Where early frost lay
only damp traces remain
winter sunshine melt.
by Scooj
1245. Broome Street, New York (2)
I still have a great many pictures from my trip to New York in October 2017, but have had some difficulty finding the names of artists, and the locations of some of the pieces. These difficulties act as a bit of a barrier to writing these posts, as I have limited time to do the research required. The emergence of Street Art Cities, a website and app, has been an absolute godsend in that respect. Street Art Cities allows local street art ‘hunters’ (people like me) to upload street and graffiti art onto a map-based platform with descriptions of the work. I am one of two such approved hunters in Bristol, and in New York, a recent upload extravaganza by the four hunters there is making my job of posting my holiday snaps so much easier. Maybe if they ever visit Bristol they will benefit from the work I have done for Street Art Cities.
Now I can tell you that this stunning piece of Yosemite Sam in Broome Street is by John ‘Crash’ Matos, an artist brought up in the Bronx in the 1960s and 70s. He tends to feature a cartoon character combined with the word CRASH in many of his pieces, a long way from bombing trains in train yards as a teenager. His nickname ‘Crash’ was coined after he accidentally crashed a computer in school…something that was much easier to do back in the old days I can assure you. This is a brilliant piece from a brilliant artist.
1244. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (32)
I see an awful lot of Face F1st’s work dotted around the Stokes Croft area and at the M32 roundabout, but this is the first piece I have seen where he has a message for us all. And the message is quite clear – ‘no ads on free walls’. What he is referring to is the increase in street art in this area that is advertising events in the local area. I have to say I have quite a lot of sympathy with him.
The face is angry, which again is quite unusual for this artist. The rest of the piece is colourful and bright and the word Face can be made out in the writing. An artist whose work I continue to enjoy, especially when it has this bit of edge to it.
Universe
.
Out of the darkness
a billion billion
stars; pin-prick night lights.
.
by Scooj
Thursday doors
Door 15
I love this door which I walk past most days on my way to work. It is not so much the door, but the door frame that attracts me. It has that ‘distressed’ look. Many years worth of different colour paints have been roughly exposed, intentionally I think, to produce this colour burst and polite nod to the passing of time.
Thursday doors has given me the platform to talk about this lovely door.
by Scooj
1243. Dean Lane skate park (101)
You have to keep your eyes open in this game, looking for anything that might be different or new. This was a tiny little piece in Dean Lane by Diff, which was rather well camouflaged on a colourful background and not the easiest to spot.
Diff is a local artist who creates occasional pieces in the area and this one is a nice little surprise. It is a three colour stencil of a Buddha wearing glasses. I am not sure of the significance or background to the piece, but I know that I am pleased to have found it.
True
I have a problem
with authority figures
I’m not a ‘yes man’
I think my integrity
too often gets in the way.
by Scooj
1242. The Bearpit (114)
I love this. Here we see John D’oh at his most hard-hitting, exposing two of the easiest targets on earth and keeping the debate alive. Never one to hide from political comment, he produces topical pieces with alarming speed, unlike me who seems to take an eternity to publish posts.
These single layer stencils are part of the furniture in The Bearpit and in other parts of Bristol, and John D’oh a permanent presence, reminding us to search our conscience and get fired up. So much more to come.
1241. Dean Lane skate park (100)
It is a rare thing for me to come across an Andy Council piece that is not a composite of buildings to create a beast of some kind. Equally rare is to see an Andy Council collaboration, but here is a piece that he sprayed just before Christmas with Hemper in the far corner of Dean Lane, and it is a real humdinger.
I don’t know much about Hemper other than that he is a well established and highly regarded writer in Bristol and I have only come across his work a couple of times. This collaboration feels like a bit of fun between two friends. Andy Council has made a character out of his ammonite signature, which has turned out really well. This was a nice piece to find, even though I got to it too late to see it untagged.
Big mouth
.
Outspoken values
and passionate conviction
my Achilles heel.
.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 