Jim Hendrix mural on site of The Uppercut club

 

Picture last night of the new Street Art mural at the site of "The Uppercut club", Forest Gate, which sadly, I never visited (but I did go to the infamous "Lotus Club" across the road in the late 80s). The site of The Uppercut is now some sort of a railway ventilation shaft and the Lotus has been turned into flats. Such is life. 

A very powerful portrait. Hat tip Zaro. 

Love your ward & how about "DustyMcDustFace"?

This afternoon as a local ward Councillor, I went to support this event and speak to residents, officers and volunteers. The weather was not kind but everyone seemed very enthusiastic about its aims of encouraging recycling and the "give & take market" as well as practical steps such as litter picking, bulk rubbish collection and garden planting. My wife Gill had been busy clearing weeds from the communal garden.

We hope to attach the "Please Recycle" murals to the outside walls of Brassett and David Lee Point. I had a positive conversation with the artists who were spray painting them about communal art and I hope we can have more of this in our streets and estates. Behind us is blue boarding sectioning off land due to be redeveloped. Maybe we can do something with this boarding rather than leave it to be vandalised?

There was also a competition to give a name to the Newham Council Dust vehicle being used to collect bulk rubbish. All residents were asked to submit a name. I felt that I had to submit my suggestion "DustyMcDustFace". 

Great Street Art painting of rock icon Freddie Mercury in West Ham

Church Road junction with New Plaistow Road, E15 (next to William Hill bookmakers). 

Campaigning in Plaistow South & Running a Board

This canvass took place two Sundays ago. I "ran the board" for the team which means I gave out names and addresses to canvassers to go and call at then collate any information. I quite enjoy this from time to time since it is mentally challenging to control a team especially in a part of this ward that I have only canvassed once before a few years back.

However, it can get a little repetitive and I miss the face to face contact with people.

This area used to be a BNP stronghold but thankfully is now a strong Labour seat. We had two ward local councillors with us, Neil and Aleen, so they were able to pick up Council case work. There was one house where the owner was unhappy that the Council will not pick up and recycle glass during rubbish collections. So she had left all the bottles she had used in the last few years on her drive. There were "a lot" of bottles. I am not sure what Neil is going to do with that one?

There were a number of really pretty and well kept gardens in the area. A bizarre door entry system for a block of flats where the button to open the communal door (top right) was on the outside not the inside?

On way back I noticed a wonderful example of street art by Prince Regents Lane Post office (bottome right). 

"We can't feed the poor but we can fund a war"

Hat tip Banksy

Harry's Girl: Street Art

Finally got around to posting this picture of street art off Holloway Road near Highbury Corner.  I have liked it every time I walk to the UNISON office from Highbury but didn't know what it was about.I have just googled it and found out it is about Prince Harry's American Girlfriend and him paying for her security.

Mr Cenz and his Art Creation in West Ham

Picture from last week of West Ham ward Councillors (John Whitworth, me and Freda Bourne) with street Artist Mr Cenz (on right), in front of his fantastic mural in Church Road junction with New Plaistow Road, E15 (next to William Hill bookmakers).

There are now 3 different street art murals by internationally renown artists in Newham sponsored by local businesses. More are planned and it would be fantastic to make Newham an international centre of high quality street art on public spaces.

Mr Cenz starts new Street Art Mural In West Ham

I stopped off today to say hello to Street Artist, "Mr Cenz", who is creating a mural in West Ham ward, Church Road junction with New Plaistow Road, E15 (next to William Hill bookmakers).

Mr Cenz is a professional international artist. He reckons it will take a week for him to complete this mural. I will try and stop off everyday and update on progress until he finishes.

In July there was this fantastic "Tiger" mural painted in Holbrook Road, West Ham which I don't think was by him but he did do this mural in Plaistow in May.

What can be wrong with turning bland, forgettable and often ugly urban spaces into public works of art?

Hat tip Julianne M
 

Bristol Street Art

Just back from a holiday. I spent the first week based in Bristol sightseeing. What struck me was the number of colourful "Street Art" creations on various private buildings. Some were better than others but the best would make you stop and stare.

Bristol is believed to be the birthplace of the infamous Banksy but the only one I recognised was the (vandalised) "Naked Man" work.

During a day trip to Bath, I went to a more traditional Art Gallery which I enjoyed and would recommend if you are into that sort of thing but I thought at the time that in comparison, at its best "Street Art", was far more interesting and left a greater impression on me.

There was a couple of organised "Street Art" walking tours around Bristol which I didn't manage to fit in on this visit.

Last month I posted here a picture of the newly painted Street Art in Holbrook Road, West Ham ward, E15. Another one is planned soon. Maybe in future years Bristol will have some competition!

Bristol itself is a great place to explore. Lots of history, culture, shops, bars and "foodie" restaurants.  The waterfront and docks are well worth a visit. I will post on some walks another time. 

Tiger, Tiger burning bright in West Ham

What a terrific street art painting in my West Ham ward at Holbrook Road junction with Plaistow Road, West Ham. E15.

I am not sure if there is a William Blake connection but it does remind me of his famous poem (see below - one of my favourties). I understand that further paintings are planned. I hope the ward Councillors wards will be told!

"Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

When the stars threw down their spears
And water’d heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"

(Hat tip Julianne M)

Conflict in Gaza - West Ham CLP motion

This was the second motion that was supported by West Ham Labour Party Executive Committee on Wednesday.

It narrowly missed out as being our contemporary motion to Labour’s party conference (which has to refer to events post 31 Julynot already be on agenda and have a 250 word limit).

"Conference notes the fact that on 3 August 2014 an Israeli missile hit a UN school that was being used as a recognised civilian shelter and this resulted in the deaths of 9 Palestinians and at least 27 injured.

Conference believes that the recent Israeli actions in Gaza are disproportionate and illegal under international law. The UN, EU and UK government must act now to prevent further outbreaks of bloodshed.

The death toll of innocent civilians cannot be justified. Israel has a responsibility to respond to rocket attacks judiciously – it has not done so, and the latest bombing of the UN school is beyond comprehension.

Conference believes in the policy of a two-state solution. We recognise the right of Palestinians to establish a state in the West Bank and Gaza strip with its capital in Jerusalem. To have a viable Palestinian state Israel must comply with international law and withdraw to the 1967 borders.

The illegal settlements continue to dispossess, humiliate and terrorise the people who are the rightful owners of the land that has been occupied.

Conference calls on both sides to reach a permanent cease fire. The only viable alternative to the current conflict in the region is a political arrangement: the principles of which are embedded in the long-existing UN resolutions.

No more lives must be lost. It is time for international law to be upheld. It is time for the safety, dignity and rights of the people of Gaza to be restored".

(Photo of Street Art Protest in Dublin)