Thursday 1 February 2018

Muriels

I knew it would happen: I recently commented on someone else's blog that we don't find many murals in England. Of course I started seeing them everywhere! And every time I see one I think of dear old Hilda Ogden, a character on British TV programme, Coronation Street. She had a particularly tasteless mountain scene covering one of the walls in her back room. She always lovingly referred to it as her "muriel"


So here's a "muriel" from a children's play area in Letchworth.


The tree above, a community arts project also in Letchworth, doesn't look too remarkable till you get up close and realise....


....that it's composed of painted pebbles that have somehow been glued to the wall.

On a farm shed in Longstanton I found....


.....it appears to be entirely constructed from spanners, chains, cogs and such like.

Not quite a mural, though definitely a painting on the wall, is this re-creation of twentieth century advertising on a pub in Histon...


The whole pub is covered in similar painting and may well one day feature in its own post.

But I've been saving the best till last...


It stands right next to the Cambridge Guided Busway and was once an old railway station. It's the work of two artists known as Mattheus Bailon (from Brazil) and Dr Zadok. Got to be worth a close-up..



Take care.



18 comments:

  1. We have a fair few in Newark now, they are quite the in thing to have

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  2. Good heavens John, how have you managed to miss these.. particularly the last fabulous 'muriel'😀😀

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  3. What a wonderful collection you found John. I like the one made out of painted pebbles but I agree with you, the last one is absolutely beautiful to see. I'm sure you'll find more in your travels. :)

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  4. These are great, John. I love the tree especially! That took time and vision!

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  5. Love the rock-tree. It's beautiful. You've inspired me to take a drive around town and snap a couple of photos. I have to leave house to find a stranger for challenge at With Real Toads, so might as well be doing something fun while I check out the locals!

    http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2018/02/eulogy-for-stranger.html

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  6. I know the last one is incredibly detailed but I find myself attracted most to the tray of bottles. I can't explain why. But maybe part of it is the shiny kegs beside it.

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  7. Imagining how that conversation went.

    "You know what we should paint on that building over there?"

    "A giant orangutan and an angry unicorn flamingo?"

    "You read my mind!"

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  8. Goodness, that last one! Murals have become a thing here in the States, with many towns commissioning artists to paint their history, town logo, etc on buildings and walls. I think they add a lot to the eyescape.

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  9. All I can say is, hoorah for artists making community art, in whatever form. Love it all!

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  10. I love seeing these muriels!

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  11. Isn't that how it always works! Love your muriels!

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  12. WOW, the last one is amazing, as is the tree. I remember Hilda and her muriel.

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  13. I am amazed by the pebble tree, so creative!

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  14. This all goes to prove very forcefully that street art and graffiti are two entirely different things. I was in France a few years ago and I was struck by the number of buildings painted at the end with really pleasing results.

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  15. How fun to find all of these....

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  16. They are still amazing!!! I love that last, but think my favorite is the one with the rocks...

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