Hear the tide ebbing,
seaweed pops and crackles and
bright water gurgles.
by Scooj
Tag: Nature
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 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.
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Alex Lucas, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
183. Moon Street (9)
Another wonderful bird piece by Aspire, from a few weeks ago. I’m not too sure what species this one is, and I can’t find any reference to it on his Instagram feed. It maintains the high quality I would expect from Aspire, and many of the common features in his work.
I very much like the way he still chooses to spray these masterful pieces on ‘illegal’ albeit tolerated walls, as he could so easily go down the commission-only route.
I guess the best thing about Bristol street artists is that they all choose their own paths, but coexist in apparent harmony. It is about the full spectrum of street art and we are very lucky indeed.
Painted Ladies
Hanging out to dry,
ugly guzzling grubbers will
transform and amaze.
by Scooj
181. Trenchard Street (2)
Tucked away from the main drag in Bristol is this masterpiece by Nick Walker. This amazing stencil which dates back to at least May 2010 blends in so well with the architrave surround and brick wall.
The piece can be found just beyond the rear entrance, turning right out of the exit, of Colston’s Hall. It is another of those Walker pieces that have simply become a ‘part of the furniture’ that we in Bristol take for granted. I think that most, if not all of his work remains intact, which is very unusual here.
Taking a closer look at the butterflies reveals that they are more sinister than you might originally think. Great work.
Modern Green Man
Shaped from the earth and
hiding in a suburban
garden; I saw you.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 