.
My barrel torso,
my Humpty Dumpty physique
wobbles when I run
.
by Scooj
Month: March 2021
3552. Lucky Lane (3)
There are little gifts out there, left behind by artists, all that’s left to do is get out there and find them. Part of my love of photographing and writing about street art is making little discoveries and opening my eyes and looking, not simply seeing. I have been down this lane a couple of times and it is off the beaten track a bit, but my most recent visit was well rewarded with this fabulous saxophone-playing seagull by Sean Sepr. How brilliant is that?
Painted on a clean wall and captured on a gorgeous day, this piece screams out happiness and a carefree feeling, something that has been difficult to find over the last year. For a few moments I was absorbed by this outstanding and humorous piece from Sepr, and allowed to forget about other matters. I have no idea how old this piece is, but it looked pretty fresh to me.
3551. The Bearpit (191)
The same place, the same artist, the same year (2017) as my last post, but a different character piece. Many readers will be familiar with Nevergiveup’s rabbits, but fewer might remember that he went through a phase of painting monsters. It is funny how he abandoned these in favour of the bunnies.
This one in The Bearpit (RIP) is beautifully sprayed in chrome on a red background… a rather gentle looking monster, not very menacing. These framed boards in The Bearpit were a perfect place for artists to showcase their work. Unfortunately taggers and some antisocial behaviour ultimately led to the removal of these boards and application of anti-graffiti paint. I haven’t been to The Bearpit for about two years, but nobody can take away my memories.
Committee
.
After ten great years
my term comes to a swift end
feeling quite empty.
.
by Scooj
3550. The Bearpit (190)
Taking a trip through my archives is a bitter-sweet experience, and nothing sums that feeling up better than this wonderful old rabbit piece from Nevergiveup (Followmyrabbits). Bitter, because it was taken in The Bearpit in its prime, when artists had the freedom to paint the boards there without reproach and there was an atmosphere and creative buzz about the place. Two years ago, Bristol City Council turned this vibrant space into a sterile, utilitarian, CCTVd void… exactly what they wanted.
This is one of Nevergiveup’s early rabbits, and by looking at this you can see just how much his work has evolved since 2017, when he had only recently arrived in Bristol. He has certainly left his mark in the city since that time with literally hundreds of these little characters populating the city.
3549. King Street (3)
It doesn’t seem to matter how far back in time you go, those wheelie bins are a real nuisance. In another blast from the past, I have dug out this Mr Penfold piece from 2017, in a spot that the artist has made his home. I have at least three versions of his work in this archway and I am sure there may be others.
If you can ignore the bins for a moment you will see a beautifully designed piece incorporating a cocktail glass and some random abstract shapes. This is so unmistakably the work of Mr Penfold and forms a part of Bristol’s artistic DNA, along with artists like Andy Council, Alex Lucas and Tom Miller, whose murals around the city remind us of who we are. I’m so pleased to have liberated this one from my archive.
Things you don’t see every day
.
I’ll get to the point
an Indian running duck
in a parked white van
.
by Scooj
3548. Dean Lane skate park (400)
Another one from the archives and one that I am so pleased to have re-found. It is a lovely collaboration from Turoe and I think Veks, although I might have that wrong. I think I never posted it at the time because I was uncertain about the artists, and it disappeared, quite neglected.
Dating from way back in April 2017, the writing in dark brown colours is clearly by Turoe, who definitely wasn’t on my radar back then (what kind of blind was I?). The character I believe to be by Veks and is masterfully painted, so crisp and clean and vibrant. I feel I should have done more homework at the time, but I don’t think I even had an Instagram account back then and was still learning (that never ends). A fine and once forgotten, until now, collaboration.
3547. St Werburghs tunnel (230)
I was looking in my archives for something specific a few days ago and within moments was absorbed, sucked in, to folders from years ago. There are so many good and interesting pieces I have photographed over the years that have never made it into the blog. The next few posts are an attempt to adjust that imbalance, just a tiny amount.
Starting with this one from Conrico in the tunnel back in 2018, which I think might even pre-date the first piece of his that I posted. I’m not too sure what this character is or represents, but he seems to be enjoying his smoke. Colourful and tidy work from Conrico, whose style while being quite unconventional is most compelling.
The circle of life
.
Once mighty flowers
felled by cruel winter storms
provide for new shoots
.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 