Yesterday was a red-letter day for me. I must have gathered up some 50 or more new (to me) pieces around Bristol. Something has to give…either I stop taking pictures or I post more often. Whatever happens, my backlog is getting serious.
Sepr & Piro, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015
This is an absolutely outstanding piece by Sepr and Piro. I have written on many occasions about Sepr and his wonderful work, indeed his work previously adorned this wall. Piro is a bit of a mystery to me, and I am having to do a little more digging around.
Sepr & Piro, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015
Together this collaboration is almost perfect. The colours are amazing and the balance between the characters and the burner works really well.
Sepr & Piro, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015
The piece is relatively recent, I believe it was sprayed in early march, and it retains its freshness.
Sepr & Piro, Albert Park Place, Bristol, March 2015
I absolutely love this work and I also love the location, it has a small footfall…this is a work of love.
On the practice wall outside the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft, is a very different piece by Mr Sle7en from the one featured a couple of days ago.
Mr Sle7en, Jamaica Street, Bristol, January 2016
This time a humorous piece, somewhat critical of middle-class activists and people, well…a bit like me I suppose. Ouch! It is very funny, and I love the bourbon biscuit. Lots of nice Bristol references, and some more Buzz tributes just to the right of the picture.
Anyone who wanders around the streets of Bristol, particularly in the Montpelier area, cannot fail to have seen works by the wonderful Alex Lucas. They are everywhere, and together with her designs, they have become somewhat synonymous with the identity of Bristol itself. I posted this back in November 2105.
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2106
Nearly all of her work that I have seen includes portrayals of animals, often in anthropomorphic poses. Unlike most of the street artists I feature, Lucas is very much on the legitimate/commission-based side of brightening up our streets, and although some might perceive this as lacking in edge, Bristol would be greatly diminished without her outstanding pieces.
Alex Lucas, Picton Street, Bristol, March 2106
I only clocked this one walking home last week with some friends. I think it must be reasonably new. I should think Picton Takeaway are thrilled. Alex lives opposite in a house decorated in her own style, deserving of a post in its own right.
The quote from Oscar Wilde is perfect. Oh yes, and there is another Fox!
In September 2014, Bristol was lucky enough to be visited by Colombian street artist Stinkfish. This beautiful and unmistakable portrait can be found in St Werburghs, one of several bohemian districts in Bristol.
Wednesday 11 May 1988, Koei Maru 30/Falkland Desire
Well I’m angry and upset. I still haven’t been picked up. I bet I end up staying at least another week. I think I’ll go bananas soon. I am getting pissed off. If I come back with the Koei Maru 30 on the 25th, I’ll have spent 6 weeks on this bathtub. What a nightmare. I want to go back to Port Stanley and I don’t want any fuss. Balls.
And as the philosophy goes – everything always works out in the end (unless you die, and if you die it doesn’t matter anyway).
I was woken by the Sencho (Captain in Japanese) at about 3pm…”Fishery Patrol”. This was good news. the Desire (a patrol ship called the Falkland Desire) had come to collect me. I spoke with them and packed quickly. In the process I forgot my chocolate cake, my casettes, my loligo and my films. What a bloody pain in the arse, but small prices to pay for freedom.
What really pisses me off though is that had I not called KSJ (the Japanese fishing company) to query my pick up date and time, I would never have been rescued. Some bloody organisation this is.
Anyway, I am on the Desire and had a wonderful mixed grill and trifle for supper, followed by a Bond movie.
I am happy.
Thursday 12 May 1988, Falkland Desire
Having slept pretty well from 8pm to 1.30am, I am now wide awake, and there is no chance of me going back to sleep, so it is letters and diary time.
My cabin on the Falkland Desire
The crew (apart from one or two exceptions) are almost entirely fat. Too many fried meals and not enough exercise.
Picked up Elizabeth. (Another scientist on a different vessel)
Got well tanked up in the evening. Home tomorrow.
Friday 13 May 1988, Port Stanley, Emma’s Guest House
Friday 13th – what a day to come to port! We came into Port William by 9.30am and went to Port Stanley. Jim is resigning! This is terrible news. He’ll be going at the end of this month. My only ally in this adversity. I will feel very alone once he has gone.
A plethora of letters. It’s nice – it makes all my letter writing worth it. I actually feel a bit of a plonker because I get so much more mail than anyone else. Sorry to find out that granny is so unwell – if I were a believer I would pray for her – I know that she is safe in her own faith though. It is grandpa I also worry about.
Met Phil at last and am sharing a room in ‘Emma’s’ with him – we all got well pissed in The Globe and in John’s house. The Suntory whiskey was worth opening.
I got home and read the remainder of my letters. I cried unashamedly at granny’s letter – I don’t think she’ll last much longer.
It is nice to be clean shaven after so long with my beard.
Saturday 14 May 1988, Port Stanley, Emma’s Guest House
A day of indecision, I wandered around Stanley and found Jim at Fishops (Fisheries Operations). Went to the Upland Goose for lunch with Jim, Anna and Sean.
Hulks at the Eastern end of Port Stanley
Nothing to do, but it is quite nice.
Ended up watching Mona Lisa at Goodwyn’s and supping Tim’s Whiskey. Then went on to The Globe for a few minutes before trundling off to the Town Hall to see the C.S.E show (Combined Services Entertainment – The islanders benefitted from the shows that came to entertain the troops at Mount Pleasant air base).
It was terrible – naf, but in a corny way, quite fun.
a compere who kept saying “no”, like they do when they tell jokes and laughing through his teeth ‘sheee’
a dancing troop called Sassie? terrible dancers
a corny magician, old tricks
a dreadful female singer
a band
They tried hard and I appreciated their effort and anyway, it was something to do.
Met a Korean man called JK. Great bloke and long-line skipper for twenty years.
Got pissed in The Rose and back at Tim’s. Watched a video.
Liverpool lost the FA Cup final to Wimbledon. Yahoo.
I took a short walk this morning after breakfast and discovered a whole ton of street art and graffiti in Moon Street near Stokes Croft. The problem with most of the works here is that they are unsigned, or by artists/sprayers unknown to me (so far).
This crocodile is by Sesk, but I am unclear about whether Sesk is an individual or a crew. In the course of my research however, I did find this article in the Bristol Post from November 2015, which indicates that the authorities are clamping down a bit on some taggers, of which Sesk appears to be the ‘ace of spades’.
Some copy from the article reads as follows:
“A police crackdown on graffiti tagging across Bristol will see a man appear at court.
The man has been reported to court for 89 separate offences of Criminal damage across central Bristol.
The damage relates to illegal graffiti that has been sprayed, drawn and painted onto public and private property across the city.
It is alleged the man is responsible for the “SESK” tag, which police say is one of the most prolific in the city.”
None of this though has helped me find out more about Sesk.
Since I’m on a bit of a Silent Hobo run at the moment, I thought I’d post one of his works which can be found in the heart of St Pauls, and celebrates the St Pauls Carnival.
Silent Hobo, Little Bishop Street, Bristol, November 2015
Even in a contemporary setting his pieces have an element of mysticism about them.
Silent Hobo, Little Bishop Street, Bristol, November 2015Silent Hobo, Little Bishop Street, Bristol, November 2015
There is a small enclave of street art in Cotham, centered around the Highbury Vaults pub. I have already featured two works in the area, one by Nick Walker, and the other by Unify. This is the third piece to be found here, and one that somehow passed me by until recently. Perhaps this is because it is so seamlessly blends in with the shop that it adorns.
Inkie, Clarence Place, Bristol, December 2015
This mural is a trademark Inkie. It reminds me very much of the styling used for Biba – maybe it is the black and gold thing going on.
Natural adventures 