Busy Graffiti

A new piece of graffiti in the underpass at Picket Post, well, new to me anyway, we've not been this way in a while. I like it, it's very busy. I like the palette, and it's flourishes. Very nice.

Bird stone

Tucked away in a fissure of a fallen moss covered trunk this bird stone means something to someone. I always enjoy discovering hidden treasures, there's something magical in it.

14 pebbles reborn

Back in July of 2023 I came across a small circle of rounded pebbles that someone had created on the hollowed out stump of ancient tree; often disturbed I'd frequently tidy or reconstitute the circle, adding pebbles when some had gone missing. At the beginning of the year I discovered all the pebbles gone, and vowed to restore the circle. In the meantime someone else who must've also been attracted to the woodland feature created a rough circle of sub angular stones as a replacement.  This morning I formed a new circle of rounded pebbles of different types I'd gathered from Mupe Bay.  I hope the others approve. 

14 pebbles

 

14 pebbles, the saga continues. Someone, maybe the original creator, has reconstituted a circle in rough stones (bar a single pebble) on the ancient hollow trunk. Whoever it was stole a march on me. 

14 pebbles no more

 

For over a year and a half a circle of pebbles ebbed and flowed on a great hollow fallen trunk in Burley Old. Maker unknown, it was tended to by many, including me. This morning all the pebbles were gone. Not a trace, man. Even the spare pebbles I'd collected in a hollow amongst the buttress were gone. Very deliberate. People, eh.

The Triquetra

 

Placed in a natural fissure on a sturdy forest gate post, a Triquetra crafted from braided natural fibres. Bracken maybe, thinking about it. A symbol commonly associated with triads such as the Triple Goddess in paganism and later with the Holy Trinity in Christianity, a symbol familiar to the Celtic, Norse and Germanic peoples. Whoever created this one may have done so with a specific purpose in mind, or it could just have been art for art sake, either way, nice.  The world needs more magic.

14 Pebbles #4

We passed through Burley Old this morning following one of our regular routes, past the hollowed stump of the ancient tree whereupon the 14 pebbles were found expanded to 20. The circle had transformed again. Several of the pebbles I'd collected in Purbeck have gone, as had the tiny white stone, and new ones had been added.  I enjoy that the circle is changed by passers by, that's how I found it,  and wondered if the creator of the original pebble setting has had a hand in any of the subsequent transformations.

14 pebbles #3

During a recent walk we passed the huge hollowed stump, site of the 14 (later 15) pebbles only to find that most of the stones had been scattered, it appeared deliberately too. I'm used to finding the stones disturbed or displaced presumably by fauna and the elements, and usually have little trouble collecting and restoring the pebbles to a circle; on this occasion though beyond 4 there was no trace of the stones. So when we were over Purbeck I collected some more, and renewed the circle; the tiny stone in the centre being from the original circle. And just in case a passer by felt creative I left a handful of other pebbles in a hollow. I hope the original creator would approve. 

Path art

 

Created from a mixture of leaves and small stones, I imagine this piece of ephemeral art was a beautifully imagined green flower. Situated in the center of an main forestry track it was never going to last that long.

Frozen

 

Amongst the veteran oak and beech stands of Burley Old all was quiet and still on this mornings' roam, many of the woods' inhabitants have shut up shop completely until spring, others conserving their energy for the essentials only. The fall is all but done, there some stubborn trees are determined to hang on to their leaves, but it wont be long before they litter the forest floor too. We've stepped through the door into winter. Our roam threaded the wood on paths well trodden, to us anyway, and  took us passed the 14 pebbles, it was so cold that the pebbles were frozen to their trunk, a crust of ice visible between them. I wonder if winter's starting as it mean to go.

14 Pebbles #2

Back at the beginning of July I came across a rough circle of 14 small sub rounded pebbles placed with purpose on the hollow trunk of a tree which came down in a storm decades ago in Burley Old. I pass the trunk on one of our regular routes and have taken to tending to its' up keep; often the pebbles are disturbed and/or covered in detritus, and I set them in a circle again, detritus free. Strangely since July one of the circle pebbles mysteriously disappeared, whilst a tiny white pebble mysteriously appeared, so there remains 14 pebbles, though they're not the original 14. 

Dalek geoglyph

 

This rare prehistoric geoglyph of a Dalek left by a long gone ancient nomadic people is surely evidence of alien visitation. Come on, it's gotta be?

Solstice blessings

Well, the wheel's turned, and the promised new Sun was born; another cycle has begun as we initiate our slow march towards the warmer longer days of summer. Although I was up and out well before dawn this morning there was no sunrise to be seen; though the horizon was obscured by clouds, I'm sure it was there. Solstice blessing to y'all; let's toast our forthcoming trip around the Sun and may it see us bountifully blessed with flags, flax, fodder and Frigg, and all we'd wish for ourselves. /|\

Joan Russell

As I made my way up Bidcombe Hill I noticed what looked from a distance like remnants of a military structure or some such; I was mistaken though, it's a substantial block of shaped quarried stone. Facing the rising sun on the cleanly finished east facing surface is inscribed 'Joan Russell 1927 - 2003' underneath which 'Bernard Russell 1924 - 2011'. I had no idea who Joan and Bernard where, and after searching the internet I still don't; the block is on a list of public art as a 'Memorial and sculpture', although no further information is included; it's recorded on other sites such as Geograph too, although again, no detail is included. A mystery memorial it is then. Nice spot though, and I'd bet a lovely place to watch the sunrise.

Graffiti on the hill

The local graffiti artists have been busy again; I discovered some fantastic new works of art around the water tank up on St Catherine's Hill. The water tanks, especially the circular one, have become galleries displaying the latest works of spray-can excellence; this 'crew', I'm assuming they're an established collective of artists, are using some interesting techniques and use colours, creating some nice effects. I say more of this type of thing. 

Natural arch

Natural art or natural arch; both or neither. What are the chances of three trees interacting like this? Which poses the question did they? They certainly looked a natural happening, though I was so busy thinking 'hey cool' that I may have been had; looking at the photo now, I'm questioning it's natural authenticity. Not that it matters really, it's cool either way.

Thwarted by procrastination

Ah, once again thwarted by my mastery of procrastination, how damn predictable; I was quite happy with my design too. Three days to go and this years Winter Solstice card hasn't even made it the inking stage. When finished the moon and sun would have been behind the Awen, and the whole drawing rendered in either pen or pencil, or a combo of both. Still, on a positive note; I'm well ahead of schedule on my 2022 Winter Solstice card, so, huzzah!

Art for art's sake pt2

 

As promised part 2 of the wonderful new pieces of graffiti on the circular water reservoir atop St Catherine's Hill. The light was right this morning to capture the remaining pieces of art, and I think you'll agree, these are some fantastic works here. You know, I was talking to another dog walker, waxing lyrically about how cool it is to see colourful graffiti, how it brightens what are dull industrial buildings and should be encouraged, and celebrated, she said there'd been complaints about it! What? Why? What's wrong with folk?

Art for art's sake pt1

 

Some wonderful new pieces of graffiti on the circular water reservoir atop St Catherine's Hill. I could only capture some of the works this morning due to the bright sunlight on half the reservoir, so this is part one, with part two to follow at a later date. I'm in awe of these artists, the medium, the canvas, the environment, all difficult, and create such pieces...I doff my cap.

Spinning seeds

I thought the filigree of the Pappus gave the impression that the seeds were spinning. Cool.