Month: December 2020

3358. Brunel Way bridge (79)

I will apologise up front for any profanities in this post or any others in the coming days featuring work by Turoe who appears to be on a mission to tell us what a terrible year it has been, and although we already know it, there is value in laying down these markers lest we forget.

Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020
Turoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020

This is one of several pieces of writing that have appeared over the last fortnight or so all over Bristol, and each one of them nicely executed. At first there was a little confusion over who was behind them, but it didn’t take too long to work out that it was Turoe. There is some classy skill behind this piece and it is so obviously by an experienced hand – one might ordinarily associate the word ‘Shite’ to be associated with taggers or quick and dirty throw-ups, but not here, this is quality writing.

3357. Vale Street

When I arrived in Vale Street (yesterday), my first observation was how incredibly steep the hills around the area are and where Vale Street joins Park Street is quite treacherous [I have just read a Guardian article that says Vale Street is the steepest residential street in England] – fortunately it rarely snows in Bristol, but when it does this must be a no-go zone.

Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020
Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020

I picked up on a sense of excitement and a bit of a local buzz as trickles of people arrived to look at the brand new Totterdown Banksy and I overheard a conversation which painted quite a picture of a normally quiet and tranquil area… ‘nothing ever happens on our street, it is normally very quiet’ I overheard one young woman say.

Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020
Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020

Banksy hits walls when people least expect it and in places that tend not to be regular graffiti spots – this was on the side of a house that is in the process of being sold. The occupants have taken the house off the market and are probably reassessing the value of the property. [Update – the owners have not pulled out of the sale, but rather are safeguarding the artwork from being cut out and sold, which I think is a wholly admirable thing to do].

Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020
Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020

The stencil is called ‘Aachoo!’ and features an old lady who is sneezing so hard that she has dropped her handbag and her walking stick and worse, her false teeth have flown out in front of her. It is all so very Banksy. Incredibly, the Perspex sheet was placed over the piece within hours, which I suppose is a good thing because a lot of his work in Bristol gets tagged or vandalised – goodness only knows why.

Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020
Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020

Thanks to Paul H for pointing out the Banksy Diana banknotes that were attached to one of the pillars in front of the stencil. I hadn’t noticed these and I daresay nor had most other visitors – their eyes fixed elsewhere. What is extra interesting about these banknotes is that they were added after the photograph that appeared in the Guardian was taken. If that is the case then they were either put there by another artist or Banksy returned to attach them to the pillar – mysterious.

Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020
Banksy, Vale Street, Bristol December 2020

When I have done street art tours for colleagues at work, I call the tours ‘It’s not all about Banksy’, but today and on those very rare days that he sprays his stuff in his old home town it is all about Banksy.

In search of Banksy

.

Head for Totterdown

the steepest possible streets

there behind Perspex

.

by Scooj

Banksy must be back in Bristol for Christmas, and he has sprayed a new piece in Totterdown, a part of Bristol I rarely visit. It was only painted two days ago, but already it has a protective layer of Perspex covering it. Pity really, but his works often get tagged and vandalised within hours.

3356. River Avon (11)

I haven’t posted a Rapt piece for quite a while, even though I have several in my archives – I’m not sure why, sometimes it just breaks down that way. This is quite an old piece by the artist, but one I only recently photographed while walking the dog alongside the River Avon.

Rapt, River Avon, Bristol, November 2020
Rapt, River Avon, Bristol, November 2020

Rapt is one of those artists who usually incorporates a little character alongside his writing and here it takes the form of a ghost wearing round sun specs. The writing is nicely done although the purple and green don’t work too well together in my eyes, especially with the red and black 3D shadow on the letters. The yin yang symbol works nicely though. Colour selections are a very personal thing, but to the viewer some combinations work much better than others. I need to dig more of his work out of my archive.

3355. M32 Spot (95)

It is a very difficult job indeed to write about street art in Bristol at the moment, mainly because there is so much of it, and with only two posts a day on Natural Adventures I have to be selective. I try to represent the broad spectrum of street art in the city, from elaborate tags to high-end murals and everything in between. Unfortunately though so much stuff ends up on the ‘cutting room floor’ – Perhaps I’ll be able to mop that lot up when I retire and need to fill my days.

This piece is from Morph, an artist who has only recently crossed my radar, adding to the Bristol throng.

Morph, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2020
Morph, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2020

I really like this piece and it suits the column perfectly. The face resembles that of a monkey, although I’m not sure if that is the intention. A slightly edgy character, with a cigarette(?) in its mouth and shifty red eyes. I like what I see, and I think that there is some latent talent there with an understanding of shading, colours and tone. I really look forward to seeing more from Morph.

3354. M32 Spot (94)

It is possible to access some fine walls and columns (I call the location Frome side) where this piece from Mudra is, but I don’t like to go down there on my own, just in case I slip and fall into the river, so I have to make do with photographing things through railings from the skate spot.

Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Mudra, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

Of all the newcomers to Bristol this year, I think that Mudra has been the most productive, and he has been quick to find several of the great spots for spray-painting around the city. This is one of his colourful, capped characters that is so typically Mudra. Although he has his little @ tag, he doesn’t need to use it because his style is so unique and recognisable – having said that I like his tag and how he incorporates it. At this rate it won’t be too long before I have enough of his work to create a gallery.

3353. M32 Spot (93)

You may recall a giant skeleton by Risco that I published on Natural Adventures a few days ago, well here is another of his rather large pieces, but this time not on a ceiling. The M32 skate spot has had something of a rebirth since the arrival of the pandemic. There have been some new DIY ramps installed and there is a buzz about the place. It also feels like there is more activity on the graffiti/street art front.

Risco, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020
Risco, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2020

This is another amazing skeleton piece, although exactly what creature it is I am not too sure (imaginary I think). Risco has worked the piece beautifully along the length of the ramp, with the rib cage bulging out from the wall. Another epic piece from this artist who is smashing it at the moment.

Thursday doors – 10 December 2020

Doors 132 – Predictably, some more graffiti/street art doors from the archives

I have had another busy week and have barely ventured outside the house, so I have once again resorted to searching through my archives. These doors were originally posted on Natural Adventures (though not necessarily as Thursday doors posts) in February this year.

I hope you enjoy them…

Blurry picture on a blurry day – four doors to choose from

Sepr, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2020

A tiny little door on the side of this caravan

Minto, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Minto, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020

Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2020
Face 1st, Moon Street, Bristol, February 2020

OK, so there is only a bit of a door here, but give me a break…

Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, February 2020
Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, February 2020Sepr, Dalton Square, Bristol, February 2020

Fake doors on a fake train

Dibz, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Dibz, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

I may have cheated with this window/door

Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Sake One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

DNT, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2020
DNT, Richmond Road, Bristol, February 2020

So that just about wraps it up for another week.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors  from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

Daylight robbery

.

A walk in the dark

is not a substitute for

a walk in the park

.

by Scooj

3352. Cumberland Basin

This is simply wonderful. Clean, crisp, beautifully designed work from Pl8o on the wall overlooking the Cumberland Basin on the north side. There were several eye-catching pieces along this stretch when I took these pictures, including this one.

Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020
Pl8o, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2020

The colours chosen and bold letters scream out from the wall – no wallflower this one. I am really enjoying Pl8o’s pieces, in particular his creativity and although the central design stays similar from piece to piece, the execution and details vary considerably. I particularly like the way the letters are broken up by black lines, giving a block effect, almost like stone cladding. So much more to come.