Manchester – Street Art

Frank Sidebottom... with added knob

Well these are the few examples I saw in an admittedly flying visit when I was able to go out and avoid the rain. Jesus it rains non-stop there.

So like these pieces as they have a nice little bit of humour, even if technically they are not very complex, that is a good thing sometimes. These were around the Northern Quarter and whilst there were other examples I either did not get any good shots because of the fecking weather or I thought the pieces were not that great.

Storm Tropper taking a wee break

Storm Trooper channeling Travolta

I would have liked to have had more time to search the city for different and better examples, any Manc natives know some good areas to check out then please drop me a line.

We did end up having butlers in the buff serving us drinks… I can provide those pics if you really want but then again….

Things i’ve seen….

Wondering around London on my bike taking in a few things as I go….

London Faberge egg hunt is underway, I’ve seen loads but cannot be bovd to post all of them, if I spot a nice one, I’ll be sure to share… and maybe take home

St. James Park Egg

Some people feel deep shame for eating McDonalds and will not admit it… I am sometimes one, but I have come out to bigger things. I eat a double cheeseburger from time to time… and what?

Anyway liked this just off Brick Lane… not easy to spot but funny and a bit cute I think… call me crazy ya’l. I think it amused me as it is a comment on society, so many kids in the UK are reared on the golden arch and here is a baby ‘Donalds!

Happy meal anyone?

Street art doesn’t need to be beautiful in an artistic way, it can be simple, it can be words and it can be something that makes society look at it’s self or just raises a lil smile

One Love

Everyone has a Sweet Toof

All around the east end there are pieces by Sweet Toof, they are not exactly difficult to spot, seeing as they are usually huge and pretty bright.

On my daily mooching around London today I cycled a different route and saw this parked up under one of the arches near the Hoxton Tube station. It would seem that Street Art is now on the move as well, maybe it is for a Sweet Toof roadshow, or maybe not.

Toof trailer

Sweet Toof also leaves pieces around the place for eagle eyed Londoners to keep, a mate of mine found a copy of the Metro with the cover completely transformed with the trademark Sweet Toof design. Lucky get!

Taped Up – Max Zorn

On Blue Peter it was all about sticky back plastic, and let’s be honest most of the stuff they made was pretty shite. I was never a fan it was always about Art Attack with the legend that is Neil Buchanan (who follows me on twitter, claim to fame time)

Frankly my dear..... tape it up

Anyways I digress, Max Zorn has taken the idea of working with tape and created a different form of street art. He cuts and shapes tape in layers and shapes to create art pieces which then use light to bring the imagery to life. Zorn uses windows or street lights to display the imagery and although I have not seen them first hand I think it would make a great addition to my fair city as the sunshine has just started shining. It is almost like the street art take on church stained glass windows.

Get yourself over here Zorn, though not sure you need the hoodie…

Spotted on PSFK

lo doy porque quiero

Saw this today in Hackney, do not know too much about it as yet. Found something referring to Medellin, which I thought was the Columbian drug cartel…. I’ll try and find out some more, unless anyone can fill in the gap?

I know nothing so far....

Anyways it is off Hackney Road

Another Stik….

As mentioned I do not like giving away the exact locals of the things I find… good for people to discover themselves. This Stik piece is near Broadway Market and is rather cute I think you will agree.

Stik Stik

Our Stik friends look like they might have had a bit of a lovers tiff…. I am sure they make sweet Stik love to forget about it later though

It is pretty amazing how you can see so many different emotions on the face when there is only two dot eyes to betray the feeling.

Featured Artist::: Alice Pasquini aka AliCé

It’s nice to discover a new artist int it…

Sister wall

The Italian lady who resides on Rome but has formally lived in the UK, in London. Her art has a very feminine and emotive feel to them than many pieces you see on the London streets do not display. The look in the eyes of the characters seem to tell a story and one which the viewer can draw their own conclusions to. There are a few pieces from AliCé in London but they are not easy to find… Check out Blackhall Street in Shoreditch…. they might still be there

The look of youth

Hoodie

Now Valentines is safely in the past for another year….

Something with a love heart on. Love hearts that have nothing to do with the Hallmark occasion.

Urban grey heart

Latest work form Roadhouse, spotted on PSFK. Like earlier posts I have written that use the urban environment to create something interesting and poignant, this is cool.

I am too tired and can not go deep and meaningful on this…. but looks good dunt it

Love wagon

I ❤ bush..... naaaaaat

Stik man on the move….

Just a little update to Stik man just off Old Street. Quite cute and a nice commentary on people wanting to take street art away with them.

#Stik

Is this how to discover Street Art….

Need to know basis....?

About 2 years ago while enjoying a £1 Red Stripe, sitting by Corbett’s Place, thus avoiding the security guards and their attempts to get me to pay three times that in the local watering holes, my chums and I spotted something rather amusing. An impressively entrepreneurial chap was leading around a bunch of tourists and imparting knowledge on various pieces of street art displayed across the walls.

I'll give you this one... Truman Brewery. Simples

I spotted this again recently and it lead me to think that surely half the fun of discovering ‘Street Art’ is exactly that, the discovery. When I have visited  Berlin, SF, Queens, Paris or any place really, half the fun is discovery and then for those who really want to know the researching afterwards. It is a bit like collecting Panini stickers when you were a kid, the finding the rare ones was the very nature of the fun

Does this not take away the thrill of the chase, eliminate the fun and excitement a tad? What do you think?

If you do not share my thoughts then maybe hit up these guys, for £15 they can remove the mystery and get you a full sticker book of London Street Art