2966. Stokes Croft

This piece from Decay was painted around the time of the introduction of lock down and was a great message for people to take the lock down restrictions seriously. Street artists have definitely played their party in broadcasting good messages during this pandemic. More recently some works are a little more critical of the government’s handling of the situation, but no surprises there.

Decay, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2020
Decay, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2020

Decay is such a consistent artist always putting out clean and tidy writing beautifully executed. There is one thing that perplexes me about this piece, and it is the eyes with wings bookending the writing. Are these the work of Decay or another artist? I think it is Decay, but it isn’t quite in his style. Answers on a postcard…

2965. M32 Spot (72)

I was familiar with the M32 Spot some time before I started photographing street art, because I used to drop my then 12 year old son off for wet-weather skateboarding. The M32 Spot DIY skatepark was pretty much the only (free) skate park option when it rained, and for a skating obsessed boy this was the destination of choice. That boy turns 18 next weekend. Where did that time go?

Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020
Feek, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020

This lovely piece by Feek, like so many pieces by the artist, really chimes with the skating community. The painting features a monster contributing to the DIY building of the skate park. My favourite bit… his signature in the teeth.

Sun, sun, sun

.

Special, sun-soaked spring

ameliorates lock down

the best on record

.

by Scooj

 

* I believe that with tomorrow’s forecast for sun, that this spring (March, April and May) will have broken all records for sunlight-hours. Thank heavens. How much more difficult the last period might have been with cold, wet weather.

2964. M32 Spot (71)

I love this for lots of reasons. Firstly because it is by John D’oh and secondly because it is a stencil, but mainly because it is overtly critical of the Wetherspoon owner Tim Martin, one of the most odious characters to have emerged from the Brexit debate. This man ranks as one of the supreme self-interested businessmen who puts making money for his business and for himself above the interests of the country. This attitude was exposed in the early days of lock down when Martin was calling for leniency for pubs and to allow them to remain open. Sod the virus eh?

John D'oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020
John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020

Neatly placed on one of the columns under the M32, this piece is a beacon of hope, in that in poking fun at Wetherspoon it reinforces the responsible approach to protecting ourselves from coronavirus. I applaud this political commentary piece.

2963. M32 cycle path (60)

Of course you’d expect Rezwonk to be quick out of the blocks once the lock down restrictions eased, I guess it is the clause that allows you to ‘exercise’ for as long as you’d like that has made the difference to street artists being able to paint pieces without stressing about the rules.

 

Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020
Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2020

This is a complex REZER design in fairly basic colours, but it has been carried off with real style and panache. With pieces as complex as this, I just can’t get my head around how the artist sees what they are doing – incredible skills really. A high quality Rezwonk burner.

2962. Dean Lane skate park (315)

I don’t know this artist’s street name, but I call him Taboo because I use the convention of naming him after the letters he writes. His Instagram account is @forbidden_association which doesn’t tell us much more about him.

Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020
Taboo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2020

This new piece in Dean Lane is really nicely done and incorporates Tom Cat from Tom and Jerry. The letters, which spell out TABOO, are nicely done and have a chunky heavy look about them which is typical of the artist. If you are looking for a light touch, fine detail and finesse, you are unlikely to find it here, and yet the character element of the piece has a much softer touch. A really nice and rather unusual piece.

2961. St Werburghs tunnel (169)

I watched Zake as he was preparing for this piece, but, having not met him and not knowing what he looked like, I didn’t stop long enough to make introductions. Added to which he was teaching a friend how to use spray paints and I didn’t want to interfere, especially as I think it was the first time she had ever held a spray can.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2020
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2020

The final piece is fabulous and not unlike one that he painted at the other end of the tunnel back in November last year. The rather unusual face has a hand sprouting from the cheek, giving the whole thing a slightly more animated feel than a face on its own. I always love to see Zake’s work, and to have almost met him was an added bonus.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2019