Digbeth street art on Fazeley Street from the High Vis Street Culture Festival in 2023

The 2023 High Vis Street Culture Festival was held in Digbeth around Fazeley Street during the weekend of the 12th and 13th August. Although after those dates, other artists such as Annatomix added pieces a few weeks after the event. There is the street art house at 82 Fazeley Street, and the buildings behind towards New Canal Street. This was the 50th Hip Hop anniversary.

High Vis Street Culture Festival during the weekend of the 12th and 13th August 2023 celebrated the 50th annivesary of Hip Hop.

Here are some the great street art found in Digbeth on the 15th and 22nd August 2023.

 

Don't Sleep by Poser on Floodgate Street, Digbeth

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Poser%20HVF%20Floodgate%20St%2015082023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In the Ether by Rude Brown Dude on Little Ann Street, Digbeth

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RBD%20Little%20Ann%20St%2015082023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A starfield with a planet on Bordesley Street in Digbeth

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Bordesley%20St%2015082023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The street art house at 82 Fazeley Street, corner of Andover Street, had been completely repainted, for the first time since 2015.

This is now called The Printmaker's Arms according to the High Vis Street Culture Festival.

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/50%20Hip%20Hop%20HVF%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/50%20Hip%20Hop%20HVF%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/50%20Hip%20Hop%20HVF%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/50%20Hip%20Hop%20HVF%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

About a week later the Andover Street side of The Printmaker's Arms was looking finished.  You could even see it from the Digbeth Branch Canal!

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Graf%20House%20Digbeth%2022082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="82 Fazeley Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Graf%20House%20Digbeth%2022082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Most of the street art was to be seen on Fazeley Street in Digbeth.

The main piece was the Tempo 33 face that he normally paints all over Birmingham.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A week later, Annatomix had added some art.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Annatomix crab.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Woman by Crysista Sim Simma.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A week later, the space had been filled below NFAZ and High Vis 50 years of Hip-Hop! Annatomix to the right.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Container with eyes and rep lips with lipstick?

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Caravan painted by Scotford Wilds.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Print Makers. The caravan from the week before had now moved.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A cartoon cat with a mask on by Pojek.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

First look at Miscfit on the shutter.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Miscfit again, one week later.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

On the shutters of William Marston Ltd on Fazeley Street was a ghost with a torch.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

On the William Marston Ltd building on Fazeley Street as a green headed figure with purple top by VCT.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Purple grapes and more art on William Marston Ltd, corner of Fazeley Street and New Canal Street.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Purple grapes on William Marston Ltd again a week later, this time from New Bartholomew Street.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HVF%20Digbeth%20Fazeley%20St%2022082023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Rude Brown Dude on the railway viaduct between New Canal Street and New Bartholomew Street. HS2 has now fenced off the road towards Curzon Street.

dndimg alt="High Vis Festival" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hi%20Viz%20Fest%20Fazeley%20St%2015082023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photography courtesy Elliott Brown

Black Sabbath Bench is well looked after in Westside

The Black Sabbath Bench, now a major attraction in Birmingham, receives an occasional touch up now and again given the attention the art receives from both tourists and locals. Followers of our great Birmingham Gems across Westside were there to see this happening on the 29th July 2023.

Enjoy this great gallery of photography.

Black Sabbath bench at the Black Sabbath Bridge on Broad Street in Westside receives a well deserved touch-up. 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4403b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4436b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4422b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4535b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4557b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4570b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4572b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4575b_BSBR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Birmingham Gems contributor Daniel Sturley.

Warner Village Cinemas handprints at Star City

Before Vue was Vue, it was Warner Village Cinemas at Star City, in Nechells, Birmingham. Around 1998, celebrities put their hands and signed in clay, created a mold. Star City opened in 2000, and these handprints can still be found around Star City. See if you can recognise any?

These stars, handprints with celebrity signatures have probably been in and around Star City since the year 2000. It wasn't Warner Village Cinemas for long, as it's been Vue for much longer.

 

WARNER VILLAGE CINEMAS

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Dame Edna Everage

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Kenneth Branagh

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Denise Van Outen

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This one is a bit hard to read? Paul G Hensleigh 78 ?

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Denzel Washington

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Barbara Windsor

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Vinnie Jones

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Joanna Lumley

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Helen Mirren

dndimg alt="WVC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WVC%20Star%20City%20Bham%2001012023%20(10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

"Foreign Exchange" by Hew Locke: reimagined statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square

As part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, artist Hew Locke has transformed Birmingham's statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Square. The artwork is called "Foreign Exchange" and has certainly opened up a range of conversations. Unveiled on 14th June 2022, it will remain in the Square until August 2022. Photos taken by Elliott and Daniel.

Birmingham's statue of Queen Victoria was originally unveiled in 1901. Made of marble by Sir Thomas Brock. It was the idea of the founder of the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, who wanted to present a statue of the Queen to the City, during her Diamond Jubilee year of 1897. It was finally unveiled 12 days before the Queen's death.

50 years later, the statue had got quite weathered, and the orb was badly damaged during VE Day in 1945.

The statue was removed in 1951, and was cast in bronze by William Bloye. This was all thanks to the Birmingham Civic Society.

More recently, the missing tip of the sceptre was recast and added in 2011, then the Birmingham Civic Society had the statue fully cleaned in 2018.

Here are some photos of the work of artist Hew Locke called "Foreign Exchange" prior to the unveiling.

Saturday 11th June

Views from the 18th floor balcony of 103 Colmore Row.

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke QV V103 11062022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke QV V103 11062022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

In Victoria Squaredndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2593b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2731b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Daniel Sturley 

Sunday 12th June

By Sunday afternoon, workmen had installed a helmet on top of the original statue of Queen Victoria.

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke FE Queen Vic 12062022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke FE Queen Vic 12062022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke FE Queen Vic 12062022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke FE Queen Vic 12062022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew Locke FE Queen Vic 12062022 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2888b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2919b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2924b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2939b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2985b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_3028b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Foreign Exchange Victoria" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_3059b_VICR.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Daniel Sturley

The unveiling of the statue has certainly created a stir and opened up a conversation, as no doubt intended by the artist and those commissioning the work.

Locke’s vision behind the art is to create “an object of veneration, leading a battalion of other statues to represent the home nation throughout the Empire.”

 

Summer 2022 umbrellas between The Mailbox Canalside and The Cube

The Mailbox has put up colourful umbrellas on the Canalside near the bars and restaurants, on the paths towards The Cube. They will be up for the duration of Summer 2022. No guarantee of keeping you dry from the wind and rain though!

Enjoy this post of five photos.

You can either approach the umbrellas from The Mailbox, at the exit to the Canalside, or head up the path from Holliday Street. Alternatively come from The Cube, or from Gas Street Basin and over the Salvage Turn Bridge.

The umbrellas are black, red, white, and green.

They on the upper level near Six Sixes and Miller & Carter, and the lower level near Zizzi and Churchills.

Oh and if you visit in late May / early June 2022, you will probably see the Union Jack bunting for HM the Queen's Platinum Jubilee!

dndimg alt="Mailbox umbrellas" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Umb Mailbox 25052022 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Mailbox umbrellas" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Umb Mailbox 25052022 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Mailbox umbrellas" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Umb Mailbox 25052022 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Mailbox umbrellas" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Umb Mailbox 25052022 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Mailbox umbrellas" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Umb Mailbox 25052022 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photography by Elliott Brown