the place to be friday 7th december in bristol was the 12 days of xmas show at the old bridewell police station on nelson sreet, where they opened their doors to a queue of people eager to see the biggest collection of graffiti work in the city. featuring artwork for sale from some of the worlds best loved graf artists, with bristol well represented, of course, the breadth of art on offer is immense. paintings, posters, objects, drawings, badges, skateboards… the entire collection of work is impressive. a complete overview of graffiti in bristol and beyond is on show, both with the artwork available, the incidental paste-ups and scribbles, stencils and posters, to the installations downstairs in the cells.

xenz’s cell, a caged bird theme illustrating a poem of freedom, with hanging creepers and swallows in marker pen, is as much as masterpiece as his magnificent mural work at the old pro cathedral chapel. cyclops barely leaves room for the visitor in his cell [top photo]. the what collective seek safety in numbers in their cell, with artwork covering two walls, all a snip at £15 and most already snipped up. 45rpm’s skateboards, plus drawings and paintings by sums, sainty and richt spill out of the cell and up the corridor… work and artists seen range from sickboy, sweet toof, cyclops, andy council, dicy, mr jago, paris, milk, dora, xenz, ghostboy, nick walker, mau mau, cheo – all exponents of the bristol scene – to many i was happy to be introduced to, like docvek whose badges were fab! there are too many artists and pieces to mention in full. GO TO IT and see for yourself, if only to run round the former cells and contemplate your freedom…

12 days of christmas runs from 7th december 2007
Opening times: Saturdays & Sundays 12pm-5pm
Wednesdays – Fridays 12pm-8pm (closed Mon & Tue)
The Old Bridewell Police Station
Nelson Street, Broadmead, Bristol, BS1

my flickr photos
taken friday night and sunday afternoon