.
Fourteen years ago
the occupation began
voting for freedom
.
by Scooj
Month: July 2024
6155. Upfest 2024 (34)
It looks like Fesa got lucky and managed to paint in two different spots for Upfest this year. I have already posted his Dalmatian dog at the Redpoint Climbing Centre, and this is a four (8) panelled landscape piece that is absolutely wonderful.
Once again I am reminded of Cezanne-like landscapes of a continental European type, that conjures up a feeling of warmth and vacations. The piece used the window frames really well, reversing our viewpoint, and rather than looking into the building, we are looking out towards this landscape. The gull on the windowsill adds another layer of perspective. I am very drawn to Fesa’s work, and the calmness it gives off – I do hope he returns to Bristol sometime.
6154. Upfest 2024 (33)
If you like bright and colourful abstract designs, then this piece by Emotional Waterfall Art painted at Upfest 2024 will be right up your street. The artist is no stranger to Upfest, and she painted an enormous mural for the 75×75 event in 2021. I am not certain, because her social media accounts are vague, but I think that she is Bristol-based, or at least from the West of England.
This piece is painted on a gate in Exeter Road (one for Thursday Doors in a year or two) adding a vibrant splash of colour. There is a whole ton of positive energy coming at you from the mixture of shapes and patterns in this delightful mural. I believe, from reading her Instagram post about that this piece, that she had a really great day painting it.
6153. Upfest 2024 (32)
Where to start with this outstanding and unbelievably cute piece by Sr. Papa Chango? An extraordinary still-life framed composition with a bowl of fruit and a decanter is enhanced with the appearance of two fluffy characters that appear to have artistic ambitions. The piece is so well painted, it almost looks like a poster that has been pasted up on this large wall.
I had not heard of Sr. Papa Chango before I saw this piece, and I believe that this might be his first trip to the UK, and definitely his first to Bristol. The Mexican artist now lives and paints out of Berlin, and is the creator of some magnificent murals like this one.
The artwork is so good and the creativity almost dreamlike and fantastical. In this piece he has managed to create a contrast between the passivity of the fruit and the activity of the adorable creatures, both of which are spilling out of the frame. This piece on the huge Redpoint Climbing Centre wall is absolutely one of the highlights of Upfest 2024.
Thursday doors – 4 July 2024, Assisi, Umbria, Italy
Doors 270 – Assisi doors, Umbria, Italy, July 2023 (Part I)
At last, a return to a warmer climate and a reflection on our family holiday to Umbria last year. I had set out to spend the week beside the pool, with a glass of wine to hand admiring the views, but when you are surrounded by hilltop cities, towns and villages, it is very difficult not to venture out and explore. My head says relax, but my heart says discover, and my heart won out.
This was a day trip we took to Assisi, a place that I have visited many times before, but each time I make new discoveries, and walk different routes. It is a beautiful town and fortunately most of the visitors stick to the lower end where the Basilica of St Frances is located. There is no theme to the doors this week, although the theme of Assisi doors would appear to be enough.
Today is a very important day in British politics, as well as American history. To the Brits I say don’t forget to vote and remember your photo ID and to our cousins across the pond I wish you a joyful Independence Day.
Here are some doors:
Next time I will have some more doors from Assisi. Until then may I wish you a happy weekend.
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
6152. Upfest 2024 (31)
Bex Glover is an outstanding Bristol artist, graphic designer, illustrator and muralist, whose work can be seen on commissioned walls, and in various ‘corporate’ buildings in the city, much of it intact after several years. She is also a regular guest artist at Upfest events, and this is her superb piece for this year’s festival.
This one is painted on another new wall for Upfest (at this rate the whole of Bedminster and Southville will be one continuous mural) and one that looks so much better for having a splash of paint. There are two animal characters, a crane and a fox, in this piece inspired by Aesop’s fable ‘the fox and the crane’ with a working idea of ‘putting differences aside’. A sentiment that could be adopted before, during and after our divisive General Election
The distinctive blue background with tree boughs and flowers is the perfect setting for the abstract animals. There is a calm and natural atmosphere that is created by her artwork, which is always such a joy to see. If I had money and a wall, I wouldn’t hesitate to commission work from her, it ticks all of my boxes and some. This is a glorious piece and worth the extra yards to find it.
6151. St Werburghs tunnel (431)
Mr Klue has been smashing it, not only recently, but for years with his original abstract ephemeral graffiti writing. He definitely favours painting in St Werburghs tunnel, where virtually all of his pieces have been in recent years. He used to paint in the Bear Pit in the good old days, and a few other spots in north Bristol, but his range appears to have narrowed.
The letters, as usual, spell out KLUE, and have a slightly more solid look to them than some of his pieces. His favoured blues and purples are carefully positioned to create light and shade and add perspective to the piece, which the yellow lower edges and white upper edges amplify. A lovely example of this enigmatic artist’s work.
6150. M32 roundabout J3 (589)
This is an unusual, but also rather pleasing piece painted by Kid Crayon, alongside his friend I am Ian, who featured on Natural Adventures yesterday. The whole piece is relatively simple in its construction and made up of only five colours; a yellow background, white letters, green border, grey accents and some random orange squiggles.
The bubbly/cloudy letters spell out CRAYON, with the letters KID written backwards, a regular device used by Kid Crayon. There is a lightness of touch and ease about the piece and although simple in design it is beautifully executed. I know that Kid Crayon is extremely busy at work, getting paid for what he loves doing, and that makes his street pieces all the more welcome. Nice one.
No sun flower
.
Long overcast days
just two feet high and rising
low expectations
.
by Scooj
6149. Dean Lane skate park (727)
There has been no let up from Dibz and Fade, and although their pieces don’t appear as regularly on Natural Adventures as they used to, it doesn’t mean they aren’t painting as frequently, it simply means they are having to compete for space with so much other art including Upfest 2024.
This is a classic presentation by the two artists with Fade on the left, Dibz on the right and a co-created character in the middle. They have cleverly reversed the fill colour layers between the two pieces of graffiti writing, with Fade starting with green at the top transitioning through dark blues to a light blue, while Dibz starts with the light blue at the top.
The writing is, of course, of the absolute highest standard, painted by two artists who are at the top of their game. I don’t know who the green dog character is, and my Google searches haven’t turned up any clues, which is a pity, but he is nonetheless magnificent. Naturally, there is more to come from these two… watch this space.
Natural adventures 