Tag: Stokes Croft

378. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (16)

I do love the Carriageworks. The pieces here tend to be quite large because of the framing of the arches, and so we are often treated to ‘special’ work. The turnover for any work here is about a month or so, so this piece is approaching its ‘sell by’ date. It has been a while since I posted about Mr Sle7en, which is a pity, because I love his work. It would seem that he is not as prolific as some of our other artists, but he is no less talented.

Mr Sle7en, Stokes Croft, Bristol, August 2016
Mr Sle7en, Stokes Croft, Bristol, August 2016

In this mysterious piece, we have the ‘signature’ single eye that is common to Mr Sle7en’s work.There is always something about his work that I like. I can’t put my finger on it, but it is unusual, sometimes unsettling but always beautifully executed.

364. Moon Street (15)

Another pause from Upfest 2016.

With my weekly trips to London, and tons of pictures from Upfest, it is all too easy to neglect my first love…Bristol street art, here every day on the streets, right in front of my eyes. I took a bunch of photographs on my way to work a few days ago, and here is one of the highlights.

3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

This wall has been home to a piece by Laic217 for quite a while but has been replaced by this magnificent 3Dom work. Skulls seem to hold a fascination for street artists…(note to self – special skulls post)…this skull though is one happy, peaceful soul.

3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

I think this piece is quite new. It is always exciting for someone like me to find the new stuff and see it for the first time. Yet another winner from 3Dom.

339. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (15)

This rather unusual piece was sprayed back at the start of June and is by DNT. Rather delightfully entitled ‘RIP corporate bunny’ it taps into the edgy political community that makes Stokes Croft such a creative force in Bristol. I like this work for many reasons…bullet holes in a cuddly bunny character. Disturbing and visually engaging all at once.

DNT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
DNT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

The piece has been sprayed over the Hoax and AKArat work that I featured in one of my earlier posts this year.

338. Stokes Croft, Attic Bar

I’m not sure how many times I might have walked past this before I noticed it. I would like to think not many. Recently (I think) the Attic Bar at the bottom end of Stokes Croft (It might even be North Road) had a little face lift with this collaboration between Aspire and another artist. I haven’t yet worked out who the other artist is, but the work looks familiar.

Aspire and ? Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Aspire and ? Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

As always, Aspire has turned out yet another superb bird, which looks like a blue jay again, to watch over us.

Aspire and ? Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Aspire and ? Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

I am perplexed by not knowing who the writer is. If anyone reading this knows the answer, please drop me a comment.

297. Stokes Croft corner wall (3)

This is another one of 3Dom’s favourite walls. For about a year the space has been occupied by his slightly odd skull in a birdcage piece. Its replacement is something altogether different and in my view odd or unsettling.

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

This is a piece full of symbolism that I can’t for the life of me unravel. The piece presents us with a foetus that has the Earth for a head. The dark red surround is, I guess, representative of the womb, which appears to be a landfill site or some other wasteland. All most peculiar.

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

I think it would be good top try and collar him sometime and ask him about some of his pieces, as they are wild, hugely creative and visually provocative.

289. Stokes Croft, number 57

This, I think is probably the most difficult collaboration in Bristol to photograph. The work, dated 2009 is by 3Dom and Voyder and sits high above a local massage parlour. Charged with symbolism the piece depicts a figurine being held gently in large cupped hands, or even emanating from those hands. The earth and sun both contribute to the symbolism.

3Dom and Voyder, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2016
3Dom and Voyder, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2016

All around the piece is some ornate decoration that sets it off really nicely.

3Dom and Voyder, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2016
3Dom and Voyder, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2016

It is such a bugger to photograph though. In the summer there is a tree that makes the view pretty much impossible, and in the winter, the same tree is an obstacle. To avoid the tree, you have to advance closer to the base of the piece and then the angles are all a bit peculiar. This was the best I could do last Winter.

It is a lasting collaboration and has been left entirely alone.

288. Cheltenham Road, the Little Shop

It has been a little while since I last posted anything by Alex Lucas. This wonderful piece has decorated the Little Shop for a few years now and sits right on the cusp of Cheltenham Road and Stokes Croft – both street names appear in the featured image.

Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2015
Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2015

In this commissioned mural Lucas does what she does so very well. Rabbits. Wonderful line drawings of rabbits interspersed with what appear to be pineapples. This junction with Ashley Road is really at the heart of Bohemian Bristol and there is barely a building without some kind of street art decorating it. I have the pleasure of walking this way to work every day (in the Summer at least) and never tire of this Lucas work.

Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2015
Alex Lucas, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, December 2015

The left hand side of the building is part of the 123 Space – a gallery which is linked to the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) next door. The 123 Space is a place for the local art community to create, connect, dream and build together. The Facebook page is here.

 

283. The Bearpit (21)

In Bristol, most of the political street art seems to be created by stencil specialists. I guess the technique lends itself to writing messages and combining them with famous, iconic or striking figures.

Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016
Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016

In this beautifully executed example by Dice 67, we see a homeless man holding up a banner, while behind him there is a group of Tory politicians, in what appears to be a police line up. The Prime Minister is accompanied by Gove, Hunt, Osborne and one other. The Tory manufactured mantra since the coalition has been ‘we’re all in it together’. Obviously it is not the case, as the wealthy continue to get wealthier and the poorest in our communities are dropping through the cracks.

Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016
Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016

Whether I agree or not with this piece is irrelevant in so much as it is a fantastic work and worthy of greater exposure. Dice 67 is a brilliant stencil artist, and I always love it when he visits Bristol and leaves something like this behind.

Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016
Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016

He signs off the piece with his usual spray cans. A great work.

270. Stokes Croft, Canteen (3)

It is high time that I posted another fabulous wheatpaste by Tian from his recent tour of Bristol and the UK. I think that this might be my favourite of the lot. The figure is, I am sure, a very famous image, but regrettably my classical education was so very long ago and although I am familiar with the image, I don’t know who it is. Actually…on second inspection it looks a lot like Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra?).

Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016

Tian certainly brightened up the Stokes Croft area with his paste ups back in April 2016 and some of them are still there for all to see. Some though have been tagged, and others removed.

Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016
Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2016

I rather hope Tian returns soon for another tour, he provided something very different for us to enjoy.

268. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (14)

Well, here’s one for the cat lovers. I really don’t like posting street art without knowing a little bit about the artist, but in this instance I simply cannot resist sharing this piece as quickly as I can.

Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

I spotted the glorious cat when driving my wife to the station this morning, and I guess it must have appeared sometime yesterday. It is fresh, striking, clean and catty. The artist is Dose? about whom I know absolutely nothing and am struggling to track him down on the Interweb. I have seen a couple of images on Instagram of the piece being painted, but there is no accompanying information about Dose.

Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Dose, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016

There is something about cats and street art, like bananas and chocolate. This cat would be welcome in any alley. Glad to have photographed it in its full glory as I expect the taggers will be all over it by tomorrow. A wonderful wonderful piece. I expect to update this post as I find out more.

Dose and Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016
Dose and Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2016