Walk to work

From Bristol’s hills see

culture, history, progress;

ah! the stuff of life.

 

by Scooj

6. @Bristol

A beautiful commission on an outside wall of the excellent @Bristol museum. It is called ‘The Honey Bee’, and highlights the importance and plight of our pollinators.

 

ATM, Millennium Square, Bristol, July 2015
ATM, Millennium Square, Bristol, July 2015

ATM is an artist who went to art school in Sheffield and now lives in London and is famous for his striking pictures of birds. I am drawn by his highly ethical position on the natural world, and his images are reminders of species at risk, that were once abundant. My only criticism, which seems a little harsh, is that his work is not very edgy, and I like a bit of edge.

I understand from his Twitter feed that he painted a mural last weekend at Bristol’s world-famous Upfest. I will seek it out soon.

6.5/10

 

Smartphone distraction

Laughs turned to curses

as the lady missed her bus.

Too busy chatting.

 

by Scooj

written on the bus home from work yesterday. It has happened to me too.

Almost invisible

Standing out alone

in understated grandeur.

Most will walk on by.

 

by Scooj

5. Stokes Croft, Canteen (1)

Breakdancing Jesus is a huge mural on one of the most desirable walls in Bristol. The work was commissioned by the Canteen and completed in June 2013.

The artist, Cosmo Sarson, is a painter from London, who was inspired by his love of breakdancing and witnessing some breakdancers performing for the Pope.

Cosmo Sarson, Breakdancing Jesus, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2015
Cosmo Sarson, Breakdancing Jesus, Stokes Croft, Bristol, July 2015

It is a really striking and challenging mural, and I love it. You might also just spot a small blue disc to the left of the mural which commemorates the Bristol riots in the area in April 1980.

It is opposite the famous Banksy ‘Mild Mild West’ mural. This mural was planned to remain for two years, which means that it may not be there much longer. We’ll see.

8/10

4. Redland Station

Another mural by Cheo, that I have never really paid too much attention to, despite seeing it frequently.

Cheo, Redland Station, Bristol, July 2015
Cheo, Redland Station, Bristol, July 2015

This piece, which includes his signature bees, can be found on the end wall of the garages, at the entrance to the station. It is a cheerful, rural theme.

 

Coat of alms

A mermaid and fawn;

resident grotesques adorn

this sheltered housing

 

by Scooj

3. Broad Quay

There are two murals that appear to have been commissioned to celebrate the ‘Grand Appeal’, a charity that raises funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital. One of them dates back to 2013 and the Gromit Unleashed trail, the second, and very recent mural, links up with the Shaun in the City trail. They can be seen on Broad Quay next to the Radisson Blu Hotel.

Cheo, Shaun the Sheep, Broad Quay, Bristol, July 2015
Cheo, Shaun the Sheep, Broad Quay, Bristol, July 2015

The murals are by Cheo, a Bristol street artist whose trademark is a cartoon bumblebee that appears on most of his work. Cheo started in earnest in the 1980s and was clearly an emerging talent who won several prizes and awards as a youngster.

Cheo, Broad Quay, Bristol, July 2015
Cheo, Broad Quay, Bristol, July 2015

I am slowly becoming a fan of the cartoon style and admire the work of yet another Bristol-based street artist.

 

.

Leviathan

Blue whales arrive with

a message in a bottle –

don’t throw it away.

 

by Scooj

As part of Bristol Green Capital, this enormous public art installation will be launched on Friday 17 July. I saw the artists making the finishing touches to ‘Bristol Blue Whales’ today. It is stunning.

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