Tag: The Bearpit

602. The Bearpit (34)

Mr Draws has, it would appear, had an epiphany. Only a few months ago he was a little bit in danger of becoming a ‘one-trick-pony’ with his colourful mountain scene murals. It was a theme he played with for some time, gaining confidence spraying more walls in more areas of Bristol.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The big change in his work appears to have happened in November/December time, when he started painting letters and playing with those, then on to rather different mountainscapes like this one. He is now churning out works like a man possessed and some contain quite different subject matter. It is like the shackles have been removed and we are seeing a new Mr Draws. I am really looking forward to documenting this progression and constant search for something new. I’m not sure what has led to this significant shift in his work, but it is to be celebrated.

585. The Bearpit (34)

Tracking through my archives I found this piece by Decay. I thought that I had posted it, but it seems I had not, so here for the first time I bring you a piece which was sprayed during a bit of a Decay frenzy, shortly after he had arrived in Bristol.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

This piece is quite different from most of his other work. The colour regime is typical, but the composition is something else. Usually Decay works with concentric rings of graded shades working out from the centre (although they are sprayed from the outside in – I think) and topped off with a smiley face. None of that here. This is a one-off.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

I like this work, even though it reminds me of a duck.

550. The Bearpit (31)

The Bearpit has not had very much new work since it was taken over by the Mexican exhibition in the early Autumn, which feels strange as I am used to such a high turn over of ‘quickies’ there. This one has slipped through the net though. Another nice simple stencil from RIP, who might as well just come and live in Bristol, as it would save a lot on travel.

RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2016
RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2016
I would guess it is called ‘beard envy’, and what a beard. This is a nicely worked stencil, and I particularly like the shadows on the block letters. Classy graff art.

539. The Bearpit (30)

The Bearpit is a great place for graffiti/street artists to do quick pieces. A place where graffiti is tolerated, perhaps even encouraged, and with plenty of nooks and crannies to leave mark.

RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016
RIP, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016

This is a piece by RIP that I photographed back in August 2016. I am not sure who the subject of the stencil is, so I must confess that it is slightly lost on me, but it is another fine piece from this urban guerilla whose regular visits to Bristol are always welcome.

I am informed by Duncan that it is Kurt Cobain – thank you.

515. The Bearpit (29)

This is a cheeky little ‘left-over’ from Upfest 2016 by Feoflip when he was in town in July. He has playfully animated a plug and wire, giving it a little personality. He sprayed several of these around the place, and I will try to post about them all. This one is on the wooden panels that create a terraced lawn (a bit of a fancy word for some grass) on the northern side of The Bearpit.

Feoflip, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016
Feoflip, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016

You can tell that Feoflip is not from these parts – we don’t use plugs like that in the UK, we have much more chunky square-pin jobbies that would look more like bull dogs than this rather cute ‘terrier’.

 

 

499. The Bearpit (28)

Every now and again you come across something quite different. Something that stands out from the crowd. This lovely colourful piece was at the end of one of the pedestrian tunnels at The Bearpit. It is by an artist I know nothing about, and I haven’t seen her work before. Her name is Georgie or Georgieartist as she signs herself and I think she comes from the West of England somewhere.

Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016

Her Facebook page demonstrates some of her work and how she creates it, it is well worth a good look. She has strong political convictions and I like that in a street artist, however this piece seems to be simply full of Bristolian joy. I love it. ‘Lush’ is a very Bristolian word which kind of means great or brilliant, but is usually used in the familiar vernacular. ‘That’s gert lush that is’.

497. The Bearpit (27)

Tucked over to one side of the Bearpit, near the Premier Inn Hotel, I found this rather nice collaboration between Jee See and Mr Klue. In this piece we see the typical styles of each of these street artists. Mr Klue treats us to his swirling patterns in rich purples and lilacs, while Jee See offers a stencil of a girl with a revolutionary Castro look about her – a stencil I have seen repeatedly about Bristol.

Mr Klue and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016
Mr Klue and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016
I’m not sure if this piece is still there as I took the picture some time ago, and it is in a bit of The Bearpit I rarely visit. More from both to follow in time.

Mr Klue and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016
Mr Klue and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016

495. The Bearpit (26)

On the 15th October 2016 The Bearpit played host to an international exhibition entitled ‘Resiste’. The exhibition featured the works of the Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaco, Mexico. I will cover this exhibition in more detail in a forthcoming post, but today I will focus on the participation in the exhibition by Bristol’s magnificent Aspire.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire has sprayed many birds in The Bearpit, but perhaps none so eye catching and appropriate to the immediate context as these two beautiful humming birds. The Bearpit is awash with Mexican protest street art, but these humming birds bring some tranquility to the overall atmosphere.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016
Yet another example of Bristol street art at its best, working alongside other cultures, movements and politics. The Bearpit is such an interesting cultural space, often rather controversial and edgy, but never boring.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2016

400. The Bearpit (25)

It is fitting that my 400th post on street art should feature Aspire. It is difficult to tire of his incredible graffiti pictures of birds. This fine bird in the incongruous setting of The Bearpit is an American Goldfinch and can still be found at the end of the Southern tunnel.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016

Aspire really needs to get out to New York and paint for the Audubon Mural Project, he even paints American birds! I’m not sure how artists get an invitation to paint for the project, but it must be time for Aspire? In the meantime, we’ll just enjoy his work here in Bristol.

Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016
Aspire, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2016

332. The Bearpit (24)

This is another wonderful bit of wildstyle writing from Bristol’d rising star, Sled One. A modest piece from a little while ago on the northern steps down into the Bearpit. What I really like about Sled One’s work is that although his writing works always incorporate his name, they vary so much in their construction. No two pieces are alike.

Sled One, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Sled One, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016

I notice that he will be at Upfest and has a site just to himself. I am so looking forward to seeing what he gets up to. I saw the map and list of artists coming to Bristol next weekend for Upfest. It is staggering just how many will be here. I do hope that I can catch up with as many as possible. It promises to be an amazing festival.