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Dusting off seed trays
chilli peppers, tomatoes
first up for planting
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by Scooj
Author: scooj
I am Stephen. I live in Bristol, UK. I decided to shorten my profile...to this: Wildlife, haiku, travel, streetart, psychogeography and my family. Not necessarily in that order.
4321. Greenbank (31)
This unusual piece from Zoe Power brings us back on topic with the most important issue of the moment, the dreadful invasion of Ukraine by the Russian dictator Putin. I am moved and humbled by the number of pieces that Bristol artists have painted supporting the Ukrainian people in their time of need – in the absence of being able to do much, showing support is a very good thing that we can all do.
Zoe Power has used the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag to paint a dove of peace and to offer some kind words, ‘Welcome Refugees’. This is a sentiment shared by a vast number of British people, but sadly not by a government who have been overtly hostile to any kind of refugees entering the UK since coming in to power twelve years ago. In this moment, a time when Europe is seeing its greatest refugee crisis since WWII, we are once again observing their true colours, playing to their xenophobic supporters who have kept them in power all this time. Shame on our government. They do not represent me. All power to Zoe Power for speaking from the heart with compassion and love.
4320. M32 roundabout J3 (396)
You can wait for ages, and then two pieces from Subtle come along in quick succession. This is the first of two recent, and really rather decent, works from Subtle. This one is on the M32 roundabout, and the other one, which I will write about in due course, is at Greenbank. Both feature Jerry from the carton series Tom and Jerry.
It rather looks like this piece is a ‘love letter’ in graffiti form (Jerry definitely looks bashfully in love), but it is always so difficult to read between the lines on such things. Subtle terms this a ‘quick one’ on his Instagram account, but that is just ridiculous, how can anything so beautifully proportioned and clean and crisp be a ‘quick one’ I ask you? Great to see new work from this great graffiti writer.
4319. The Paintworks (2)
Merny is an artist who portrays moments of everyday life in a way that turns the mundane and ordinary into the extraordinary. It reminds me of the Aardman electricity adverts, called Creature Comforts, from a few years ago, where sound recordings of rather boring conversations were brought to life by illustrating them with animals using stop-frame model animation (from the Wallace and Gromit team). Merny’s work is the static version of this creative approach.
This piece was created earlier this year, but having only recently found this spot, it is all new to me. ‘Relax Tony, I am elite reiki healer pls’ – this is so funny, and perfectly accompanied by two characters acting out the scene, incorporating the bullet labels that we see on Merny’s work. Another fabulous story piece in Merny’s inimitable style.
4318. Turbo Island
There is no question that this a fabulous piece, and Ryder clearly demonstrates that he is not only a ‘letters’ man, but is equally adept at creating characters.
I have a reservation about this piece though, not of its quality, but because I always struggle with street art being used to advertise commercial products, unless as a commission on a commissioned space. Somehow, it just doesn’t sit right with me and I know I am being super-picky, but the street art and Graffiti art community is one that is usually at the front of the queue to complain about consumerism and advertising. I expect this piece was painted for friends, and is at the acceptable end of the advertising spectrum, so I will get over myself and stop here.
This is an eye-catching piece at a spot that seems to lurch from high quality pieces to absolute dross and this certainly sits in the former category. The Cheshire cat with its huge grin is outstanding, and the blue and red colours work so well on the black and white of the piece. Love the roller painter Ryder above the piece. Nice work from one of the best.
Chronicler
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Those that can, do, and
those that can’t, write about it
me in a nutshell
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by Scooj
4317. Greenbank (30)
On the long wall at Greenbank, which really is very long indeed, is this magnificent collaborative effort from Conrico and Rozalita. The writing and portrait combo is bursting with life and colour, and is rather spectacular.
To the left, Conrico has gone for some pretty wicked writing set on a fanciful sea, woodland and mountainous landscape. The letters have an animated feel about them and look lively on the calm and tranquil backdrop.
To the right, Rozalita is continuing on her extraordinary journey of improvement and diversification. The girl with a yellow face, green hair and red beret is arguably one of her best portraits yet, and is a perfect example of how far she has come in a relatively short space of time. We are spoilt in Bristol to have Rozalita and her amazing portraits appearing all over the place.
Overall this is a lovely, cheerful collaboration. I look forward to so much more from both artists.
4316. M32 roundabout J3 (395)
With a little bit of Angry Face peeping in from the left, we have the second piece from Maybe Paints in support of Ukraine. I have to say that I am deeply moved by the spirit of the British people (not including our despicable government), in the outpouring of support for Ukraine, a country on the periphery of our collective consciousness only a few weeks ago. My local high street is festooned with Ukrainian blue and yellow flags from top to bottom, and I am proud of that.
This small and humble piece by Maybe Paints is typical of his face to face work and sometimes, with pieces like this, less is more. The tear tells us all we need to know. It is great to see Maybe working a little bit further away from his safe zone inner Brunel Way. Selfishly, I hope to see more of his work in North Bristol.
Thursday doors – 24 March 2022
Doors 178 – Some random Bristol back street doors
I managed to raid my door archive at the weekend and found these doors, all looking a little bit tatty and slightly neglected, but they are only back street doors after all. I have to say I am rather attracted to these kinds of doors as they are full of character. I hope you enjoy them:
In a moment of freedom last week, I also managed to photograph this rather interesting green door from a row of 1950s houses alongside a dual carriageway in Bristol. I was rather attracted to it and considered it worth sharing with you.
So that’s it for another week. I hope that I will soon be out photographing more doors and with a rather exciting mini-break planned for June I will be certain to bring something a little different to my usual offerings on Thursday doors.
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
The poor get poorer
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In a time of need
the Treasury hammer falls
on the most hard up
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by Scooj
Natural adventures 