Street art by Visual Waste (web) for Praxis Care (web) on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast.
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Floss And Stretch
The words here are attributed to director Baz Luhrmann, who put the words (spoken by Lee Perry) against music by Rozalla, “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)”; the track (youtube) went to number one in the charts in the UK and Ireland in 1999. They are in fact part of a hypothetical commencement address entitled “Wear Sunscreen” written by journalist Mary Schmich. (WP)
India Street, south Belfast, replacing a speech from Chaplin’s The Great Dictator.
Don’t worry about the future,/or worry, but know that worrying/is as effective as trying to solve an/ algebra equation by chewing bubble gum./The real troubles in your life are apt to/be things that never crossed your worried/mind. The kind that blindsides you at/4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing/ every day that scares you./Saying, don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts/[Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours] … Floss
Don’t waste your time on jealousy./Sometimes you’re ahead,/sometimes you’re behind. The/race is long and in the end,/it’s only with yourself/Remember compliments you/receive, forget the insults. If you/succeed in doing this, tell me how./Keep your old love letters, throw/away your old bank statements … Stretch
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Linenopolis
A celebration and exploration of Belfast’s most famous textile, the “linen biennale”, runs until October (web). The Linen Hall library also runs a tour of the “linen quarter” on Thursdays.
Visual Waste’s (ig) Great Victoria Street mural includes various linen quarter buildings: the Grand Opera House, the Europa hotel, and Inst., alongside the H&W cranes and the Titanic museum.
Nomad Clan’s mural in east Belfast also went by the same name.
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Cracker Wee Spot
“‘Bout ye?” This “cracker wee spot” – with a “belter!” Big Fish under a H&W crane – is in the alley behind Queen’s Film Theatre (officially called University Square Mews).
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Spells Joy
The Vault artists have moved out of the old Belfast Met building in east Belfast (see Do You Own A Giant Building? | The Vault Is Empty | Locked Vault) and set up shop in Marlborough House in the city centre and the Shankill Mission in west Belfast. The group have a new web site: vaultartiststudios.com. The inaugural event at “Marly” took place this weekend, called It’s All Your Vault. There will also be a launch event at the Shankill Mission at some point. In the meantime, here are three from the side of the Shankill Mission, from (bottom) emic (ig), (below) Rob Hilken (ig), and (above) Kerrie Hannah (ig) who takes her inspiration from stained glass windows in Townsend Presbyterian by Wilhelmina Geddes (see On The Other Side).
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Meetinghouse Of Styles
Here is a complete set of the street art in Meetinghouse Lane, Newtownards, mostly produced during an October 2021 jam, though the Glen Molloy (ig) piece above pre-dates that. The other pieces are by Kerri Hanna (ig), Mr Fenz (ig), Emic (ig), Matthew Knight (ig), Carla Hodgson (ig), Danni Simpson (ig), ?kairos?, Irony (ig), RAZER (Fb) & NOYS (ig), NRMN (Gerry Norman ig), Friz (ig), Annatomix (ig) (the squirrel’s name is Derek), Rob Hilken (ig), FGB (ig), Zippy (ig), Alana McDowell (ig).
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Rara Avis
This large parrot was painted by artist Visual Waste (ig) on the side-wall of the Ava wine-bar in Bangor to match the theme of its cocktail lounge.
The connection, if any, to the Dali-esque clock-face below the parrot is unclear.
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In The Shadows Of Our Community
“It is not for riches, fame or glory that we remain in the shadows of our community , but for its protection.”
These words are echoed on the central stone in the garden of reflection, with adjacent North Down UDA roll of honour: “‘Who shall separate us?’ Right up to the present day, these words have been the inspiration and motivation of numerous men and women to serve, fight and die for the defence of their homeland, its people and its heritage. This selfless action is not for riches, fame or glory, but is freely given out of a love of freedom, commitment to the faith and culture of our nation, and a desire that all future generation in all communities can live in peace.”
Movilla Street and Wallace’s Street, off Upper Movilla Street. “Loyalist Movilla” in Newtownards.
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“This garden of reflection is paying tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives in all wars and conflicts, past and present, here in Northern Ireland and throughout the world, in the hope that one day we can all live together, side by side in peace regardless of religion, colour or creed.
“‘Who shall separate us?’ Right up to the present day, these words have been the inspiration and motivation of numerous men and women to serve, fight and die for the defence of their homeland, its people and its heritage. This selfless action is not for riches, fame or glory, but is freely given out of a love of freedom, commitment to the faith and culture of our nation, and a desire that all future generation in all communities can live in peace. Their sacrifice, commitment and dedication will always be appreciated and will never be forgotten.”
“In our past the soldiers fought, for freedom and for pride, some of them were wounded, many of them died. With poppies we remember the soldiers that have died, with them we now have freedom, because they fought with pride. There they lie in Flanders Fields, where bright red poppies grow. In the war they fought for, and that we’ll always know. Freedom is never free.”
Armed And Ready Again
This is the UVF/RHC memorial garden in Ballybeen, with individual plaques to “East Belfast battalion commander” RJ ‘Mickey’ Wilson (died 2022), Jim ‘Jonty’ Johnston (killed in 2003 BelTel), M. Walker, G. McCartney, David Brown. While most of the plaques and stones are to the modern UVF, there are three pieces to the 36th (Ulster) Division.
“Too many names to mention, but I will certainly try./Tears run down my face as I try not to cry./Their names written in gold of Volunteers gone by./These men they died heroes in battles, fought and won./They may be gone, but in our hearts remain./The Ulster Volunteer Force. The People’s Army./Armed and ready again.”
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Ballybeen Makes Winners
Which direction will you go in? To the negative west of the compass of “choice” lie “Alcohol, paramilitaries, drugs”; to the positive east are “Education, employment, life. On the side panel, youngsters are encouraged to study English, math(s), social media and Google.
And further down Brooklands Drive, “Ballybeen makes winners” in sports: soccer, boxing, and motorcycle racing. The boxer is John Lowey, who represented Ireland at the 1988 Olympics; he is also featured in Boxing Through The Generations and Ballybeen Dream which last also includes three local footballers.
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