street-artists from Liverpool, UK.
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James Carling Back on the Streets!
January 27, 2011
Well it’s been a long cold winter but I’m assured that spring is on its way and the long warm summer days will be upon us as quick as a flash!…..
The one advantage of getting older is that time seems more condensed, as we physically slow down everything around us seems to quicken up. Time is of course an illusion; I was watching a programme the other night that claimed that our physical existence is nothing more than a hologram! We are living in a holographic 2D universe…..a projection from the outer galaxies with multiple (hundreds & millions) me’s and you’s and ‘things’ all existing side by side in parallel worlds with different things happening to us…different fates if you will. Different versions of the SELF!!!
My brain hurts just thinking about it….but it’s all out there…apparently!!
And scientists are on the brink of a major discovery that going to change everything.
In the meantime I’d like to welcome you back to another day on planet earth and although I haven’t blogged for a while things have been really busy.
Urban Phil on the BBC Big Screen, Manchester 24th Jan 2011
This week we took a trip down to Manchester to catch a glimpse of our James Carling film on the BBC Big Screen. It was cold and dismal but seeing it up there on a 20ft tv screen warmed the cockle of our hearts. There is something quite exciting about it….my ‘Bladerunner’ moment. Big Brother is watching you…literary!!
The James Carling Competition on the BBC Big Screen
The screen is situated in Exchange square…smack bang in the centre of this great metropolis, couldn’t have chosen a better spot. Its been shown on a 2 hour loop since Christmas where thousands of shoppers and passers-by have seen it either consciously or sub-consciously.
But that’s not the point, the fact that street art and pavement painting is out there, has a profile is enough for me.
Hey ho….Summers on the way 🙂
LINKS: More foties of James Carling on the Big Screen
Join our new James Carling FACEBOOK Group for up-to-the-minute info about our 2011 comp!
Join our flickr group- Liverpool Chalk Circle to share pavement art images on-link
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Yabba Dhabi Dooooo!
December 1, 2010
A sexy looking Octofish...at night!
Last Saturday (27th Nov.) saw us return from our four day trip to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Yes it was HOT and we were taking part in the Yas Island Show Weekends organised by Flash Entertainments & D’Events.
Octofish- Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE Nov. 2010
The evening headline for this weekend’s event was Nelly Furtado but we were taking part in the daytime/nightime activities known as ‘Leave Your Mark on Yas!’ this was an ‘urban’ street art event featuring break-dancing, rappers, graffiti artists, 3D pavement artists, chill-out zones and ourselves providing public participation pavement art workshops. It’s a hard job, but somebody has to do it!
Marina 7 Star Hotel, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
For those who may not know (and we didn’t) Yas Island is a brand new development built especially for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix two years ago…..a fantastical place dominated by the Grand Prix circuit. The place we were working in-fact was in a car park overshadowed by the main stand and used only once a year for the race!!!
So the idea behind these events is to animate the area throughout the rest of the year.
Our hotel....The 5 star Crowne Plaza, Yas Island (iPod photo)
We were totally knocked out by this event….not least because we were staying in the luxury 5 star Crowne Plaza Hotel (6th floor) on Yas Island with spectacular views across the island and racing track. Also we had NO MONEY!!! We didn’t need it because all our meals and expenses were charged to our room and paid for by D’Events….this was a million miles away from our usual UK gigs staying in B&B our Travel Lodge somewhere.
Here we were treated like kings….we thought we’d died and gone to heaven…..for a few days anyhow 🙂
our reflection inside the gold plated hotel lift!
We couldn’t get over the GOLD PLATED Lifts in the hotel! No kidding….
Although this was my third time in the Emirates (twice in Dubai) it actually represents our first public street art workshop over here as UrbanCanvas. But in a way the Emirates and Dubai is where my journey into interactive street art began.
The Yas Island Octofish, interactive street art workshop!
I spent 5 weeks at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 1997, the festival was only in its second year and I was employed to bring a bit of ‘Parisian Style’ street art to the event with demonstration pieces of grand masters like the Mona Lisa and scenes from the Sistine Chapel. Back in them days I did everything on paper and this event represented only my second year as a practicing pavement artist.
Anyhow to cut a long story short it was my last day in Dubai and I had loads of chalks and pastels that I didn’t want to take back to the UK due to travel weight so I decided to let the local kids have a go…..and one thing lead to another and before long I had a crowd of people chalking and creating art on the street…it was just magical and something that had never been seen before….remember this was back in the days before anybody had ever even heard of street art festivals…they just never happened! This was just something totally new, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to devote my life to interactive street art.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Circult, Yas Island
Things have changed radically over 12 years….now pavement art is fast becoming a recognised and even ‘mainstream’ art form with the help of artists such as BANKSY and Julian Beaver. Back then we were pioneers and most people thought we were MAD to have even considered this form of art as ‘worthy’ even today a lot of people are snobby about it….preferring to masturbate themselves at the high alter of the so-called HIGH ARTS!
3D art by Joe Hill, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. November 2010
One of the great things I love about street art is its lack of pretentions….its 100% out there; there is no place to hide and no pedestals to stand upon. Your success or failure is due to nothing more than pure talent. You can’t kid people on the street…..it’s a place where everybody can spot a bullshitter!
Graffiti Art by Inkie and his crew, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
On this gig we were working alongside Graffiti artist INKIE and his crew….for those who don’t know….INKIE is a contemporary of BANKSY’S ……he apparently went to the same art school in Bristol and was described by the Promoter as ‘BANKSY’S right hand man’ (whatever that means) He’s also worked with Bianca Jagger and other high profile celebrities.
Anyhow he seemed like a nice enough chap and was ‘made up’ to tell me about his night of lust in a ‘nightclub full of models’ naturally enough I congratulated him and went back to my room for a cup of tea with my own lovely ‘model’ Catherine x
So why an Octofish?
Well; have you ever heard the term “a fish out of water?”
All in all we did enjoy ourselves in Abu Dhabi and all our thanks must go to Contraband International from London and D’Events from Dubai for making it happen 🙂
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Inspirational visions of light and pixels…..
November 19, 2010
One thing I love about street art is its ability to inspire others to create. Not just in the public workshops we run but in other ways!
The only way we have of capturing this ephemeral art form is through video and photography so its no surprise to us that lots and lots of people choose to photograph us working and of course the art as it develops. But what we really enjoy is looking at our work through the eyes of others…….people who we’ve never met before are often inspired to produce their own video’s or photo slide shows, and share them on-line.
This week I found a new video photo slide-show on YouTube produced by Mike R and featuring photos he’d taken of our James Carling event. And very nice they are too!
A few weeks ago we were sent a link to a video by Washington Buckley, again featuring our James Carling event as part of the Bold Street Festival. (We showed this at FACT on the 10th November!)
Both videos in our opinion are excellent but different…….taken from an individual viewpoint.
I love that about photography and video, as an arts form- the ephemeral nature of street art is a perfect complement.
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The Christmas Parade in Birmingham!
November 16, 2010
Last Saturday (13th Nov.) saw us taking part in the fabulous Christmas Carnival/Parade and the switch-on of the Christmas lights in Birmingham City Centre.
Christmas light in Birmingham 13th Nov. 2010 (IPod photo)
We didn’t actually switch the lights on (Roy Wood of Wizard did that!) but we did provide an interesting piece of street art…..creating alternative Christmas decorations using food passed it’s ‘sell by’ date. The workshop proved to be very popular with hundreds of people getting involved….they cleaned us out of fruit & veg and most people took their creations home with them.
Christmas Food Sculpture workshop. 13th Nov. 2010 (IPod photo)
We had a great day in Birmingham…..I just love the place!
We stayed at the luxury Crown Plaza Hotel in the city centre, quite nice really and Catherine made the classic comment at breakfast when she stated that “you know you’ve arrived when you get pink grapefruit in your breakfast bowl” or to steal a comment from comedian Peter Kay “when you’ve got v shaped toilet roll in your room!”
View of Birmingham from the 9th floor of the Crown Plaza Hotel
On finishing our workshop we stayed for the procession with a grandstand view……literally thousands of people turned out to see it…..real Reindeers, Uncle Scrooge, Santa’s elves…..everything really including the bathroom sink.
UrbanCanvas meets Urban Pie in Birmingham City Centre!
Now anybody who knows me will tell you I’m a bit of a Uncle Scrooge myself when it comes to Christmas……I just DON’T believe in it, but this procession was just magical with some great walkabout characters…..so for us Christmas really did start and end here……….from hereafter Urban Phil has cancelled Christmas due to government cuts of course! 🙂
Christmas Parade, Birmingham 13th Nov. 2010 (IPod photo)
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The James Carling Arte-FACT!
November 14, 2010
Last Wednesday (10th Nov. 2010) saw the première of our new promotional movie by acclaimed Liverpool film maker John Scotland.
Invitation to a private view-The James Carling Film Invite..... this is the original invite before we changed the date to the 10th!
The James Carling Arte Concorrenza Marciapiede 2010 was the very first celebration of Italian pavement art on the big screen in Liverpool in High Definition! And what an experience it was…..to see an art-form that we love dearly elevated to the heights of a ‘motion picture’
The evening took place in ‘The Picture Box’ at FACT in Wood Street, Liverpool and consisted of 7 short films made by independent film makers from the North West.
It was a fantastic night and I must thank everybody who turned up on a very cold night in November….it’s the first time we’ve tried this and thought it was a great, fun way to celebrate…..a kind of after the event party and get-together for all our friends and supporters.
We might even make it an annual event!
You can see our film here…….we will be using this to attract business partners, funding and not forgetting some of the world’s greatest pavement painters to Liverpool. It’s no secret that it is our ambition to turn this into the UK’s only and best celebration of Italian street painting.
The UK is MILES behind the rest of the world when it comes to street art but we aim to change all that and in doing so change attitudes and opinions.
When all’s said and done thats what artists are supposed to do….aren’t they?
🙂
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
The Future isn’t here yet!
October 9, 2010
— 1 Comment
Well the James Carling event for 2010 is done and dusted and already we are looking forward to 2011…..Oh yes!
Time and tide waits for no man and just when you thought it was safe to come back out onto the streets………we are looking for expressions of interest from artists wishing to take part in next year’s competition. We don’t have any details at present but if you are definitely interested in taking part and returning to Liverpool next year then we would look forward to hearing from you…..email us at urbancanvas@blueyonder.co.uk
James William Carling Competition 2010 Photo: Mike R (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kap_n_kaos)
Also if you are a business looking towards arts sponsorship which can raise your profile, be offset against tax (always a good thing that :)) and involve yourself and your staff in a world-class arts event then contact us at the same address…..get in early and you could bag yourself a bargain sponsorship package 😉
The James William Carling Competition 2010. Photo by Mike R (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kap_n_kaos)
Remember this year’s event attracted thousands of people to the Bold Street area of Liverpool, we had a comments book and this is just a few comments made about The James Carling Pavement Art Competition:
“Fabulous! Yet another reason to be so, so proud of this amazing city!” Jenn & Dave
“A lovely idea & particularly involving the children” V.C.
“Beautiful contest with many amazing artists, I’m so glad I came here today to see it” anon from New York.
“Amazing, all very good artists” Rob from Bedford.
“Pavement & Art are my 2 fave things…..thanks for making this happen!!!” Helen from Telford
“Beautiful, my favourite was the kids!” Sage from Kentucky USA
“Wonderful!” Rozzy from Bedford
“True talent….absolutely stunning” anon from Liverpool
“Well done all the artists and the volunteers for this event-Real Art!” Saad Liverpool.
“FABULOUS!” Deirdre from New York City
“Wonderful event, great talent” Gerry
“Brill, do this more often” Claire from Liverpool
“Well done to all the artists and thank you….you have all worked hard for our enjoyment” anon.
Well what more can I say? Not convinced??….well if you didn’t go then you don’t know what you’ve missed but I think these words speak for themselves…….remember this is the best time to support the arts…in the middle of a recession…….buy high sell low or something like that (lol)
I’ll shortly be updating the James Carling Webpage…..as soon as I get our main computer back from being repaired at PC World ARRRRGH!
So be sure to bookmark that page for future developments!
The James William Carling Competition 2010. Photo: Mike R (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kap_n_kaos)
Our Flickr Photo sharing group The Liverpool Chalk Circle has taken on a life of its own with over 200 photos already being submitted by members. Remember you can freely join and submit your own images of the James Carling event or any other pavement art event or activity you so wish….even if it’s chalking in your own back yard!….why not? It free to join and share on-line so; get chalking and show us your masterpieces why dontcha!
This week has also seen us on the front cover of another newspaper in as many weeks….this time it the October edition of Britain’s oldest community newspaper The Scottie Press serving thousands of households and residents throughout the Vauxhall, Everton and Kirkdale areas of Liverpool. A fantastic write-up especially considering that James Carling was born in Vauxhall…A local hero by now methinks 😉
Scottie Press Front Page - October 2010
Lastly I’d like to thank all our supporters for this year’s event:
Tracey Crosby & Ged Gibbons from City Central BID, Dave & Mandy from The Bold Street Traders (Bold Street Festival Committee) Olwen from Editions Contemporary Arts Ltd, Berni from Inscript Engraving, John Isham at WABBO arts supplies, Emma Cross at the Derwent Pencil Company, Cumbria, Patrick Duggan from Epstein’s Guesthouse, Anfield, Louise Ellman MP for presenting the People’s prize, John Lea and all the staff at Maggie Mays, Bold Street, Rose from Jackson’s Art supplies, Slater Street, Duncan & Anne-Marie from Rennies Art & Crafts, News From Nowhere, The Windows Project all at Bold Street, John Scotland Video Production, Mike McCartney, Ian Jackson, Peter Dover, Minako Jackson, local writer Mike Kelly, all the artists, Gockers, Madonnari and Screevers from near and far, Ken Dodd for nearly being there on the day but he was working in Blackpool (and how tickled he was!) Ron Formby of Scottie Press for all his hard work in pushing the name of James Carling forward (hope to see you next year Ron….God Willing!), Greg Creighton & Sean Dixon from Scottie Press, Gemma from Red Lotus Living and not forgetting all the Little Chalkers and event volunteers on the day and last but not least my partner Catherine McMahon for keeping it all together and quite literally MAKING IT HAPPEN!!! xx behind every great woman is a man (lol)……and to be honest I’m way behind keeping a lid on everything the way that Catherine does….Shes my love and my guiding star x
Phew! What a team!!!!
All for now…..Urblatt Phil x
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
And the Results are in……..
October 3, 2010
For the Little Chalkers National Children’s Pavement Art Competition……..
Well it’s been exactly one week since The James Carling Event and finally I’m starting to feel the return of a new sense of energy after the physical and emotional drain of the past three weeks……having to organise two massive events at the same time is a killer…….anybody who has organised stuff knows the amount of unseen and often unpaid work that goes into these things.
The main thing was that both events; LIVERPOOL RESURGENT and the JAMES CARLING comp where both a massive success enjoyed by thousands of people in the late September sunshine.
I’ve uploaded more photos of the JAMES CARLING EVENT here……..I’ll be blogging and uploading photos of Liverpool Resurgent next week!
In the meantime here are the results of the Little Chalkers Children’s Pavement Art Competition as chosen by ourselves…….. professional street artists Catherine McMahon & Philip Battle UrbanCanvas
Top Prize Winner: Eleanor May Tooher (11-16 yr category)
Little Chalkers Competition Prize Winner-Eleanor May Tooher (11-16 yr category)
Top Prize Winner: Amaia Hemmings (6-10 yr category)
Little Chalkers Competition Prize Winner-Amaia Hemmings (6-10 yr category)
Top Prize Winner: Molly Munroe (5 and under category)
Little Chalkers Competition Prize Winner-Molly Munroe (5 and under)
All prize winners will receive an arts pack, goodies bag and prize certificate!
The following Little Chalkers receive ‘Highly Commended’ certificates and badges for outstanding work:
NIAMH GIBBONS, LEENAH ABDO, JESSICA RAYNER, JAKE HART, AMY MARTIN & ETHAN MUNROE.
You can view all the winners and entrants to the competition HERE!
'Rainbow with Birds' by Little Chalker: LORAN MORRIS aged 8 seen here posing with her masterpiece! (the one with orange hands!!!)
In total we had 48 children enter…..it was so popular that we ran out of space and nearly lost our mind trying to keep track of things, we had to close the competition early to photograph works etc…..next year I think we will have to employ a team of people just to run this competition alone!!
The James Carling competition this year went above and beyond our expectations…..with thousands of visitors, all in a good mood and spirit and generously donating pound coins to their favourite artists…..
German artist Heike Brinkman told us of the tale when “There was this tiny tot, Liverpulian who gave all his pocket money into my caddy box….with a big generous smile…how sweet of him. I’ll keep it as a memento of the wonderful time I had in Liverpool.”
I’m sure there where many tales like that throughout the day
A crowd of people watching Manchester artist Christine Edwards at work on her Masterpiece!
Congratulations to all the winners….the standard was soooo high this year that I’m sure the judges had a very difficult task in picking the winners. Although the winners of the People’s prize seems to have matched our judges choice as well showing that the people of Liverpool know a thing or two about art 😉
Staffordshire artist Caroline Bridie looking a bit 'dusty'
Here is the full and final count for the People’s prize award as voted for by members of the public based on ‘popularity’
Artists:
1: ANTONIO CAMMARANO– Italy………………110 votes
2: KEITH FEARON– Liverpool, UK…………………92 votes
3: GIOVANNA LA PIETRA– Italy………………….49 votes
4: ELISA PASINI– Italy…………………………………33 votes
5: ALAN MURRAY– Liverpool, UK………………….32 votes
6: NEIL MAGUIRE– Liverpool, UK………………….26 votes
7: RUBEN PONCIA– Holland…………………………..26 votes
8: ROBIN PETERS– Liverpool, UK……………………17 votes
9: PAUL CAIN– Liverpool, UK…………………………..17 votes
10: CHRISTINE EDWARDS-Manchester, UK……16 votes
11: JACK SHEARD– Pontefract, UK…………………..15 votes
12: HEIKE BRINKMAN– Germany…………………..13 votes
13: ALEX HOBBY-Newark, UK…………………………13 votes
14: STACEY KELLY-Wigan, UK………………………13 votes
15: JONO WYN– Wirral, UK……………………………..13 votes
16: CAROLINE BRIDIE-Leek, UK……………………11 votes
17: BEVERLEY CLARK-Huyton, UK………………..10 votes
18: GILL SMITH-Liverpool, UK……………………….10 votes
19: HANNAH BOLD-Manchester, UK…………………9 votes
20: CHRISTINE WILSON-Wirral, UK………………8 votes
21: JULIEN LA SEHAN-France………………………..8 votes
22: RON ENTWISTLE-Liverpool, UK………………4 votes
23: SUE LUCINE-Liverpool, UK………………………..3 votes
24: KARLA AMBROSIUS-Liverpool, UK…………..2 votes
25: TOMMY EVERETT-Liverpool, UK……………..1 vote
In true Eurovision style…….. that concludes the vote for the James Carling UK jury!
We had a total of 551 votes from members of the public.
With 34 applications from artists wishing to take part and 9 artists not showing!
WHY??? You missed a great day!!!
And if you thought that was good wait till next year……..and you won’t believe your eyes!!!!
Who photographs the photographers? Photographers photographing....Ummmm.....Street Art!
Don’t forget you can share your own photos and join in on-line disscusions by joining our very own Liverpool Chalk Circle. Designed for anybody interested in seeing more of this stuff in and around Liverpool and the North West!
The Little Chalkers Pavement Art Competition, James Carling & Liverpool Resurgent where all supported by LIVERPOOL CITY CENTRAL BID and organised and conceived by Liverpool artists URBANCANVAS
Ta for now!
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
And the results are………
September 30, 2010
— 3 Comments
Well Liverpool Resurgent….Britain’s largest piece of Italian street painting and the 2nd James William Carling Pavement Art Competition have come and gone in the blink of an eye. If you missed them; then what can I say…….both events where AMAZING!!!!
You missed a real treat. I’ll be blogging more on both events as soon as I’m able to draw breath but at present both myself and Catherine are totally exhausted…….the emotional and physical challenge of both events have taken their toll and we need complete rest for a week or so…..just to recharge!!!
In the meantime here are the winners of the Pavement Art Competition, Sunday 26th September 2010 and presented in Maggie Mays, Bold Street as part of the Liverpool Bold Street Festival.
The Adrian Henri Street Art Awards 2010
for ‘Freestyle Art’
1st Prize – Keith Fearon, Liverpool, UK (£500 Cash + Engraved Trophy)
1st Prize Winner - Liverpool Artist KEITH FEARON... 'Loud music can cause permanent damage!!'
2nd Prize – Alan Murray, Liverpool, UK (£200 Cash)
2nd Prize- Defusing the Chalk Bomb by Liverpool Artist ALAN MURRAY
3rd Prize – Ruben Poncia, Utrecht, Holland (£100 Cash)
3rd Prize- The Impossible Stairway by Dutch Artist RUBEN PONCIA
The James Carling Pavement Art Awards 2010
for ‘Copy Art’
1st Prize – Antonio Cammarano, Saronno, Italy (£500 Cash + Engraved Trophy)
1st Prize- The Rude Cavalier by Italian Artist ANTONIO CAMMARANO
2nd Prize – Giovana La Pietra, Lecco, Italy (£200 Cash)
2nd Prize- Venus by Italian Artist GIOVANA LA PIETRA
3rd Prize – Stacey Kelly, Wigan, UK (£100 Cash)
3rd Prize- Maidan by Wigan Artist STACEY KELLY
Many thanks to our judges: Mike McCartney, Ian Jackson, Peter Dover and Minako Jackson and to everybody who took part….in my opinion, taking part is more important than winning and I’d like to thank everybody; artists and volunteers who helped to make the 2nd James Carling Competition such a wonderful and memorable event……thank you sooo much for leaving your mark in our hearts and on the streets of our fine city of Liverpool! 🙂
People’s Prize Award by democratic vote 2010
for ‘Popularity’
Kindly presented by Louise Ellman MP
1st Prize – Antonio Cammarano, Italy (£120 worth of art materials donated by DEWENT PENCILS LTD)
2nd Prize – Keith Fearon, Liverpool, UK (£90 worth of goods donated by The Bold Street Traders)
Little Chalker's Children's Art Competition 2010
I’ll be publishing the results of the Little Chalkers Children’s Art Competition tomorrow; together with more details and photos from the event…….in the meantime you can upload your own images and relive both events by joining our Liverpool Chalk Circle Flickr Group!
Many thanks to Liverpool City Central BID for travelling with us into the unknown and supporting Arts and Culture in the city! xx
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Michelangelo was a Scouser!
September 12, 2010
The original Liverpool Madonnri (pavement artist) …….Born (1475-1564)
Long before James William Carling was born…..Michelangelo Mc-da-Gear grew up in Liverpool, the son of Irish immigrants (Tommy & Rose Mc-da-Gear), he was born in Jingle-by-the-Dingle. Down-a-jigger….A place of extreme poverty that became known locally as ‘Little Italy’
At the age of 2, Michelangelo became known as ‘Bella Chalky’ after the beautiful portraits he would paint in chalks on the pavements and walls all around ‘Little Italy’ His father Tommy would later recall that his son ‘Bella’ would “often come home covered from head to toe in chalk dust and bulging pockets of pennies given by people amazed to see the skill of such a young Madonnari (pavement artist) “
"Bella Chalky" Self Portrait.....
Destiny was calling the young Michelangelo and by his early teens he was getting restless and hungry for adventure. At 17 He met a young Italian girl named Giovanna whose family had emigrated to Liverpool from the Florence area of Italy only 10 years earlier.
Giovanna introduced Michelangelo to all things Italian…….food, culture but most of all art. This was a whole new world to the little ‘Bella Chalky’
By 18, Michelangelo together with Giovanna moved to Florence in Italy to indulge his new found passion for Italian culture and pursue his ambitions of becoming a great artist. By 19 he changed his name to Giovanna’s family name of Buonarroti…..and as they say, the rest is history!
Michelangelo perfected his craft on the streets of Liverpool and until recently no surviving examples of his work had been found, but in 2008, members of the Liverpool BID team were ‘routing’ around in the basement of St. George’s Hall when they uncovered what looked like fragments of brightly coloured art painted on plaster. (Fresco)
Intrigued, Tracey and Ged from Liverpool BID bagged up the plaster fragments in old Rapid and Home & Care carrier bags and carried the fragments the short distance to Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery…… Art historians where amazed to see the couple, covered from head to toe in chalk dust and carrying six bags of precious broken plaster fragments.
Local artists UrbanCanvas (Phil & Cath) where called in to assist in piecing together the art fragments. Unknowingly Tracey and Ged had uncovered a lost masterpiece by Michelangelo Mc-da-Gear. The fragments actually formed part of a much earlier building, built over 400 years before the present St. George’s Hall.
Could this be one of Liverpool’s oldest pieces of Renaissance art? Michelangelo’s lost ceiling and Liverpool’s answer to the Sistine Chapel perhaps?
Well only time will tell because now local international award winning artists UrbanCanvas have teamed up with Liverpool BID in an attempt to recreate one of the largest piece’s of street art ever seen on the streets of Great Britain….Michelangelo’s lost masterpiece?……could be!!
Illustration by Stacey Kelly taken from an original design by Michelangelo Mc-da-Gear
Liverpool Resurgent
Over 4 days in September between 21st and 24th in Williamson Square. Award winning local artists from The James William Carling Competition 2008 will attempt to recreate this lost masterpiece in front of your very eyes. Every day from 10am to 5pm.
Six artists can be seen working all day on this massive 60ft x 15ft work of art. You can visit each day to see how the work is progressing, talk to the artists, take photos and on the final day join in the fun with a special pavement art workshop and Leave your mark on the streets of Liverpool for the grand unveiling of Liverpool Resurgent!
A modern day descendent of Michelangelo Mc-da-Gear…… Mike McGear said of this great event……”I can’t wait!”
For more info on Liverpool Resurgent and The James Carling Pavement Art Competition visit:
http://www.urbancanvas.org.uk/jamescarling.htm
Liverpool Resurgent & the James Carling event is supported by Liverpool BID
For more info on the history of pavement art ‘LIKE’ our ARTISTS OF THE PAVING STONE page on Facebook.
Visit our history blog: All My Own Work.
For more info on UrbanCanvas street art activities ‘LIKE’ us on Facebook.
© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
We speak to you through our Visual Language……..
September 8, 2010
— 2 Comments
Street Poem.....Steynfestijn Festival, Zeist, Holland 2010
Just returned from Zeist, Holland at the weekend, taking part in the Steynfestijn Festival (4th September 2010). A great event really although dodging the bicycles on the street was a bit ‘hairy’ at times….I nearly got knocked over a few times. The Dutch are just mad about their bikes, mind you, it is perfect cycling country….not a hill in sight!
The language of art is universal…..so we decided to create this ‘street poem’ using pictures or pictograms…..people could make up their own story and interpret themselves what the meaning was!
Street Poem looking down the high street, Steynfestijn Festival, Zeist, Holland 2010
This is one interpretation somebody told us…….”there was a young girl from Zeist who locked her heart inside a crystal ball, the day her true love came to call……together they charmed the birds from the trees and the cat from its cradle, ghostly and pale they sailed together in a dream….if you look in the river, at the space between the sun and the moon…….you’ll see them flying”
Nice that!
To me, Zeist seemed to be a laid-back well healed kind of a place and I found the Dutch themselves to be a very cultured, if reserved kind of folk. Initially resistant to getting involved in street art but as the day went on and they saw what we were up to they seemed to loosen up.
There was some great street art and rare talent on display at Steynfestijn Festival and I’ve included some examples on the video 🙂
Town Hall in Zeist....I think! nice buliding all the same.
Lots of big country houses and estates in and around Zeist, we particularly liked ZEIST HOUSE, completed in 1686 and the former home of Willem Adriaan van Nassau van Odijk…..must have been a dandy then 🙂
SLOT ZEIST HOUSE...one time home to the dutch dandy's
When we finished our work at Steynfestijn we decided to take a look around Zeist House and have a coffee in the grounds only to stumble upon this Classic car rally organized by the Armstrong Siddeley (make of car!) Dutch owners club as part of the 1st Dutch National Day 2010. I’m not really into cars but these did look splendid outside Zeist House.
Armstrong Siddeley cars ourside Zeist House
Great place Holland….and I hope we return soon!
Phil & Cath enjoying the Steynfestijn Festival
Many thanks to Peter Westerink of planetstreetpainting.com and Annemiek Verstappen of Centrum Zeist for making it happen and inviting us over to Holland….it was a great gig 🙂
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© Philip Battle (UrbanCanvas) Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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