Tag: Gloucester Road

116. Gloucester Road, No 212

Room 212 is an art shop that promotes and sells the works of local artists, on the Gloucester Road about half way between Bishopston and Horfield. To my shame I have not yet visited the shop, but having looked at their website, I will make a visit soon, if only to buy a Stewy print.

Above the shop front is a fabulous stencil of Cary Grant sitting cross legged and waving to passers by.

Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol

Stewy specialises in artworks of iconic people and tends to spray them close to where they live/once lived. In this case, Cary Grant (Archibald Leach) lived very nearby, and went to the local primary school in Bishop Road before heading out to the USA. Locals are very proud of their world famous son.

This is a typically understated stencil by Stewy, and hits the mark perfectly.

8.5/10

99. Gloucester Road, No.226

Many of the shops on Gloucester Road have commissioned street art on their shutters, which is how some artists have managed to make some money from their craft. This one caught my eye for several reasons.

The sad story is that this family run butcher shop ‘Stutt and Son’ that has been trading since 1919 has recently been closed at short notice due to the ill health of Mr Stutt senior. The hurriedly scrawled note on the shutter is heartbreaking.

Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol

The artwork is by Zase, but is clearly one of his early works as it is unsophisticated and rather raw, compared to some of his more recent pieces, such as the one in Ashley Road. He has come a long way.

As for the Butcher, the shop will be sold and another trader will move in, reinforcing the transient nature of a commercial high street.

5/10

55. Gloucester Road, Co-operative

I had originally thought that this was an advertising piece, because it is so well proportioned and executed. Of course I was wrong, and have grown fond of the ‘So far so good’ mural by Akarat and Hoax.

Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015

Akarat is another Bristol street artist who has emerged from the hip hop and reggae scene. His works usually have some kind of social commentary to them. His favoured techniques would appear to be similar to those used by Nick Walker; stencils and sprays, freehand and rollers. He often collaborates with Hoax another Bristol artist who also enjoys making political statements. I’m not sure why, but Hoax’s signature has been painted over since this was completed.

7/10

24. Cheltenham Road, the Arches

Zase v JPS

I don’t yet understand the ground rules or protocols that exist between street artists, but it would seem there is some minor conflict in a small passageway by the Arches on Cheltenham Road, Bristol.

JPS, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015

An original mural by Zase adorned the side wall of Wong’s Acupuncture Clinic. This appeared before or during 2011. I only became conscious of the piece last year when I saw a wonderful JPS stencil entitled ‘Insert Punchline’ which covered the lower left hand side of the Zase work. Even at the time I saw it, part of the JPS had been sprayed over. Sometime later somebody added a rat and Banksy signature, but I doubt very much that it is an original.

JPS, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
JPS, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015

I took a look at the wall last week, and it would seem that Zase has returned and restored the wall to its former status. It is a pity in a way, but at least I managed to get a picture of the JPS before it disappeared.

Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015
Detail, Zase and Dekor, Gloucester Road, Bristol, August 2015