New Job; New Ideas

I have a new job working in the Bearpit in Bristol. For those who dont know the Bearpit it's an area in a roundabout with underpasses and is a popular hangout for drunks and addicts alike. Its ripe for development and there are 3 different groups looking to improve the area sometimes in tandem and often with a lack of communication. Ive decided to do a sketch pad documenting the ups and downs of being an addict (as far as i can perceive). the sketch pad isn't ready yet so the drawings have been on pastry bags (the new job is a coffee cart) but it seems to add to the charm.

 

Here is a man getting angry at his girlfriend over money. These sketches were meant as preparatory studies to be re-done in the sketch pad. The result of this process i feel lacks the livelyness of the direct study but has an improved composition, need to find a way to blend the two.

Boredom seems to be a common emotion

sometimes something new and exciting happens, such as these two girls interviewing commuters for some reason. An opportune moment to have a rant and a laugh.

a quiet moment.

My Musings

I've been thinking about something that aroused my thoughts during the passing of the stick at Mitcheldean. There were talks about how they will act if an eviction went ahead and I raised an issue regarding their attitude towards people within 'the sytem' which I found derogative. They made the point that they percieved 'the system' as amoral (which is undeniable) and that they wished to state their opposition to 'the system' by not conforming in anyway with it. This could take on the form of resistance such as in an eviction situation. But as I see it this is the problem with such groups; they wish to change 'the system' but are unwilling to mediate with it. Public image is going effect public opinion which is obviously an important part of getting people on board with a movement, It needs to be inclusive to have an effect. The workshops and public events are designed to do this but on a more fundamental level the perosonal attitudes of the individual activist and the desire to conform to a particular lifestyle only serves to be exclusive. They become trapped by their ideologies and their sense of identity. From my personal experience in a public facing job I can say that the opinion of people from within 'the system' is that activists are dirty and that their ideologies are unrealistic, its not that this person is ignorant or amoral its only that they know a particular way of life and it is my opinion that until the activist can learn to mediate with that lifestyle the eviction will always be round the corner and 'the system' will remain unchanged.

The Wilderness Center, Mitcheldean.

Last weekend I packed my camping gear onto my bike and went to stay with a  friend of mine and a group of 'squaters' (although they choose not to use that title) in a place called The Wilderness. It use to be an education center teaching chidren about the wilderness until the council withdrew its funding. Until recently it was occupied by security staff until some activists requisitioned a couple of the buildings which include a barn and a mock saxon house. Their intent is to use the building for its original purpose and have been holding workshops like coppicing, wood working and foraging.

 

This is the common area where they hold talks and have tea. They are a pleasant bunch some of which are from the local area and some from Bristol. They seem to know what they are doing but they were having troubles when I arrived in the form of a strange vomiting bug that had gone around and a looming court appearance to get them evicted. Needless to say i didn't get to see them in their prime.

 

They hold sessions where they pass a stick around the circle and you're only allowed to speak if you are holding the stick and you are allowed to speak what ever is on your mind. Their is an air of silent tension as the stick makes its journey, at least I perceived it as tension.

 

The grounds of the complex are beautiful; there is a Saxon house which two people are sleeping in and a set stone monuments that had been carved during its time as an open education center. They said that the coucil plan to redevelop the area to 300 houses. I don't know how substantiated these claims are as its a steep outcrop of very old stone that I wouldn't have thought would have made good foundations but if it is true I wish these guys the best of luck, It's good to see squatting with a purpose.

Julian Assange Extradition trial.

On recent visit to london to see Prime Minister's Questions I heard on the radio that Julian Assange was to be Fancing a trial headed by 7 judges at the supreme court that day. Naturally I figured something was going to be going down so as it was just a hop across the road I thought i'd have a look.

 

The crowds were by no means overwhelming, it was a cold day though. A few policeman and a gaggle of foreign reporters clutching at any bit of information that they can gather from the public before deciding that it was too cold and blowy before bailing out to the pub is all that you can see. Incidently my hands went numb 5 minutes into this drawing so considering that I'm rather pleased with the results

Union march bristol

More cuts to the public sector sees a lot of people facing redundancy. Naturally this gets the unions up in arms so mass rallies are held in  most major cities around the UK.

Bristol's rally heads from college green, round boldwin street (past the banks) towards castle park.

 

Unite flags en-mass. 

 The rally ends in Castle Park with speakers in the pavilion.

Occupy London

Protesters try to occupy the London stock exchange in a bid to highlight excessive bonuses given to bankers but their attempt is stopped by police and they end up setting camp next door on the grounds of St Paul's cathedral. This turns out to be a blessing in disguise as the church finds themselves unable to use force to evict them and couldn't say that they disagreed with the movements ideals. Lets call it a crisis of conscience.

 

The movement is inspired by the occupy Wallstreet movement in America. Many famous faces stop by to give speeches.

 

there's a free speech stage for anyone that wants to share their view and lots of information about what they are doing.

St Pauls Carnival

Here are a few drawings I did of St Pauls carnival in 2011 before having a good old dance.

This sound system was Called Negus Melody, I stayed here most of the night. You wouldn't believe the bass.

These people are dancing a t the Instrument of Jah soundsystem

 

looking down City road you can see system after sytem. I had the impression that as you walk from the heart of st Pauls through the carnival toward city road and eventully Cheltenham road the music and demographic turns progressively from largely Caribbean with reggae and ragga and that sort of thing to largely white K heads with dubstep and drum and bass and is on the whole less social. doesn't that say it all? On the whole I think this event is great event for st Pauls to show what its got and long may it continue!