More Bristol Street Art... in Stokes Croft

I thought I'd put another couple of images on my blog of street art that has caught my eye whilst out and about in Bristol. These were taken in Stokes Croft, which used to be a very run down part of town but has become a bit of a trendy area in recent years. Mind you, it can still bite you sometimes and you need to respect the edgier side of the place.  

Extreme wood workshops!

I've spent the last three days working with a company called Touchwood Enterprises, helping to run some workshops for them at Bannerman Road and Whitehall Primary schools in Bristol.  The children ranged in age from 4 to about 10.

The kids had a great time and got stuck into the jobs so it was a lot of fun, despite heavy rain and gale force winds. We even got a couple of singalongs going  - 'Singing in the Rain' anyone?!  It certainly put my new waterproofs to the test but they performed well, thank goodness!
I don't think I've ever taught outside in such foul weather for three consecutive days, but the shelter kept the worst out and the young people's enthusiasm was great.

We peeled sweet chestnut logs, used froes and mallets to cleave logs and then drawknives and shavehorses to shape pegs, which were fixed into already-fitted poles to make climbing routes. All the timber worked on is to be used in new play areas being constructed at the schools.

 

Drawknives and shavehorses are being used to shape pegs in the photo above, with an example of fitted pegs in the play structure shown below:

'Inspired'- a fine craftmanship show at Ashton Court mansion in Bristol

I went to have a look at the 'Inspired' exhibition at Ashton Court yesterday, which is organised by Sue Darlison. The work on show was pretty mindblowing, some technically superb and very beautiful furniture making. My little point-and-shoot camera really can't do the work justice unfortunately! Like any sculpture, you really need to see it first-hand to appreciate it.

'Allium' by Simon Nugent

 Alun Heslop

The table and box at front are by Scott Woyka, the stacked boxes by John Jacques. I can't remember who made the mirror and guitars, but they were also stunning!

 

 These images show some of the beautiful detailing that could be seen, the toolmarks on Martin Grierson's piece (above) reminded me of the carefully laid out adze marks I once saw on a native Canadian totem pole (shown on the right).

Rhys Gillard's elegant bench design is in the foreground. All the work on show was about as good as contemporary furniture making gets. Well done Sue!

Bristol street art... out and about in Bedminster

Bit different from my stuff, but I was cycling through Bedminster in Bristol at the weekend and took a couple of snaps of street art that particularly caught my eye. Bristol has some really incredible works of art painted in it's streets, partly (but by no means entirely) because of the connection with Banksy, I suppose. It's great to see some of the offbeat and interesting things that have been painted when one is wandering about town.

I think this was done by a German duo called Herakut. They may have been in Bedminster for a big street art festival held there called 'Upfest'. I like it a lot.

Bristol wood carving workshop

At the weekend, I oversaw a woodcarving workshop for my driving instructor at a staff social that he and his family were running. A really nice idea - rather than just sitting about talking shop, an activity is run at each social so that the staff can try out different skills, with their families. There were about 15 people in all and everyone got stuck in and had a go at relief carving some nice pieces of seasoned oak and sweet chestnut. They all seemed very happy with what they made and even an unexpected hailstorm didn't dampen the occasion. Those who wanted to also had the chance to try carving a spatula with a knife and hook knife.

Thanks to Jeff and his family for inviting me along to run the workshop and, if you need to learn to drive, you can find them at http://www.chequersmotoringschool.co.uk/

A totem pole and a sign

The totem pole is finished and I'm very pleased with it! When installed, 3 metres (10 feet) of it will be above ground and 122 cm (4 feet) below ground. It is carved from British larch. I'm particularly pleased with the portrait at the top, although it had to be carved solely from photos as the pole is a surprise gift for someone I've never met. Hopefully the likeness is close enough!

Another little job recently was making a carved oak sign for St Werburghs City Farm in Bristol, to be fixed onto their new play area. It is a 'thank you' to a former trustee of the farm called Martin Maudesley, who is a local professional storyteller and a very nice guy too. Martin studied aphids as his postdoctoral research, so the sign has an aphid on it as well as a long-taied tit (the latter just because they live in the area and are one of my favourite local birds)

Memorial plaque for Bailey's Court school

I went to Bailey's Court primary school in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, today to install the oak plaque which I was asked to make to commemorate a boy who went there called Ryan.
Some of the children helped me to fix it onto a log which had been set into the ground there. It is next to a beautiful bog garden and pond (which had a frog in it!). I also had the chance to meet Ryan's mum. It was great to hear that she and everyone else liked the plaque very much. I'm sure that Ryan would also have loved the garden that has been created in his memory.

Baileys Court primary school have a website, which you can see by clicking here