of a new thing at the moment. When I got there, it had already been overpainted.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018

The good news is that the piece covering it is by Elvs, whose work is always of a brilliant standard. In this work he has chosen some dark and subtle colours to create his unique writing. You should be able to read the word ‘ELVS’ as well as some additional characters, in what looks like Japanese to me. I’m not sure what it says.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2018

The tragedy of Dean Lane (but also the thing that makes it so special) is the transient nature of the work there – blink and you miss it. I was sorry not to see the PWA collaboration, but at least I was rewarded with this superb Elvs burner.

Fly catcher

 

Bounding through long grass

ear tips and tail mark the way

Ruben out hunting.

 

by Scooj

1519. Stokes Croft, Full Moon (2)

Since Aspire left Bristol for London, it is always such a pleasant surprise to see a new piece by him, because it is always just so unexpected. I guess when he was here, I just took it for granted that there would be a regular supply of amazing birds from this extraordinary artist – now, every single one is treasured as a very special and rare gift.

Aspire, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2018
Aspire, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2018

This beautiful kingfisher is on one of the boards outside the Full Moon pub in Stokes Croft, and I think it might have been done as part of a special event held there, although, I have been away a lot recently and missed it. As always, Aspire never disappoints and the slightly blurred appearance of the bird and the background give a feel for natural movement which brings the piece alive. Still loving his trademark pixels. Stunning piece.