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.

Thursday doors – 10 March 2022

Doors 176 – Street art doors

I have struggled for time again this week to bring you any original doors, so Instead I will treat you to some more street art doors from last summer. I hope you enjoy these doors photographed in June and July 2021:

Natasha Kirby, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Natasha Kirby, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
RichT, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, May 2021
RichT, Muriel Alleyway, Bristol, May 2021
Nina Raines, Gloucester Road, Bristol, June 2021
Nina Raines, Gloucester Road, Bristol, June 2021
Sophie Mills Thomas, North Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Mills Thomas, North Street, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Emotional Waterfall Art, Smyth Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Emotional Waterfall Art, Smyth Road, Bristol, June 2021, Upfest 21
Cheba, East Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Cheba, East Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Sophie Rae, North Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21,
Sophie Rae, North Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21,
Squirl, The Nursery, Bristol, JUly 2021, Upfest 21
Squirl, The Nursery, Bristol, JUly 2021, Upfest 21
Muckrock, West Street, Bristol, July 2021
Muckrock, West Street, Bristol, July 2021
Andrew Burns Colwill, Luckwell Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21,
Andrew Burns Colwill, Luckwell Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21,
Epod, North Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Epod, North Street, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21

I guess that is your lot this week. May I wish you all a happy week, while we continue to channel all our positive thoughts, hopes and prayers for all those suffering in Ukraine.

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

Two years

.

So little has changed

since last I visited here

a great deal has changed

.

by Scooj

on returning to the office after two years away.

4287. M32 Spot (135)

Ryder seems to like this particular spot as much as I do, or at least it would appear to be that way given that he paints it reasonably often. This piece is a classic piece of Ryder wildstyle graffiti writing, which is always of the highest order.

Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2022

The most striking thing about this piece is the copper colouring of the letters that seems to change completely in tone, depending on where it is viewed from. This is the kind of piece that one could easily imagine being slapped on the side of a wagon on the New York subway. Classic, clean and tidy. Pure graffiti writing at its best.

4286. Brunel Way (145)

The Bristol Womxn Mural Collective paint jams have become events worth looking forward to in Bristol and always turn up some real gems that offer something slightly different to the usual fare we see on a daily basis.

Raquel Blazquez, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022
Raquel Blazquez, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022

This is a gorgeous portrait piece by Raquel Blazquez and is a perfect follow up to the piece she painted in Dean Lane skate park in November 2021. There is a lot of feeling and emotion in this portrait, and how good is it to see this kind of free art in a D.I.Y. skate park, in the middle of a concrete jungle? Seeing fine art pieces in these settings is truly wonderful, and long may these paint jams last. Exquisite work.

Raquel Blazquez, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2021
Raquel Blazquez, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2021

Unwelcome

.

Shame of a nation

where process trumps compassion

you are not welcome

.

by Scooj

* I am utterly disgusted by and ashamed of our government and the disgraceful way they have conducted themselves with the visa system for Ukrainian refugees. As a UK citizen I feel tarnished with their appalling indifference and lack of urgency for a European crisis. They do not speak for me or reflect my views.

Brexit was meant to free us from bureaucratic processes and allow us to be fleet of foot. Hah! Just like everything else to do with Brexit, it is a myth. The conservatives are playing to the nationalist sentiment in their party and voters, who don’t want any kind of immigration. It is disgusting. The sooner we have a more compassionate and honest government the better.

I am so ashamed to be British.

4285. Dean Lane skate park (470)

It is always great to meet a new artist, and on this particular day there were a lot of artists painting in Dean Lane skate park and I knew all of the except Trafficity who painted this fabulous stylised piece of writing which spells out ZIOM. Trafficity is another Polish artist and paints with compatriots Cort and Laic217 under the PAD crew label.

Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Trafficity, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2022

The green-blue tones with horizontal transitions are very nicely done, with lots of little detailed pixels and blocks dotted about the letters. There are some lovely details and scrolls through some of the holes in the letters too. ZIOM actually means ‘dude’ or ‘mate’ in Polish, and is a pretty cool thing to be writing, I reckon. I look forward to seeing more from Trafficity before too long.

4284. M32 roundabout J3 (388)

A week or two back , Billy and Merny had a great time painting a few spots. I love it when these two get together as their naive style shines a bright light on the incredible diversity of art in Bristol. Their work is always full of messages and commentary, usually reflecting the contemporary political landscape.

Billy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022
Billy, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2022

This piece would seem to be a dove of peace, and perhaps the colours selected represent both Ukraine and Russia, locked in an horrific war of dictator Putin’s making. It is the written message that is so powerful in this piece, recognising that these are dark times and that the National mood is low. Billy simply says ‘I hope you are ok’. I hope we are ok too.

Early morning

.

Chilly morning walk

father and son on the beach

looking for fossils

.

by Scooj

4283. Franklyn Lane

I rarely post pieces by artists that I can’t name, but sometimes I feel that I just have to, especially if the likelihood of me ever finding out who they are are practically nil. This beautiful traditional Indian art is tucked away in a back street in St Paul’s, and has recently been repainted/repaired.

Unknown artist, Franklyn Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Unknown artist, Franklyn Lane, Bristol, February 2022

I’m sure these artworks have a name, but I don’t know what it is. Whatever they are called doesn’t matter too much, because this is just stunning. The quality and detail of the piece are outstanding. Simply brilliant, and I honour the artist whoever they are.

Unknown artist, Franklyn Lane, Bristol, February 2022
Unknown artist, Franklyn Lane, Bristol, February 2022

4282. Brunel Way (144)

What a wonderful piece to come across a week or so ago. This was one of several new pieces tucked away in the D.I.Y. skate park under Brunel Way, following a paint jam by the Bristol Womxn Mural Collective. These paint jams always throw up some unusual and unique pieces, bringing studio art out onto the streets.

Erviti, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022
Erviti, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022

This column cat, by Erviti, is set on a dark blue background and stands out as something rather special. Apart from Daz Cat’s offerings, you don’t see too many street art cats about the place, so this is a real pleasure.

Erviti, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022
Erviti, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2022

One of the things about studio artists painting murals is that they often use rather more conventional paints and materials, rather than spray paints and so the artwork is often more detailed and stands up to close inspection. Erviti has absolutely nailed this cat portrait, and what a fine contribution to the urban landscape it is.