Tag: Street art

152. Jamaica Street

I surprise myself that this is the first post from Jamaica Street…it won’t be the last. I spotted this tiny wheatpaste a few weeks ago. It is by the fabulous 23 Magpies from Gloucester, and is so different from most of the street art I see. I love her work, and featured a piece from Dean Lane back in September 2015.

23 Magpies, Jamaica Street, Bristol, March 2016
23 Magpies, Jamaica Street, Bristol, March 2016

23 Magpies currently has an exhibition of her work in Gloucester Guildhall. I think it unlikely that I shall be able to go, but I will keep an eye out for more of her works in Bristol.

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23 Magpies, Jamaica Street, Bristol, March 2016

This flying squirrel is certainly one of the more unusual pieces I have seen.

7/10

151. Ashley Road (2)

This hoarding, on the corner of Ashley Road and Picton Street is a favourite of mine; the pieces here never last long, but they command attention due to the great location. The first time I ever saw one of Tom Miller’s works was here. Regrettably I didn’t photograph it and then it was gone. Right now the hoarding belongs to Aspire.

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Aspire, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016

This piece appeared earlier this week, and in my view, is one of Aspire’s best so far. I am not sure what species the bird is, but it doesn’t look like a British one.

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Aspire, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016

With the improving weather, the turnover of street art is on the up, and I really look forward to Monday mornings to see what has changed.

8/10

150. Armada Place (2)

It seems hard to believe that I have notched up 150 posts of Bristol street art already. It wasn’t meant to become a ‘thing’ but it has somehow crept under my skin. Mrs Scooj is underwhelmed by my interest in urban art, but I have the bug, and it gives me great pleasure.

This is one of two new pieces by Bristol artist Aspire. His works, mostly of birds, are truly beautiful and at this time of year entirely appropriate and the Spring gets a foothold and lightens out hearts. This is a ‘tui bird‘ an endemic bird of New Zealand – not something we usually see in the Stokes Croft area.

Aspire, Armada Place, Bristol, March 2016 - Tui Bird
Aspire, Armada Place, Bristol, March 2016 – Tui Bird

I have featured two other Aspire works previously, a robin (and who doesn’t love robins?) and another bird (I’m not sure what species).

Just wonderful. 8/10

149. Mina Road Park

In September 2014, Bristol was lucky enough to be visited by Colombian street artist Stinkfish. This beautiful and unmistakable portrait can be found in St Werburghs, one of several bohemian districts in Bristol.

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Stinkfish, Mina Road Park, Bristol, March 2016

His other iconic Bristol work is the centrepiece of Stokes Croft, which I have featured previously.

Stinkfish, Mina Road Park, Bristol, March 2016
Stinkfish, Mina Road Park, Bristol, March 2016

This piece is still looking very fresh and brightens up this small urban park just north of the M32. It really is a stunning image.

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Stinkfish, Mina Road Park, Bristol, March 2016

8.5/10

148. Midland Street (2)

I think that this street and its immediate surroundings are my favourite places for viewing great street art. It is a quiet backwater, and the walls are perfect to spray and easy to photograph.

Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016
Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016

This new piece by Deamze is just so good. A wildstyle burner and so much more, just beautifully executed. Deamze manages to get fantastically clean lines and his choice of colours seems to be never ending.

Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016
Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016

The crocodile and robot characters just add that little bit extra to this great piece. There is another wonderful burner right next to this one, and once I am certain I know who it is by, I will feature it too.

Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016
Deamze, Midland Street, Bristol, March 2016

8/10

147. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (4)

So Tom Miller has been busy once again, as have many other street artists. Quite a few new works are appearing around Bristol at the moment, and I think that the better weather combined with weekends is seeing a lot of popular walls getting a refresh.

Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016
Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016

This is another wild and wonderful piece from Miller and beautifully combines the material world with dream like unreality. As I have said before, I am a fan. This work replaces one by Silent Hobo that I wrote about back in December 2015. It is a worthy replacement, but I am very pleased to have captured its predecessor.

Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016
Tom Miller, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016

8/10

146. The Bearpit (6)

This post is governed more by events than any kind of planning on my part. Last week I photographed this small wooden plaque recognising the great talents of DJ Derek. Any of you who have followed this blog for a while may remember this post of a stencil by Stewy in Leonard Lane.

DJ Derek, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
DJ Derek, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

There is some sad news today; news reports are claiming that the remains of Derek Serpell-Morris have been found in Patchway, North Bristol. There will be a collective sigh of sadness as people in Bristol become aware of the fate of this iconic character.

The catchphrase on the plaque is now burdened with a heavy irony given the circumstances of his disappearance and passing. I don’t know who the  plaque is by, but it is signed MTB.

This is a sad day indeed.

 

6/10

145. Redland Road

I am always taken by this amazing and simple stencil on a railway bridge in Redland. The image of a baby’s face by an unknown artist is stencil work in its most raw form. One also has to admire the artist’s determination at spraying in such locations. Do they drop down from the railway, or climb up from a ladder?

Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015
Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015

I love this stripped-back simple graffiti.

7.5/10

144. Chapter Street

I took a long walk home after a very tricky meeting yesterday, and cheered myself up with taking a new route through St Pauls. My reward was this superb mural by Silent Hobo.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

This area of St Pauls really is Silent Hobo’s heartland, and barely a street goes by without one of his pieces brightening up a wall or shop front.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

This work, I think, is my favourite. Not only is it beautifully executed, but the subject material is a fabulous reflection of what Bristol is all about. Some artists portray Bristol with architectural landmarks; Silent Hobo tends to present Bristol through cultural references.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

For the more observant among you, there is also a beautiful tribute to Mibsy.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

8/10

143. Leonard Lane (7)

Inspired by Frankie Beane’s recent post featuring ATM I thought I would share some wildlife street art by the artist in the wonderful Leonard Lane. This thin lane that follows the boundary of the old city wall is festooned with natural history street art instigated by a project called ‘Human Nature‘. Some 18 artists including ATM and Stewy took part, and I have posted several works already in this blog.

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

My challenge was to demonstrate that ATM, although a specialist in painting birds, has also painted some stunning creatures, including this moth and beetle.

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

I stroll down Leonard Lane about once a week, hoping to see something new. Some of the works have been tagged and are getting a little ragged…maybe time for a revamp?

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

8/10