Alert

Daps|Mayo|Mez

Mayo

Done

Ging

Alert

Mez|Mayo

Alert|Keep

Photo taken May 2011

Well you guys are getting this pic because I see it every week just about. 
Let me explain….
So, Russells is a youth club in Nottingham, a well known “Hall of Fame”. Loved and loathed by many, painted by hundreds and generally has a high turnaround for art, which is great for us as we get to see a good many pieces by a good many artists. Probably not so good for the artists as their pieces don’t often run for long.

Which brings me back to this piece by Nottinghams’ very own Alert. 

“Painted that in 2009. Funny you mention this piece now as some kids have recently written on the side of it. Ohh well nothing lasts forever!! Mind you, it’s had a good run anyway”

Nothing last forever? Nothing last a month at Russells and yet this piece has run for 2 years!

Great piece, still looks fresh but there’s no way I’m gonna quote Dilk on the properties of Montana, we’ll be here all night……

Ohh and check out the Alert website.

Alert

Daps

Sille

Kies

Done

Daps|Alert

Daps

Alert

Alert|Aroe|Daps

Alert

Aroe

Aroe detail

Detail

Detail

Daps

Alert.
Hyson Green Skatepark.Nottingham.UK.
Photo taken 14thJan.2010.

One final look.
The Arches.Nottingham.UK.Feb2010.

Follow up from my post last week about Nottingham City Council closing the legal Graffiti sites here in Nottingham as it has now made it to the Nottingham Evening Post.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Council-insane-banning-graffiti-sites/article-1814066-detail/article.html

THE CITY council has been branded as “insane” after deciding to ban legal graffiti art sites in Nottingham.

Nottingham City Council has made it illegal for large-scale graffiti art to take place at youth clubs as part of its efforts to “clean up” the city.

The Arches youth club near the Lady Bay bridge is one of a number of sites in Nottingham where spray artists can no longer express themselves legally.

Professional graffiti artist Steve Dilks said the council’s decision showed its “lack of understanding” about the art form.

He said: “The kids are heartbroken. They do not know what they are going to do now. Some of these legal graffiti site are of a real high standard. The artists basically feel that they are getting punished for other sorts of lower-level graffiti.”

Rumours had been circulating for months that the council could be about to ban graffiti art at the site, Mr Dilks said.

Those rumours became reality last week when the artist led a final painting session at The Arches before the murals are removed.

The 35-year-old, from Bakersfield, who first began painting graffiti art in the 1980s, said: “The Arches was somewhere they could go to express themselves through artwork. I think this all boils down to a lack of understanding about graffiti. This art should be disassociated from tags and scribbles. Graffiti art is a real passion for a lot of young people – if these walls go then what are their options?”

Mr Dilks claimed removing the legal sites will actually lead to more illegal graffiti appearing across the city.

He said: “I’ve always told artists not to paint illegally, especially as they’ve got access to these places. To take them away is insane.”

Mr Dilks has launched a petition against the council’s decision. It is available to sign in his shop, the Montana art and fashion shop, in Goose Gate, Hockley.

Other youth clubs set to lose their legal graffiti art sites include the Russell Youth Club in St Ann’s, and at the St Ann’s Adventure Playground.

Nottingham City Council confirmed it has begun a programme to remove the large-scale graffiti sites over the next few months.

It says high levels of graffiti has often been found in areas near to where the legal graffiti has been allowed to take place. As a result, it has created “a threatening aura of neglect and danger”, the council claims.

Coun Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “Graffiti is something that residents find annoying and offensive. It is not feasible to say that graffiti is OK here but not there, so the city council is clearly stating that we will not tolerate graffiti anywhere in Nottingham.

“Every year the city council removes more than 56,000 square metres of graffiti, at a cost to residents of £300,000. We will be removing graffiti and taking enforcement action to prosecute those responsible whenever we can.”

I’ll repost these. Last pieces @ The Arches by Dilks, Sars and Alert.

Dilk|Sars

Alert

Like I said previously. If there is an online petition I’ll let you all know.

*edit* Facebook group petition started up. Go join.

Alert.
The Arches.Nottingham.Feb2010.

After a couple of unsuccessful trips down The Arches under Lady Bay Bridge in Nottingham, I finally found the place open and unlocked recently and caught up with respected artist Alert.
Alert was very vocal in his disappointment that the piece he was working on would be his last down The Arches. The Arches has been a legal graffiti spot for years but now has the threat of being closed down due to conflicts in the Council, something Alert is fearful will take artists like himself away from legal sites and back into the realm of running outside the law.

Word is that a petition is being organised to try to change minds and keep the site a safe and legal spot for artists, as soon as I get a shout I’ll give you all the link and hopefully help gather enough support to keep the site open.

In the mean time, here’s a few pics for your pleasure.