Month: January 2019

1981. Raleigh Road, vector (27)

How can it be that my archive is stuffed full of great art? This is a case in point, a fabulous piece of graffiti writing from Soker from back in June 2017 that I didn’t post at the time. I really ought to pull my finger out, but short of posting four or five pieces a day (which I don’t have time for), I’m not sure how to do it.

Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2017
Soker, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2017

Should I be more selective in what I post first time round? I don’t think I can really do that, because this blog is about honesty and seeing the world warts ‘n’ all. There are other people who publish sanitised street art for the ‘coffee table consumer’, I like to think that Natural Adventures is a little more inclusive and raw (as well as documenting contemporary Bristol artists). This piece has a retro feel to it and would not look out-of-place on the New York subway. Always great work from Soker.

1980. Dean Lane skate park (186)

Another overlooked piece from my archives, this time from Elvs in Dean Lane. It is very possible that this remained on file for so long because at the time of seeing it, I didn’t know the artist and so left the picture in a folder. Because the turnover of pieces in Bristol is so high, many that I photograph never see the light of day, but on my occasional trawls through the archives I like to dig some oldies out.

Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016
Elvs, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2016

Elvs’ skills are obvious for all to see, and the crisp lines on his distinctive writing style are a pleasure to observe, and in this one, the shading within the letters is masterful. A great piece on the bit of wall that is very difficult to photograph…as you can see.

1979. M32 roundabout J3 (122)

More archive stuff, this one from Deamze in 2016. You can be certain that it isn’t recent, because Deamze is currently in Hobart, Tasmania turning out some utterly awesome work. I am not sure if he has moved out there for good or if this is a temporary arrangement, but either way our loss is their gain.

Deamze, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2016
Deamze, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2016

I have seen this particular design and colour scheme a couple of times before from Deamze, but that doesn’t detract from it in any way. In fact it might be that the other works were from roughly the same time, which would make sense.I wonder if ‘Quick’ refers to this being a quick one.

Thursday doors

Doors 58

Something a little different this week. I have had trouble with door inspiration, call it door writer’s block if you like, and didn’t even manage a post last week, so made a big effort this week to go out and damn well find some doors.

Salvation came in the unexpected form of Bristol Harbour Railway rolling-stock doors (I guess they all count). BHR is a heritage railway which runs for about a mile alongside the floating harbour from the M Shed to the Create Centre (a renovated former tobacco warehouse) passing by the SS Great Britain en route.

The railway operates two steam engines, Portbury (1917) and Henbury (1937) that carry people along the Harbourside during the summer for that nostalgic smut, smoke and steam experience – a must for young families.

On the sidings just beyond the M Shed (a Bristol science/heritage museum) there are several of these wagons in varying stares of repair. Most have doors:

Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019

This red wagon is no longer operational and has been converted into a little cafe.

Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019

Two sets of doors for the price of one

Thursday Doors, Sulphuric Acid Only, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Sulphuric Acid Only, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019

OK, so no doors on this one but it is a stunning sulphuric acid tanker and its very recent renovation was completed on my birthday a couple of weeks back.

Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019
Thursday Doors, Bristol Harbour Railway, January 2019

I think this one might be a guard’s wagon.

So, that wraps it up for this week. Plenty more great doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

by Scooj

Being dad

 

A figure of hate

I’m enemy number one

trying to keep calm.

 

by Scooj

1978. Stokes Croft, The Carriageworks (39)

You can tell this one is from the archives, not just from the date on the caption, but because it is on the wall of the Carriageworks, which for the last several months has been behind fences and screens while the building is being demolished and reconstructed for ‘affordable’ housing.

Nevla, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018
Nevla, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018

It is a quick one by Nevla, I think the last of his that I have from a while ago. It is a nice simple cartoon character, and from the look of it he was running low on paint. Nevla’s work always has a light-hearted  touch, which is refreshing really against a landscape of bile and hatred that exists in the UK at the moment.

Dentist appointment

 

Shredded to ribbons

suffering anaesthetic

cheek lacerations.

 

by Scooj

Caress

 

Pigeon pair in flight

skilfully touch wings, dancing;

lovers of the air.

 

by Scooj