‘Sprayjam’ by Street Artists transforms town hoardings

Street artists from across the South came together on the weekend (12/13 September) to bring their collective talent, creativity and inimitable style to a row of hoardings in Weston-super-Mare.

Situated at the former police station site on the entrance to the town in Walliscote Road, the boards have been transformed with a diverse mix of vibrant, unique designs, as part of a collaborative project ‘The Only Way is Up’ between Culture Weston and Weston community arts initiative ‘S.M.ART’, supported in kind by North Somerset Council.

The Sprayjam brought together over 20 street artists, outdoors and socially distanced, from areas including Weston, Clevedon, Bristol, Burnham-on-Sea, London, Slough, Portsmouth, Cornwall and Wales.

Well-renowned artists including Andrew Burns Colwill and Damian Nicholson – D-ammo – worked alongside rising talent and new-comers to create an eclectic street scene of thought-provoking, original images guaranteed to lift the spirits at this time of national uncertainty.

Enthralled passers-by watched as the scenes emerged, animating the blank space with a riot of colour and street art style that remains for the future, to be enjoyed by locals and visitors to the town alike.

Fiona Matthews, Creative Director at Culture Weston, said: ”The local and artist community have come together with amazing generosity to create this energetic street artwork that colourfully draws you into its many messages, including looking after the environment and each other. Street art can do so much to animate a place and communicate the zeitgeist, and we look forward to more collaborations that paint Weston’s streets with life and love.”

Lin Toulcher, Community Arts Co-ordinator at S.M.ART, added: “This has been made possible by all the brilliant artists who wanted to be a part of creating a special and totally unique artwork for Weston that represents not only the individual creativity of street art but also the strength of community.

“A big thank you also to Bleadon Café in Weston for very kindly donating food and refreshments that kept everyone sustained and to the Culture Weston volunteers who marshalled the area, keeping it socially spaced and safe for participants and onlookers.”

Cllr Mike Solomon, a Weston-based member on North Somerset Council, said: “The idea for this Sprayjam followed the success of the mural in Weston’s High Street and we have been happy to support S.M.ART and Culture Weston as they took the project forward. As you can see there are some fabulous works from artists that gave up their time to brighten up our town. We are looking at potential, exciting projects for the future, so watch this space.”

Many thanks to Mark Gray for the images