Two enormous street art murals recently installed at the new skate park in the grounds of Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre have been attracting the attention of passers-by and visitors to the park.

The installation marks the completion of a community art project which involved over 30 children and young people and was part-funded by a community grant award from South Gloucestershire Council.

The project started during the October half-term with local children and young people working with two experienced mural and graffiti artists (Tom Sledmore and Jack Tierney from The Paintsmiths in Bristol), alongside Graham Baker, Bradley Stoke Town Council’s youth development worker.

An initial half-day workshop based at the skate park comprised an introduction to mural and graffiti art, including an extremely popular ‘have a go’ session. Over twenty young people participated and many proudly took home their own artworks on small 4’ x 2’ boards.

On Saturday 28th January, there was a further street art project session, this time focusing on the designs for the two large pieces. The two artists worked with the young people and some exciting designs started to take shape. The designs were then shared and discussed more widely in youth work sessions and further suggestions made.

A final design session took place at the skate park on a late afternoon in mid-March and was immediately followed by what Graham describes as “a whole and extremely long weekend of painting”. More than ten young people worked with Graham and the two experienced artists, in accordance with the previously agreed designs, to produce two large and impressive pieces of art, both 10 metres wide by 2.5 metres high.

More: Participation through extensive use of stencilling techniques »

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Susan Hartry, of the Stokes Art Group (SAG), is really pleased that a feature in a recent edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine, offering free taster sessions during November, directly lead to several local artists wanting to join the group ready for the start of their 2014 season. Susan said:

“I am always keen to seek out potential members for the SAG. New talent injects new interest which keeps the impetus and enthusiasm at a high – and, not least, it is essential to keep membership numbers ticking over in order to move the group forward. So it was great to meet new artists and see them settle in quickly and comfortably at the Taster Sessions, working away at their own art projects and chatting with regular SAG Members about their art.”

“We are now looking forward to painting with them and adding their masterpieces to our growing collection of fantastic artworks. It’s amazing just how much artistic talent we have on our own patch.”

What we do in our leisure time is always decided by our circumstances at that time, so a group or club’s membership is naturally quite fluid, and as Susan explains:

“Although the SAG is very lucky to have a core of loyal members, it is important to be forward thinking in order to maintain a workable number of members. So if there are any more artists in the Stokes or surrounding areas who might like to try out the Stokes Art Group, please send me an email.”

“SAG hold four seasonal series of workshop sessions each year, so I can advise the best time to join in order to maximise the cost. Our next series consists of seven sessions and starts on Tuesday evening 7th January, or Thursday morning 9th January 2014. We meet at Christ The King Church in Bradley Stoke.”

More: Autumn competition judged by local artist David Mealing »

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Free taster evening this Thursday (24th October) at BSCS

From Picasso to Banksy … and from Windsor Castle to the privies of Bristol and Bath … via intriguing forays into Islamic mosques and Scandinavian interior design … There’s no limit it seems to what you might learn about at an adventurous new hub for art appreciation in South Gloucestershire. These are just some of the subjects potentially on the agenda with the launch of the South Gloucestershire Decorative and Fine Arts Society in Bradley Stoke this week.

Its monthly meetings promise to surprise and enthral with a hugely diverse offering of talks by some of the country’s top experts in their field. So if you thought fine art was all about stuffy discussions on the Old Masters, think again. Among the topics being considered for future talks are ‘Art & Engineering’, ‘Children’s Books Through the Ages’, ‘Shoes In Art’ … and the rather more provocative ‘Tarts in Art’!

This new forum, based at Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) in Fiddlers Wood Lane, is part of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies – or NADFAS for short. NADFAS is a charity dedicated to opening up the world of Arts through its national events, local societies and inspiring lectures.

An incredible 360 societies are part of its network throughout the UK and Europe and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. The organisation has 90,000 members and the new South Gloucestershire society is confident that its launch night on Thursday 24th October will swell the numbers still further, with a free talk by Bristol historian and author Francis Greenacre on paintings and drawings of the city’s spectacular landscape, architecture and events two centuries ago. No city has a more complete record of its past appearance apparently and the quality of the images is described as outstanding.

More: New group is aiming for 150 members »

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The Stokes Art Group has now been running successfully for a year and is looking for new members to join for 2013.

The group was formed after local artist Susan Hartry appealed for like-minded individuals to attend an exploratory meeting  in November 2011.

According to the group’s website:

“The aim of the Stokes Art Group is for local Artists to meet on a regular basis to work, chat, demonstrate and showcase their art, with like-minded people. Nothing is expected of Members, but there can be a lot to gain by being part of a group who talk the same language – as in a dash of French Ultramarine with a little bit of Light Red! “

A new series of art workshop sessions starts this week, held on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings at Christ the King Church, Mautravers Close. The first sessions are on:

• Tuesday 8th January – 7pm to 9:30pm
• Thursday 10th January – 10am to 12:30pm

For more details, visit the group’s website at www.stokesartists.co.uk. To register, please email Susan Hartry at stokesart@fsmail.net.

Related link: What’s On in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

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Evening meeting to discuss formation of a local Art Group

Over the past few months, local amateur artist Susan Hartry has been busy calling all Stokes Artists to join her and start an Art Group for the Stokes areas of South Gloucestershire. “Considering the population of Bradley Stoke and surrounding Stokes areas”, Susan says, “I am amazed there is no Art Group to call our own, so I’m trying to start one”.

Susan’s idea for such a local Art Group has been a long time festering; a group with no structured format, bar the odd project as a break from the norm; self-funded; non-tutor lead (so not a class); and not expensive. Quite simply, like-minded people getting together on a regular basis, to paint and talk about art, and learn from one another along the way by sharing tips and techniques.

In her quest, she contacted the editors of Bradley Stoke Matters for help, and an article ‘Calling All Artists’ was published in the summer editions.  The response has been encouraging for her, but preferences for a weekly daytime or evening time slot proved to be split – so she is now trying to set up two groups!

Her next move was to seek a suitable venue, at a suitable cost. Easy?  … No! As Susan explained “I am referring to us as the Stokes Art Group, but we’re not a group at all yet, so no funds in the kitty.” Thus creating for her a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario and major headache – how do you book a venue, twice a week for ten weekly slots when you have no money to pay for it?  She added “Not out of my own pocket, that’s for sure.”

More: Meeting called for Tuesday 29th November in Bradley Stoke »

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