221. Devon Road (1)

A new location for me. I found out about this incredible road in Easton through a friend of mine who wondered if I had heard about a community project, the purpose of which was to brighten up Devon Road. I looked up the community Facebook page, and was astonished that this was completely off my radar. I decided to check it out…what delights!

The main part of the road is a regular Bristol street, but at the Northern end it has a dogleg tracking West, which is actually a lane with two long terraces backing onto it. Each terraced house has a yard with walls and doors opening out into Devon Road. It is these walls and doors that are being sprayed. Everyone is happy. The street artists have walls to spray and there is little tagging here as it is a bit off the beaten track. The residents have the benefit of some beautiful works going up on their properties and the whole area looks vibrant, especially on a lovely sunny day.

Aspire, blue tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Aspire, blue tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

My first post from Devon Road is a stunning piece by Aspire. This, in my view, is one of his finest. The birds are a blue tit on the left, and a coal tit (I think) on the right. Just fabulous. I am now on the hunt for a blue macaw that I know he has recently sprayed. I will find it.

Aspire, coal tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016
Aspire, coal tit, Devon Road, Bristol, May 2016

Mackerel feathering

 

The sun touched sea slaps

the boat and our lines tighten

and cut on the rise.

 

by Scooj

Allotment fox

 

Silent approaches,

nonchalant glances exchanged;

mutual respect.

Bittercress

 

Frail unpretentious

flower too small to notice

too fair to ignore.

 

by Scooj

Close your eyes for a moment

 

Hear the tide ebbing,

seaweed pops and crackles and

bright water gurgles.

 

by Scooj

Heron

 

In its grey coat it

came, eyeing up the neighbours

fishpond, then vanished.

 

by Scooj

194. Gloucester Road, Metropolis

This stylised owl seems to have occupied this little corner for ever – I can’t remember it not being here, but having said that my skills of ‘street art awareness’ have only been in full operation for about a year now, so it might not be all that old.

45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016
45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016

It is a work by 45RPM, the very same who created the corporate commission for the Body Shop in Hotwell Road. This owl is special, and you will note, completely unmarked by taggers. A lovely work that could do with a bit of a wash.

45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016
45RPM, Gloucester Road, Bristol, February 2016

Focus interrupted

 

Working from home with

natural distractions all

around; back to it!

 

by Scooj

189. Cheltenham Road, Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party cafe marks out the northern border of the Stokes Croft area for street art. It is also a great place to start a tour of all the wonders in the area. This is a lovely commission by Alex Lucas adorning the front right hand side of the building. I presume it is a March hare, given its boxing gloves.

Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, September 2015
Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, September 2015

Unfortunately the piece and many others nearby have been obscured by red spray, really calling into question the whole debate about art, street art, commissions, illegal, graffiti, tagging, vandalism and so on. It will be very difficult to clear this piece up – maybe she’ll get a commission to replace it (please).

Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, September 2015
Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, September 2015

185. Stokes Croft, Pop up Shop

This playful commission was painstakingly crafted between the 5th to the 11th of April 2016. It is unmistakably the work of the brilliant Alex Lucas, and adds to the overall wealth of her pieces in the Area. It is great that so many small local businesses commission her work. Her stamp is fast becoming part of the Bristol USP.

Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016

These hares, painted and marked onto shutters, will I’m sure, become a local reference point. Looking carefully, you might also catch a glimpse of Mrs Scooj walking past the triptych with an umbrella.

Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016

I managed to have a quick chat with Alex a couple of times while she was working on this piece, and was struck by how approachable and incredibly nice she was…it must get very tiresome having people interrupt your work and ask inane questions, but at no time did she make me feel unwelcome, in fact completely the opposite.

Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016

Alex did disclose that shutter work is a bit of a pain and rather difficult, but she has done a great job with this. I really look forward to her next commission.