Thursday doors

Door 29

I usually like to present one door at a time in my Thursday doors posts to allow for a thorough examination of the door, without the distractions of others. However, sometimes it is appropriate to look at several at once – besides which, how else will I be able to clear out my archive of doors?

On a recent trip to Barcelona with my daughter, I noticed that in the old city many of the doors to apartments above shops were extraordinarily thin and tall. Some were so slender that you wonder how larger people might manage. Were they designed this way to maximise the space for the shop front? or was there some other reason for this architectural design? Answers on a postcard…

Here are a few of the many doors we saw:

Barcelona door, March 2018
Barcelona door, March 2018
Barcelona door, March 2018
Barcelona door, March 2018

 

Barcelona door, March 2018
Barcelona door, March 2018

This door was open, and what I saw inside was not at all what I expected. This is not a place for those afraid of confined spaces. Immediately behind the door, there was a stone spiral stairtcase, tighter than any I have ever seen before. By the look of it on the doorbell, there are eight apartments through this door. The mind boggles at the logistics of meeting people travelling in opposite directions, and looking at this through the lens of the British pre-occupation of health and safety – isn’t this something of a horrific fire escape risk? Interesting as it is, I fret every time I look at this picture.

Barcelona door, March 2018
Barcelona door, March 2018

by Scooj

More doors at: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

1355. North Street Green (10)

I recently took a few work colleagues on a guided street art tour to Bedminster as part of an organisational event designed to share skills, learn more about the work we do and to get to know each other better and the city we live in as part of a wellbeing initiative. The tour was very oversubscribed, and I may have to run some more. It was something of a success and all the participants told me that they had really enjoyed it.

Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2018
Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, February 2018

What luck it was then that we came across one of Bristol’s most well known street artists at work, just finishing off a new work as part of his nomination as Upfest artist of the month for March in the build up to Upfest 2018, Andy Council.

Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, March 2018
Andy Council, North Street Green, Bristol, March 2018

His style and presentation should come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog. He has created a wonderful dinosaur, a stegosaurus type I think, which is composed of architectural features, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge on the head of the beast. I stopped for a quick chat with Andy, but it was the coldest day of the year so far and I felt I needed to keep the tour moving. It was nice to be able to show people an artist at work, and even better that it was Andy Council.

1320. Chalk Farm (4)

This sensational piece, which was part of the Ferdinand estate initiative organised by Global Street art and Camden Council, is by Bristol’s very own Andy Council. So good to see an artist’s work in London that I am very familiar with.

Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017
Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017

This has all the hallmarks of a great AC piece: An animal (in this case a horse with a flowing mane), a fantastic colour palette and the whole being composed of architectural elements and local landmarks.

Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017
Andy Council, Chalk Farm Estate, London, November 2017

I remember seeing this on social media when he first sprayed it and thinking that I would probably never see it. When I found it, I certainly hadn’t been looking for it. If I had done my homework properly I would have known where to look. Somehow though I prefer to wander around places using my instinct to track down potentioal street art spots. It is like a sixth sense.

1121. Chalks Road

This lovely piece by Andy Council is in South East Bristol, in an area I don’t pass through too often, except when visiting the reptile shop to get supplies for my daughter’s chameleon, George. I managed to stop and take these pictures on one such trip.

Andy Council, Chalks Road, Bristol, July 2017
Andy Council, Chalks Road, Bristol, July 2017

I think the piece has has been around since early 2017, and you can see from the foliage growing in front of it that it was not recent even in July when I took the picture. As with all Andy Council’s pieces, there are numerous references to Bristol and the locality in the buildings that make up this ram with a fish tail, which I recognise as the star sign representation of Capricorn, being one myself. It is always good to see the iconic Clifton suspension bridge included in street art.

Andy Council, Chalks Road, Bristol, July 2017
Andy Council, Chalks Road, Bristol, July 2017

I like this piece very much. It is unusual and incorporates some interesting colour selections commensurate with the two halves of the beast. Well thought out and as always, well executed.

1020. Upfest 2017 (53)

Half way along North Street you will find Exmoor Street, with a lovely white wall, perfect for a bit of spraying. Wen2, from Brest in France, was one of two artists fortunate enough to be allocated this space.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This piece is beautifully thought out and generates an understanding of buildings and place. It is almost like one of those children’s books that deconstructs structures and shows you what goes on behind the scenes.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I particularly like a couple of things about Wen2 at work herte. He has been most conscientious about the street sign, coveuring it up with paper and masking tape. He has also ‘borrowed’ a chair from somewhere to use as a small step ladder. Resourceful.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Wen2 used a plan to create his piece which gives you a feel for what he was creating. It is interesting that he vchanged some of the colours around. What I really like, and is something he has done with other pieces (check out his Facebook page) is his signature in the style of a throw up on the garage doors. Brilliant!

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Another special piece for Upfest 2017.

 

1018. Upfest 2017 (51)

Well this one was a little off the beaten track, only by a hundred meters or so, but enough for many visitors to Upfest to have missed it. In fact, I missed it until a friend told me about it, and I went to investigate for myself.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mr June, who had a premium wall at Upfest 2016, came back this year to create this architectural masterpiece, turning a fairly ordinary flat into something out of the ordinary…exceptional even.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Smyth Lane has rarely been such a desirable location, demonstrating what a bit of unbelieveably cool spraying can do for a place. The clever straight line 3D effect created on the front of the building is perfectly offset by the more organic shapes that are on the walls of the tunnel. A watery theme disrupts the hard edges and ripples appear to disperse across the piece. While on the other side, water droplets bound by surface tension, sit on designed planes that have an Escher feel to them. And the greens…just beautiful.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mr June is a highly accomplished artist and this piece really has to go straight into the top ten for this year’s festival…and to think I nearly missed it. I wonder if other local residents will be offering up their properties for a makeover next year.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

 

 

927. Bedminster

Some pieces are difficult to photograph. It might be a narrow lane, an awkward height, in front of a parking bay, in a tunnel or as in this instance a tree casting speckled light and shade rendering my photographic efforts utterly useless. I had to visit this spot four times before I could get a half decent picture of it.

Andy Council, Bedminster, Bristol, July 2017
Andy Council, Bedminster, Bristol, July 2017

It took an overcast moment and diversion on my way to Upfest to get this dinosaur by Andy Council. It was worth waiting for, to see the architectural detail that comes together to create this triceratops (I think). It is always good to see the Bristol suspension bridge incorporated into a work. Yet another note to self on this matter – must do a special post of street art that incorporates the bridge.

717. Stapleton Road, Masala Bazaar

On one of my walks a while back, I took a little detour away from the M32 cycle path, and what a good thing to. I came across this amazing spider by Andy Council. I think that it is one of his older pieces in Bristol, and since I took this picture has been almost entirely obscured by the bins adjacent to it.

Andy Council, Stapleton Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andy Council, Stapleton Road, Bristol, January 2017

Andy Council’s work is possibly the most recognisable in Bristol, and he obviously commands respect on the streets as his pieces have incredible longevity and are rarely tagged.

Andy Council, Stapleton Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andy Council, Stapleton Road, Bristol, January 2017

The spider contains local landmarks, including a nearby mosque. Another classy detail is the web etched into the filth on the wall around the spider. Consistently great work.

Exeter

 

Eclectic city

a mish-mash of new and old

buildings cheek by jowl.

 

by Scooj

Mimic

 

Incorporation

of natural forms, calms the

fraught urban landscape.

 

by Scooj