Invisible

 

Passers by avert

their gaze; it is rude after

all to stop and stare.

 

by Scooj

100. Bishop Road

Another recent tribute wall to Mibsy (Mibzy) Just off the Gloucester Road, by the Paintsmiths, a commercial outfit of two street artists, Felix ‘FLX’ Braun and Jack Dones.

The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015
The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015

This rather lighthearted but heartfelt tribute incorporates a Simpsons theme and plenty of doughnuts. I can only guess that Mibsy was fond of the Simpsons.

The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015
The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015

I haven’t knowingly seen any other murals by the paintsmiths, but I think that is because they tend to do commissions with specific clients.

The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015
The Paintsmiths, Bishop Road, Bristol, December 2015

 

 

Birthday tweets

 

A dawn chorus to

die for; who knew that they could

lay on such a treat?

 

by Scooj.

99. Gloucester Road, No.226

Many of the shops on Gloucester Road have commissioned street art on their shutters, which is how some artists have managed to make some money from their craft. This one caught my eye for several reasons.

The sad story is that this family run butcher shop ‘Stutt and Son’ that has been trading since 1919 has recently been closed at short notice due to the ill health of Mr Stutt senior. The hurriedly scrawled note on the shutter is heartbreaking.

Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Zase, Gloucester Road, Bristol

The artwork is by Zase, but is clearly one of his early works as it is unsophisticated and rather raw, compared to some of his more recent pieces, such as the one in Ashley Road. He has come a long way.

As for the Butcher, the shop will be sold and another trader will move in, reinforcing the transient nature of a commercial high street.

5/10

Paint

 

Watching paint dry is

almost as tedious as

watching…erm…paint dry.

 

by Scooj

 

*apologies for the dreadful haiku. Boringly busy weekend decorating a room before the carpet is fitted – no space for creative thinking.

Butterfly day

 

Flitting from here to

there, never stopping for long;

these Winter weekends.

 

by Scooj

Flood

 

All hands to the pumps!

This Winter’s rallying cry;

more records broken.

 

by Scooj

98. Stokes Croft, Slix (2)

I’ve been going through some old pictures from my iPhone today, and found a few street art images from a long while before I started this blog. This particular picture struck me, because I recently posted a 3Dom piece from this exact location.

3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2014
3Dom, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2014

This work, also by 3Dom, was photographed in July 2014…it seems that this wall is his.

3Dom Mibsy tribute, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2014
3Dom Mibsy tribute, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2014

There is also a subtle tribute to Mibsy. This is a nice work, but long since gone.

 

Eli Kivuti

 

We are connected,

you and I, through another’s

love of Africa.

 

by Scooj

97. Nine Tree Hill (2)

A fabulous protest piece by one of my favourite artists – Sepr.

Bristol is a city with a history of rioting…perhaps it is something to do with our independent spirit (I say this as a Londoner who now calls Bristol home).

Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015

In 2011 there were riots in Stokes Croft that were focused on the unpopular new Tesco Local store. Arrests were made in the squat opposite, as some of the squatters were suspected of planning to petrol bomb the store. This caused outrage among some locals and some imported trouble makers. This link is a report from the time and this one from a year later.

Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015
Sepr, Nine Trees Hill, Bristol, November 2015

Sepr’s piece is a reminder of those times and characteristic of the independent spirit of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft. I love the artwork and its political overtones.

8/10