Tag: Fox

383. Upfest 2016 (27)

I am a huge fan of China Girl Tile, and was so excited to hear that she would be at Upfest 2016. I had seen lots of her work on social media, but nothing in the flesh, so it was a real treat not only to see her at work, but to be able to say hello and stop for a quick chat.

China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I caught up with China Girl Tile while she was finishing off her work in the drizzle on the second day of the festival. The wall she was working on is in the back yard of the Hen and Chicken and in really great company (Fake, Cosmo Sarson…and others).

China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I am glad she chose foxes for this installation, because as many of you may know Bristol is famous for its urban foxes. In fact some research a few years ago showed that the most densely populated group of foxes on record were in and around my allotment. Their numbers fell due to mange and the introduction of wheelie bins with strong lids. I digress. I love foxes.

China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Her reference to the Campbells soup tin is not only witty but is incorporated so very well into the unfolding story.

China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Her work is unusual and refreshing and executed with such skill and dedication. The tiles are really beautiful and enchanting. Please can we get more China Girl Tile work in Bristol.

China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

 

Old sly

 

Planting out on the

allotment being watched; I

turn, he slinks away.

 

by Scooj

The nun’s priest’s tale

 

Chauntecleer was proud

the fox was even prouder

Pertelote knew this.

 

by Scooj

Allotment fox

 

Silent approaches,

nonchalant glances exchanged;

mutual respect.

178. Hillgrove Street (5)

Remember this naughty fox?

Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

Well Mau Mau has returned with a topical piece (when he sprayed it), cleverly conflating an urban fox with R2D2 from Star Wars.

MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016
MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016

Always witty and often quite acerbic, Mau Mau rarely disappoints. I only wish I had found this gem before it had been tagged. Maybe someone was offended by the language (I think not).

MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016
MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016

I look forward to more foxes in the Stokes Croft area.

139. Moon Street (7)

This must be one of the most rapidly changing walls in Stokes Croft at the moment. It seems each time something goes up, it gets painted over and then not long after, replaced. It is not long ago that I featured the wall in this blog.

Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

This is a wonderful new addition by Mau Mau, which he posted on Twitter on February 19 this year. Featuring his signature fox, it is witty and slightly edgy. Much of Mau Mau’s work contains social comment and I think that this is no different.

Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

I have only encountered two of his pieces so far, the first being a wonderful political collaboration with Rowdy. I love this piece, and hope it has a longer stay of execution than some of the previous works here.

7.5/10

69. Picton Lane (3)

Rowdy is best known for his pictures of crocodiles with large triangular teeth (see the trousers?). He is a Bristol artist whose work is very well known locally, but he has painted throughout the country and internationally. He has been spraying for a long time and is well established on the Bristol scene. He has a playful mischief in his work.

Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

This mural is called ‘Boxing Fox’ and is sprayed on a garage door, only a few yards away from his collaboration with Mau Mau, and another of his pictures called ‘Lilo’ which I will post soon. A Rowdy hot-spot.

Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

As with a great many of the Bristol artists, there is a respectful nod to Mibsy and to Robbo (King Robbo, a street artist and ‘competitor’ of Banksy’s, who died in August 2014 aged 45).

7.5/10

 

 

60. Picton Lane (1)

My lunchtime stroll today took me to Montpelier, the heart of alternative Bohemian Bristol. Although I live nearby, I don’t know the area well, so I was in for a treat. I veered off the main roads into the back streets, and found walls festooned with murals, mostly by very local artists.

Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

I came across this political piece, which speaks volumes about the severe cuts which are destroying public services. It is a collaboration between Rowdy and Mau Mau. Rowdy is known as one of the longest-standing graffiti artists in the UK, and paints a lot of crocodiles and jagged teeth. Mau Mau’s trademark is a fox, which features in most of his works.

Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

This was, as far as I can make out, painted on 27 October 2015; so really recent. I am pleased to have seen it so soon after completion.

7.5/10

34. Raleigh Road

One of the most eye catching murals from this year’s Upfest must surely be this wonderful fox by artist Rob Wass.

Rob Wass, Raleigh Road, Bristol, September 2015
Rob Wass, Raleigh Road, Bristol, September 2015

The urban fox has become part of the furniture in Bristol, and has been studied over many years by Bristol University. It has become something of an emblem for the city.

Rob Wass, Raleigh Road, Bristol, September 2015
Rob Wass, Raleigh Road, Bristol, September 2015

Rob Wass, who lives and works in London creates some wonderful colourful works, but I think that these large scale murals are something of a slight departure.

 

Fox

 

Wiley visitor,

a young fox surveys its patch;

cat is not amused.

 

by Scooj