Liverpool - Look Up, Look Around

Stenciling

2011-10-13T00:25:00.001-07:00

I saw this stencil yesterday at the pedestrian crossing near Lime Street station. I am hoping this is part of a larger campaign and I will see some more around the place! Please don't just use the same stencil everywhere I like the design and the message of this one.

If you see any others out there please do let me know!

Art is subjective

2011-10-11T00:45:00.001-07:00

Now as I look to get mug first tattoo and some may say that at 34 with 2 kids I should really grow up. Children are an interesting paradox in one breath they keep you young however they make you feel so old! I want a tattoo end of argument.

Well the monstrosity bellow can be located in the courtyard of queens square. Where no doubt it was been vomited on urinated on and they will be the more social.acceptable things that have happened to it!

As I squash art is subjective if you like it poor you!

It's all a bit too real

2011-09-22T00:50:00.001-07:00

In the run up to the Bold Street Festival I have seen a couple of fringe events most interesting is the work of several 3D artists collaborating on a new piece of work.

A tent has been effected in the space outside Schu and Tkmaxx which houses this large chalk drawing. With a couple of fixed cameras in place and careful planning this artwork is taking shape in front of the eyes of passers by. It is being created and will be on display for the next couple of days.

Could this be a changing point?

2011-08-25T00:46:00.001-07:00

The purpose if my blog was to get me out of the office and see some different things in the area. This works brilliantly, I have a nice new smartphone full of pictures I have taken. However I have realised I would sooner be out at lunch time rather than writing an installment of the blog, and with 2 kids home isn't where I want to do it.

So as I mentioned I have a shiny new smartphone and 20 minutes each direction to write something smart, snappy and witty, oh well. I am also wondering whether to move completely to Wordpress as I like the multiple picture upload tool, this post however will be a test of the overall appearance!

I have added a couple of pictures I have taken with my camera and I liked the effect, the clock is in lime street and the bike is an advert for a local business I am loving the filter on both these even though it is software as opposed to me having any skill with a camera.

Well here is hoping for not a new start but a break from the last one.

Art in the city

2011-05-06T04:02:00.001-07:00

I am not sure if there is anything I can really say about this!

Super Lamb Banana turns pink

2011-05-03T15:16:00.001-07:00

The original SLB has had another makeover, this time it is a blushing pink in honour of breast cancer awareness. It is.located outside LJMU's Avril Roberts Learning Resource Center on Tithebarn Street.

Take a bite of the Apple

2011-03-25T07:47:00.001-07:00

Well it is iPad release day and the city goes crazy for it, queues caged waiting for its release later today, I did say I would start including the more unusual things I see across the city!

Liverpool ONE - Fashionable Fences Competition

2011-03-24T04:49:00.000-07:00

Liverpool ONE - Fashionable Fences Competition
Sorry I got some new software for blogging and it appears I don't have the hang of it yet,
I went down to Liverpool One a couple of weeks ago and snapped their National Fences.

Art in the street

2011-02-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

Wandering back up the hill from town today I spotted this unique sculpture. I didn't see any information on it so if you know what it is all about please let me know and I will link to the artist!

It is located at the bottom of Bold Street outside the old Lyceum Post Office.

Biennial 2010 - The First Retrospect

2011-02-16T04:14:00.005-08:00

For what must have been for the 2010 Biennial the old Rapid Hardware Garden Centre on Renshaw Street, was transformed into a multi coloured streamer, though I did initially and still do have a nagging thought that it looks like one of those tacky room divides that you get caught up in when entering a kitchen.

If you know anything about the artist or the display please let me know and I will post more information, I didn't see anything in the Biennial leaflet.

From Liverpool - Look Up, Look Around

Liverpool Heritage Walk

2011-02-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

Every day I mostly walk the same roads and routes, this is partly why I started this blog to get me out and about and to look at new sights which Liverpool has to offer.

A few years ago we visited Boston USA and walked the Freedom Trail which saw us visiting the most famous land marks, such Paul Revere's house Quincy Market etc. Little did I realise part of my daily route have a similar historical walk. I was stood on one of the markers outside Roscoe gardens, after searching on the net I found this to be the most useful site - Liverpool 08 Downloads, it contains a lot of information including maps and audio tours, please do check this out!

As soon as I am able I will take it upon myself to walk them all and report back with my findings photos and comments. However, here is my first marker.

From Liverpool - Look Up, Look Around

A New Beginning

2011-02-12T00:52:00.001-08:00

Last week I met up for lunch with the Merseytart who informed me he had removed me from his blog watch panel. I am thinking it will take me 5 regular posts to get back on the list which in essence isn't a problem, I have plenty of photographs I just need to add the text.

Keeping my eyes open meant I am seeing some truly unusual stuff around the city, it also means I have a new appreciation for graffiti art, for which I have in the past condemned the mindless spray painting of a few letters or a name. I feared that I would then end up giving the city a bad name. But I have been told to draw caution to the wind and get on with it!

It isn't a quite time for me either I am a father of 1 girl with a 2nd only weeks away from delivery. I am designing a new website whilst mulling over another huge project. I will be starting a new role in my company which means learning new things and fast!

So just a few things going on!

I also have a new blog up and running what I know and what I have learnt.

just before I go I will leave you with this photograph which I walk past often just to see it as it brings a smile to my face.

From Liverpool - Look Up, Look Around

Liverpool Biennial

2010-09-22T01:37:00.000-07:00

The Liverpool Biennial is once again upon us and we had some fantastic exhibits a couple of years ago. I have yet to visit any this year, however, from what I have read it is once again promising to be a great success.

For further information check out the Biennial Site here, it isn't a brilliantly constructed site but it does have a map of the exhibits available here.

And there is more...

2010-07-19T05:16:00.000-07:00

... just a couple more photographs from inside the Anglican Cathedral, there is so much to capture that I think I will leave the rest to you guys! I did want to just show you these, By the way you have Tracey Emin to thank for the neon sign... classy!

Having walked up and down Rodney Street for the last week I saw some fantastic places so I think that I will be starting a Rodney Street collection coming soon. I have some pictures but I want to look at the history to some of these buildings, including the Scottish Church and former Prime Minister, William Gladstone's house, but that will come at a later date..

Anglican Cathedral

2010-07-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

I watched "Julie & Julia" this week and quite frankly I don't know where she found the time to work a full time job, cook all those meals and blog about it without being on crack or speed!

This week is Graduation week and I have been looking after some of the VIP's and even got to say 4 words to Kim Catrall, I think they consisted of "Hello, this way please". And all this deserved pomp and ceremony is taking place at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, now I thought I would reserve the Cathedral's for a time when I was running dry on 'Scouse Sights' (I reserve the right to copyright this as Google doesn't show this as a result!). However, I am in the cathedral, I got a couple of nice shots inside and out so thought I would share them with you. Well worth a look around, entrance is free but for a few quid you can go up to the tower which is brilliant if you get the right day!

For more information on this magnificent building check out their website here.

The monsters are coming!

2010-07-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Right, since I have been told by a couple of people that this blog is seriously lacking in regular content and I feel I have started to use my Tumblr account for inane ramblings and postings I am turning over another new leaf and kick starting with some small posts. In my defence I always have my camera with me and have snapped hundreds of photographs I want to share with you.

I would like a new camera for my birthday and wandered into town along Bold St which has provided a wealth of curiosities over the past few weeks, however, none quite so staged or on the other hand bizarre. On the streets of Liverpool yesterday 4 monsters invaded the town centre, in a scene no doubt thought up after watching A Nightmare Before Christmas 5 times too many, the broadband Niggles and Narks were out promoting O2's Home Broadband. All too happy to have their photo taken all I can say is it is just as well it wasn't a few drinks into a Friday evening the excessively friendly way in which some people greeted them!

Graffiti

2010-07-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

As you will have gathered from previous posts I am not a fan of inane Graffiti but I like expression with meaning. In other words I hate people who just spray paint their names/tags. There is one in particular at the moment who feels that any bit of space is their right to spray their initials onto. However there is no real story behind this just things I have seen and kind of liked!

And I am back in the room

2010-02-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

Well this year hasn't got off to a great start has it, in terms of blogging. At least this is healthier than my tumblr blog which I have had for about 6 months ago and I am now on post 2. So what has kept me so busy that I have neglected my inane musings I hear you ask well nothing other than life, however, I have kept a careful watch up and around and now I have acquired a new lead for my camera phone I can bother you all once more!

Having just verified my last post was over 2 months ago I will have to publish the photos and articles over the next few days.

Liverpool has seen its own March of the Penguins in and out of the city, I believe some are still dotted around the city in similar style to the Superlambanana's. Other than getting to see all the effort people have put into making something fantastic and imaginative I got to see a lot of the city I would not normally see unless I had a bit of business in that area. I would often pass The Bluecoat on the way to Quiggins in years gone by, however, with the building of Liverpool One and the construction of its new pedestrian entrance on Church Street I rarely walk by. However, I could hear the penguin call which led me to another unrelated installation in the trees of The Bluecoat's trees, entitled Specimen Colony, a collection of brightly painted bird boxes which despite the magnificent architecture can be quite dark and dismal. This is the work of Scotish born artist Alec Finlay who did this work as part of the 2008 Bienial, I may come to things late but I am appreciative!

Graffiti

2009-12-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

You see so much of it around these days, well "tagging" where someone with no imagination sprays a couple of initials to leave their mark. This I would say is tantamount to vandalism. However, I do have an appreciation for someone who has taken their time and been a little more creative.

I took the first photo a couple of months ago and the following day it had been painted over, the building behind it is now being demolished so I do wonder the point of wasting man hours and paint for boxes which will undoubtedly be repositioned!

I was until recently unimpressed with the craze of stenciling because I felt it was a quick win for a graffitist and put them in the category of taggers. I am slowly being won over by the imaginative work and places there are appearing.

LIGHTS...Camera...Blog

2009-12-02T04:51:00.000-08:00

Liverpool University has done some work on its Engineering Department building on Brownlow Hill. This is another of those gems that I saw as I walked along and now occasionally when I am on my way home will walk the long way around to the station to have a look at it!

It looks as though the building has had a lighting structure slipped onto the top, the building alternates colour every few seconds and the video below intimates it can be set up for more complex displays. I have also taken some additional photos at the bottom of this post.

The video posted on Vimeo of the light show describes the remodeling of the Sheppard Robson building.

Liverpool Department of Engineering from Sheppard Robson on Vimeo.

"Sheppard Robson has completed a luminous, glass clad engineering laboratory for the University of Liverpool, a two-storey ‘Active Learning Lab’ with an outer skin of reflective and fitted glass panels that illuminate Liverpool’s skyline.

The Active Learning Lab is part naturally ventilated, floating above the existing 1960’s two-storey podium building below. The lab offers extensive views west towards the city centre, south across to the iconic brutalist Metropolitan Cathedral and north across the University campus."

Source:

Liverpool Christmas Lights Switch on (2009)

2009-11-12T01:53:00.000-08:00

Well you know Christmas is on its way when the selection boxes start to appear the week kids return to school in September! Gladly other Christmas milestones are a little more time appropriate, such as the annual Christmas light switch on.

This year Liverpool 1 will be leading the way and having their own switch on a day before the city's own event on the 19th November 2009.

18th November - Liverpool 1 - where we see the opening of Santa's Ice Palace and an evening of activities for more information please follow this link.

19th November -Liverpool City Centre - There is no official "switch on" however the city will become illuminated by the presence of the Snow Princess and as she walks through the city the lights will come alive, there will be no advertised time as to when this will begin as they do not want crowds to follow her around. There is no big celebrity pushing a button this year, however this particular spectacle sounds much better! Additional activities will go on throughout the city such as the unveiling of the Nativity story in Rapid Hardware and the Unveiling of the Christmas tree. This will be part of what has been named the "Winters Trail".

Go Penguins!

This year Lewis' will be displaying 7 of the community penguins, I am not sure if they will be permanently there however they are on display on the 19th November a sneak peek before the official launch on the 22nd.

How to progress?

2009-07-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Now that one of the busiest and most intense periods of my job has passed for another year I am able to make a concerted effort and post stories to my blog on a more regular basis!

Yesterday was such a horrible morning weather wise, my train had been delayed by about 30 minutes and as I walked from Lime Street to work I cut across an area designated for water pipe replacement. As I approached one of the excavations, rain hurtling down and workman stood emptying this hole, I personally thought it was a prime example of futility, I wondered what next, shouting at thunder?

I haven't been wasting my time completely, I have been looking up and around and wondering what should actually constitute a posting, should it be an examination of grand architecture, posts about the bits of tat I see around me or a glimpse of some of some of the things that amuse me as I wonder around this fantastic city? So I have decided... all of them! I do hope you will continue to visit even if ever post doesn't interest you!

I have also realised the further I wonder from work the longer the lunch times I will have so I think there will have to be some planning involved, trawling of the internet for the short lived oddities. I noticed the other day on the edge of Liverpool 1 there was a large art project and I must check that out!

Well a few thoughts have been expressed and I have set myself a challenge of posting a Liverpool Interest at least once a week. See you within 7 days!

Not what I expected

2009-07-15T07:24:00.001-07:00

The first post to my blog may seem to have religious based themes, however, it is more about preconceptions than any religious message. In fact I am almost tempted to post another message and pre-date this one.

However I digress from the story...

Walking up Mt Pleasant I noticed they were demolishing an old building on Benson Street, Oraham Ltd, Climax Works (something to do with timber). After that it appears to have been turned into a gym, Tony's Gym.

View Larger Map

The demolition of the building was two thirds complete and I was being be nosy I wanted to see what was behind the building, alas they hadn't knocked down the back wall yet. Walking on the opposite side of the road, all that separated me from the flying debris was a wire fence with holes big enough to post my head through. Further down I noticed a heavy set bloke, he stood facing the de-construction site in the usual builders attire, hard hat, florescent jacket, steel toe capped boots and skin crisped by regular toasting from the sun.

He handed a leaflet to a couple ahead of me and I assumed he was drumming up trade "if you like what you see here we can knock down any structure you desire". As I was handed my very own leaflet my hand automatically took one from him and walked on, I reached the end of the road, a safe enough distance to look clam and collected and not over eager! I found I had been given a small 4 page leaflet on God, there went all my preconceived notions of this builder.

This helps set the tone for this blog, you may have an idea what Liverpool and the people are like and a simple act of being passed a leaflet can turn things on its head!

Musical accompaniment on this adventure: Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Update: The full leaflet has been request. With a bit of photo merging it is here.