When I woke that night
and saw you lying with me
my heart became yours.
by Scooj
Tag: UK
291. The Bearpit (22)
One of the larger pieces by Decay sits at the end of the southern tunnel at the Bearpit. It is a piece that was sprayed back in April, but has been rather enduring, and is still there, or at least was last week.
All the hallmark ingredients of a Decay piece are here, the black, grey, white and red colours layered in concentric circles in a freestyle manner, focusing on a red face/image at the centre.
Decay’s work tends to be in these colours and general patterns and are nearly always pleasing to the eye. I recently saw on his Instagram feed a piece that he sprayed in blue shades for ‘battle of the oceans’ whatever that is. It may be a bit samey, but I am a really big fan of his work.
290. Picton Lane (5)
One of the things I love about Bristol is the tight street art community that exists here, it feels like something really significant and special. I guess all cities with well developed graffiti scenes feel the same. It is really nice though when visitors come and spray the streets and bring something different with them.
This is an established piece in Picton Lane by RUN with some additions by Rowdy (who kind of owns this lane).RUN, you might remember is responsible for this wonderful piece in London, and I believe he has been busy in Camden just recently. Here we have a colourful celebration of love and friendship, expressed on the slightly unlikely front and doors of a small local garage.
Men kissing might be the subject of scorn or defacing, but not here. Bristol is a tolerant and progressive city and this subject matter barely turns heads, which (apart from the masterful artwork) is how it should be.
I love the sharp lines and colours of RUN’s work. You might spot a Rowdy crocodile sitting on what looks like a London cab on one of the panels too. A fun piece from RUN – you’re welcome to return anytime.
A photograph is not enough
Since you left, I long
to see your face, to talk, to
cup your hands in mine.
by Scooj
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.
All around the piece is some ornate decoration that sets it off really nicely.
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.
Opportunity missed
Too shy to advance
what would I say to avoid
offence; best keep quiet.
by Scooj
Inspired by an entry in my 1988 journal from the Falkland Islands
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.
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.
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.
Here be dragons
The mystery of
form and function stimulates
the thinkers to think.
by Scooj
Winds of change
We go through the hoops
nobody said we had to;
change the paradigm.
by Scooj
287. Unity Street (1)
The area around Gardiner Haskins, the Bristol department store, is somewhere I like to go about once a month, as the turnover here is lower than at other favoured haunts for graffiti artists in Bristol. On my most recent visit I came across this lovely 3Dom piece.
3Dom has a very fine wildstyle style and this is a really perfect example of it. The cat, of course is slightly weird but brilliant. I love most of 3Dom’s work and this is certainly one that works for me. More pieces to come from this road soon.
UPDATE: the cat is by Sled One. Thank you 3Dom for your Instagram correction.
Natural adventures 