:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Saturday, November 22, 2008 ::

Postcode Wars

BS7 Brap Brap Originally uploaded by gusset.

Horfield Garage BS7 Originally uploaded by gusset.

These two shots were taken just around the corner from my house this morning. They've been there a year but I was motivated to capture them when I read on the following on Bldg Blog last month:

"Researchers at the University of Glasgow, sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, have spent the past two years asking young residents of Bradford, Peterborough, London, Glasgow, Sunderland, and Bristol to draw maps of their own individual urban experience in order to explore micro-territoriality as both a cause and a symptom of social exclusion. You can read the full PDF of their report here." [6MB PDF]

"Their research uncovered Bristol’s “postcode wars,” where gangs spray-paint their postcode in rival areas as a form of aggression". (Although these examples were actually in BS7 so don't really count. You'll notice a BS2 sneaks into one of them.)

I've seen things like this around plenty before but had no idea they were a local phenomenon. I'm going to see how many postcode zones I can collect. I've started a Postcode Wars Flickr group so others can contribute too.

Labels: Bristol, graffiti, Maps

:: Dan 22.11.08 [Arc] [2 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Steal From Work are very happy to have been asked to produce the debut SPQR solo show...



Saturday 11th - Sunday 19th October, 12pm-7pm
Trash Express, 8-10 Bond Street, Broadmead, Bristol, UK
(between Rikaxxe Music and Debenhams)

"Way back in May SPQR chatted about doing his first solo show in Bristol, and asked if we could find a suitably 'interesting' venue and help produce the show for him. Although we've spent the summer gallivanting round the world, we returned just in time to find the perfect venue (a former pawn shop, just doors down from the new shopping monstrosity in the heart of Bristol) and we are well on the way to producing a killer show.

"SPQR uses a mix of stencils and freehand spray-can work to montage and subvert popular contemporary imagery from the pop art world through to images harvested from the continual media onslaught. Simply Producing Quality Results.

"Highly collected and hugely popular, he quickly sold out at his last two shows and is famed for such iconic pieces as The Fifth Man, Paint Bomber and Patty Hirst.

"We invite you to come and enjoy the unveiling of all new works and take note of these cautionary tales…"

Please email stealfromwork@gmail.com with any sales enquiries
PDF catalogue

www.spqr.uk.net

Labels: Art, graffiti

:: Dan 12.10.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Visitors only
Originally uploaded by knautia.

I love this.
[via bristolgraffiti.blogspot]

Labels: Bristol, Flickr, graffiti, Photography

:: Dan 20.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Inner City Snail - a slow-moving street art project
[via grom]
I've been sat in this link for weeks but this image still makes it worth posting:

Labels: Art, graffiti

:: Dan 16.6.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Not A Penny 06
Originally uploaded by gusset.

Motorboy - 'Abandon Your Soul to Hades'
From the 'Not A Penny Off The Pay, Not A Second On The Day' show at the Old Motorcycle Workshop, Stokes Croft, Bristol
www.stealfromwork.org

More added to my Steal From Work flickr set, which also includes the 12 Days of Xmas show from last year.

Labels: Art, Flickr, graffiti

:: Dan 7.5.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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New Steal From Work show. A group urban art show celebrating International Workers Day.

1st May – 11th May, 2008
Opening night - Thursday 1st May 7pm-10pm
Then open everyday 12pm-7pm (closed on Tue 6th)
The Old Motorcycle Workshop
15-19 Stokes Croft (opposite Pieminster), Bristol, UK

After the huge success of December’s ‘12 Days of Xmas' we bring you our next major group exhibition.

Lost behind the jangling of Morris Dancing and Maypoles, May 1st has long stood as the date to remember the common struggles and achievements of workers around the globe. ‘Not A Penny Off The Pay, Not A Second On The Day’ will be a celebration of the working classes, featuring a truly international line up of acclaimed urban artists

...and...



1st - 11th May 2008
Various venues, Bristol, UK

It's a lovely coincidence that the Not A Penny show coincides with this event, as it’s just round the corner so you can easily go to both!

Programme

Labels: Art, Bristol, graffiti, Politics

:: Dan 1.5.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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iGoogle Artist Themes

Shepard Fairey
Iconic OBEY artist Shepard Fairey and Amanda Fairey founded Studio Number One in 2003, bringing together a gifted and diverse group of designers and managers, seamlessly merging art and commerce in a truly authentic way.
www.studionumber-one.com

Labels: Art, Google, graffiti, Search

:: Dan 30.4.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The Penguin Blog on book blurbs and the new issues of Orwell's 1984 and Animal Farm with cover art by Shepard Fairey
[via natali]

Labels: Art, graffiti, Literature

:: Dan 24.4.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Labels: graffiti

:: Dan 15.4.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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ndeur shoe graf on etsy.com ("your place to buy and sell all things handmade")

"I AM NOW PAINTING CANVAS SNEAKERS WITH ANY DESIGN YOU CHOOSE!
Hello hello, I am Mathieu Missiaen. My brand is NDEUR; I paint canvas, walls, anything and everything. My designs are street, modern, fun and will make your shoes a work of art. Together we will change the way the world thinks of fashion. You can see more of my work at www.myspace.com/ndeurr."
[found in outofhand magaize]

Labels: Fashion, graffiti

:: Dan 2.3.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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banksy
Originally uploaded by gusset.


This Banksy, his largest work in the UK, in Liverpool's China Town, is in the news again today as it is planned to cover (the lower half of) it up for the European Capital of Culture celebrations, due to the state the building is in.

The thing that really bugged me about this was The Metro reporting, "The image of a rat toting a machine gun, painted before the artist was famous, had faded and the Liverpool Culture Company plans to conceal it with a hoarding before the culture capital year opens tomorrow."

At what stretch of the imagination does that look like a machine gun? It’s a marker pen. At least they’ve had the sense not to repeat the error online.

Labels: Art, Flickr, graffiti

:: Dan 10.1.08 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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12 Days of Xmas - Coppers
Originally uploaded by gusset.


My photos from the 12 Days of Christmas group show at The Old Bridewell Police Station in Bristol are online (at last) now.

Labels: Art, Bristol, Flickr, graffiti

:: Dan 24.12.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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LIGHT UP BRISTOL - 17th / 21st December

Next week, College Green will undergo a magical transformation into five nights of Winter Wonderland. Using 6 of the world's most powerful projectors to dress up the whole of the Council House with light, this very unique "visual feast" will feature a selection of short video animations by some of Bristol's leading creative talent.

Antivj is very proud and excited to have been asked to be part of this and Crustea [Antivj / Cuisine] will be the only one to do a live performance every night, at 9.40pm.

LIGHT UP BRISTOL
College Green, Bristol city center
Monday 17th to Friday 21st December
Every night 6.30 to 10pm. Free!

More info:
www.blog.antivj.com
www.lightupbristol.co.uk

Labels: Animation, Bristol, graffiti, Visuals, VJ

:: Dan 14.12.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Skip to the End - Show 4 with Juxtaposeur and Special Guest SP-SEPR [126MB MP3]
Juxtaposeur says, "My guest SP-SEPR is a Bristol graffiti artist who did our Eclectic Kettle posters, but has become one of the more prolific street artists in central Bristol. Anyone who is familiar with the Stokes Croft area in particular will have seen his work. He's just about to have some pieces displayed along with a host of other artists at the 12 Days of Xmas gallery exhibition at the old Nelson Street Police Station in Broadmeads.

"On the show we talk about his artwork, the wider issues of street art and his music - he's been in several Bristol based bands and had plenty of stuff released.
I enjoy talking about graffiti so the show is pretty long, but I hope you find the time to give it a listen. At least skip to our chat (about 60mins in) if you can't bear the thought of listening to my selection of tunes of Nerdcore etc."

Sepr image courtesy of Saturine

True Sepr
Originally uploaded by _saturnine.


Tear Gas Recording Tree have released a Lipstickface remix album, including tracks by Holzkopf, Numb & Dub, The Square Root of Evil, PBF and Princesse Rotative as well as a Princesse Rotative + Abigail Green live album. Both are availble from the above site along with MP3 clips, although note that, "we do no deal with the man, we prefer hidden cash in envelopes to credit card numbers, you shouldn't have a credit card anyways, don't you know they're bad news? all CDs are $10 Canadian (shipping included internationally)" MP3 release page here.

DJ fkzaman - 89 - 92 Hardcore rave mix [187MB MP3 on file factory]
Tracklisting in comments
"1-2 pm Saturdays and 6-7:30 pm Mondays www.krisisdnb.com"

Raoul Sinier - Huge Samurai Radish

Labels: graffiti, MP3

:: Dan 7.12.07 [Arc] [3 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Great news!
Graffiti prison terms overturned
[via natali]
Previous post on the subject.

Labels: graffiti, News

:: Dan 30.10.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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free krek.
Originally uploaded by night_photographer.


The campaign to overturn, or at least reduce, the jail sentences handed out to Krek and Mers has been making national headline news today.

Natali summarised the problems with the sentence last Friday (see quote below) and Night Photographer (a friend of Krek and one of the best young photographers I have come across) is leading the online campaign on Flickr.

"They didn't drink and drive, didn't sexually abuse someone, they didn't deal drugs, commit any kind of violence, didn't steal anything, break anything - just painted something, an act that can be easily reversed. But the courts have jailed two young adults, stuck them into jails full of rapists, thieves and drug addicts, instead of making them clean up the "mess" they made and contribute their talents to society in a more productive manner."

The Guardian news blog tries to pull the various opinions together and Manchester Evening News reports on the campaign. Some of the comments following that M.E.N. article are quiet astonishing. People who take the side of the financial hit corporation over the talented young artists brightening up and protesting against a bland, conformist, branded landscape, amaze me.

It's clear that both guys have changed their ways and are making further efforts to use their skills to better society by offering to teach other prisoners while they are in prison.

Lots of people are coming down on the "well, the law is the law" side on this. Bollocks to that. There is an injustice here and the law is wrong. Do something about it.

Labels: Art, Flickr, graffiti, Law

:: Dan 18.9.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Northam Field Graf 01
Originally uploaded by gusset.

Labels: Flickr, graffiti

:: Dan 14.8.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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_MG_6588
Originally uploaded by lichtfaktor.

Light writing on Flickr from lichtfaktor
[via Hezza on Hijack]

Labels: Art, Flickr, graffiti

:: Dan 2.7.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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New Sickboy website

Labels: Art, Bristol, graffiti

:: Dan 12.6.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Gallery - Street Graffiti in Kiev, Ukraine
[Thanks serpico009]

Labels: Art, graffiti

:: Dan 4.4.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Does a week go by without a Banksy story in the news?

£100,000 Banksy painted over [Images]

"A group of bungling council workers have painted over one of the earliest surviving murals by guerrilla graffiti artist Banksy.

"The 25ft x 4ft design, thought to be worth more than £100,000*, was mistaken as vandalism by workmen who slapped thick black paint over it."

* The current record sale price for a Banksy work is £102k. Saying that everything he ever sprayed on the side of a garage is worth the same is pushing it. Good luck to the people wanting to sell one (with free house attached) for £200k.

"The artwork was sprayed onto the side of garages at Albion Road, in Easton, Bristol, about ten years ago.

"Locals are furious that the series of blue shapes, along with Banksy's trademark tag, has been lost forever.

"Bristol City Council [BCC], which has ordered all Banksy work to be preserved, launched a full investigation into the blunder yesterday."

It seems somewhat cynical of BCC to have a no-Banksy-removal policy AND a graffiti removal team. However, in the interest of more balanced journalism than most of the available sources and a less knee-jerk reaction that the forums, closer inspection shows that they actually have a no-mural removal policy, which I guess means the removal team focus on tagging. Obviously they aren't very good at drawing the distinction (even if it wasn't a very good Banksy mural).

That said, they do come down HARD on the tagging. The recent BCC community news letter that got dropped through my door seemed to have more column inches dedicated to graf removal than any other topic, and on every occasional referred to the "increased fear of crime" it causes in neighbourhoods.

It makes me wonder. Some graffiti artists are now recognised parts of the art establishment in their own right. They have worked their way up from simply tagging their names on ugly or abandoned buildings. Their work, even the older less impressive works, are now to be preserved. Yet people doing what they did when they started out are still criminals. How is the next generation to come through with this double standard?

The only way this can work fairly is if works are judged purely on their artist merits, so the less impressive or less interesting works get covered over and the only strong survive. It's what always happened in the street art scene anyway. Should councils be interfering and passing judgement or just letting people get on with it? I'd like to think they'll do the latter but know they never will as they would be giving up the power to censor what people may want to say (and potentially say about them), and they'll never do that.

To stray off the subject completely I'll finish my grumble about the council with a story. As you may know, I work in an environmental consultancy. I sit between the ecologists and the recycling consultants, who are sadly no-where near the bunch of hippies you would like to imagine them to be. One of them attended a launch lunch last week where BCC stood up and waffled for ages about the importance of locally sourcing materials. In the panel discussion afterwards someone asked them where the lunch that had been provided had been sourced / supplied from. No one knew.

All mouth and no trousers.

Labels: Art, banksy, Bristol, graffiti

:: Dan 13.3.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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