Tag: Urban

293. M32 roundabout J3 (13)

Some time in Early June, a whole bunch of ASK and Lost Souls spent a day or two refreshing the walls at the M32. I love it when these guys do this, because there tends to be a common thread – for example a colour scheme – throughout the collaborative get-together. This is the first of several posts from this gathering.

Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, June 2016
Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, June 2016

This was the first time I have seen Kid Crayon and SPZero 76 working together, but curiously I have seen them collaborate since (another post soon). It will come as no surprise to regular readers that I am a massive fan of Kid Crayon, and this is a lovely example of his work, purple face and crayon making a return.

SPZero 76, M32, Bristol, June 2016
SPZero 76, M32, Bristol, June 2016

The SPZero 76 piece depicts a mask (I’m not sure if it is African or Pacific) which is a common feature in so many of his works. On this occasion he has done some other work with another artist, so had a busy day.

Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, June 2016
Kid Crayon, M32, Bristol, June 2016

Detail for those who enjoy such things, firstly with Kid Crayon

SPZero 76, M32, Bristol, June 2016
SPZero 76, M32, Bristol, June 2016

And secondly with SPZero 76. Looking forward to blogging about the rest of this wall.

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.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016

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, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016

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.

RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

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.

RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

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.

RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

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.

RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016
RUN, Picton Lane, Bristol, April 2016

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.

 

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, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016
3Dom, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016

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.

SledOne, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016
SledOne, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016

286. The Bearpit (22)

There is something very pleasing about walking around the city looking for interesting things and making discoveries. Every now and then you see a real gem that shines so brightly but others do not seem to see. It is not a gift, but at times it feels like one.

Yvette Byrd? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016
Yvette Byrd? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016

This is a beautiful and refreshing piece that recently appeared in the Southern tunnel of The Bearpit. I am guessing, but I have little to go on that this drawing/pastel? is by Yvette Byrd. The only clue I have is in the tiny paste up at the bottom right, with a beautiful poem and signature. I have googled Yvette Byrd, but nothing relevant comes up.

Yvette Byrd? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016
Yvette Byrd? The Bearpit, Bristol, June 2016

So I must enjoy this piece for what it is rather than the celebrity of its creation. Maybe more work will appear and the pieces of the jigsaw come together. This piece says to me ‘dare to be different’. Somebody new trying something new.

286. St Werburghs Tunnel (1)

This piece can be found in one of the Bristol hotspots that I have yet to feature in the blog – criminal really. I have been to the St Werberghs tunnel, which leads to the city farm, several times and there is always tons of new material each time I go. The main problem with this location is that the artificial light in the middle, and natural light at the tunnel ends, makes photographing the pieces really difficult.

Sled One detail, St Werberghs, Bristol, May 2016
Sled One detail, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2016

This is an incredibly nicely worked piece of writing by Sled One. He is quite the master of disguising his wildstyle, and the colour combinations he uses never disappoint. The photographs probably don’t do this piece justice – it is a stunner.

Old sly

 

Planting out on the

allotment being watched; I

turn, he slinks away.

 

by Scooj