The Raging Bull in Centenary Square and Ladywood

The Raging Bull, from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was in Centenary Square from 29th July to 23rd September 2022. After that he was moved to a car park in Ladywood at St Vincent Street and Great Tindal Street. There is also a street art mural on Ladywood Middleway on the wall of CostCutter (near Spring Hill Island). That was painted for the Hi Vis Festival.

Gallery of photos taken between July and September 2022, from Elliott Brown and Daniel Sturley. During the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, you could only photograph the Raging Bull from Centenary Square itself, but once the terraces reopened at the Library of Birmingham (in August) you could see him from the Discovery Terrace and Secret Garden. By the 23rd September, the bull had been relocated temporarily to a car park on Great Tindal Street and St Vincent Street. There is also a Birmingham mural with the Raging Bull on Ladywood Middleway (back of CostCutter), not far from Spring Hill Island.

 

29th July 2022

First day in Centenary Square, the day after the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/reiss.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Reiss Gordon-Henry

 

From above the Library of Birmingham Amphitheatre.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7602b_BULL.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

30th July 2022

The first Saturday in Centenary Square.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Raging%20Bull%20B2022%20Centenary%20Sq%2030072022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

31st July 2022

Commonwealth Games volunteers shows visitors where to go.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_7774b_BULL.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

5th August 2022

Early morning view before the tourists showed up.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_8567b_BULL.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

6th August 2022

Super Saturday, the last weekend of the Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Crowds%20Raging%20Bull%2006082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

13th August 2022

View from the Library of Birmingham terraces

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Raging%20Bull%20LoB%2013082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

14th August 2022

View towards Paradise Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_0094b_BULL.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

20th August 2022

The Commonwealth pins was still in Centenary Square at the time.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Raging%20Bull%20CS%2020082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

View from the Library of Birmingham terraces.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_0984b_BULL.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

3rd September 2022

First weekend of PoliNations, so they decorated the Raging Bull.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20RB%20Centenary%20Sq%2003092022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

11th September 2022

The Raging Bull was present for the Proclamation of King Charles III in Centenary Square. This was a couple of days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RB%20PCIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

16th September 2022

A West Midlands Metro tram enters the bus gate from Paradise Circus into Centenary Square, passing the Raging Bull on it's way to Library Tram Stop. As a pair of National Express West Midlands buses head in the other direction (towards Great Charles Street Queensway).

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WWM%2031%2043%20LTS%2016092022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

20th September 2022

The Raging Bull is going to miss the Conservative Party Conference 2022, but was present when the marquees went up.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CPC22%20Centenary%20Sq%2020092022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

24th September 2022

A long walk along Ladywood Middleway from Five Ways to Spring Hill to see this mural of the Raging Bull. It's on the wall of a shop called CostCutter. Painted by George Tattooer' and artist Tokes, for the Hi Vis Festival, which took place in Digbeth at the Tea Works over the weekend of 24th - 25th September 2022.

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Raging%20Bull%20Lwood%2024092022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Raging Bull was last seen in a car park in Ladywood near St Vincent Street and Great Tindal Street. The land is next to the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline. He is going away for repairs and TLC, and a home indoors (TBC).

dndimg alt="Raging Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Raging%20Bull%20Ladywood%2024092022%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />Photography by Elliott Brown

National Express West Midlands: Birmingham Pride buses

Whenever there is a Birmingham Pride parade, National Express West Midlands always has at least one bus in rainbow colours. They have been doing this since at least Pride 2018. And you can catch it in regular service during the year as well.

National Express West Midlands proud to support Birmingham Pride 2018

Enviro 400 - 4879 - BX61 LNZ

On the 12th July 2018, I caught this National Express West Midlands on the 24 service, from Broad Street (near Five Ways Island). And got off at Colmore Circus Queensway (near the Colmore Building). 

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202018%20Colmore%20Circ%20(Jul%202018)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202018%20Colmore%20Circ%20(Jul%202018)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

National Express West Midlands - be proud of who you are

Enviro 400 - 4905 - BX13 JWE

First spotted on the 11th May 2019, on St Martin's Queensway outside of the Bullring, on route 47. It had been used for Birmingham Pride 2019.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham%20Pride%202019%20St%20Martins%20Queensway%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I next spotted the "be proud of who you are" bus on the 20th August 2019, in Digbeth. It was on bus route 60, while I was on a no 50 bus.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202019%20bus%20Digbeth%20(Aug%202019)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202019%20bus%20Digbeth%20(Aug%202019)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202019%20bus%20Digbeth%20(Aug%202019)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

On the 9th February 2022, I saw the "be proud of who you are" bus on bus route 97, it was on Moor Street Queensway.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202022%20Moor%20St%20Qway%20(Feb%202022).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

On the 1st April 2022, the "be proud of who you are" rainbow bus was on bus route 24, on Colmore Row, opposite of the Grand Hotel.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BPride%202022%20Colmore%20Row%20(Apr%202022).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Brum's Big Splash, part of Birmingham Weekender at the Bullring

The Birmingham Weekender returned once again, this time the August Bank Holiday Weekend on the 27th and 28th August 2022. Down Central Street (St Martin's Walk) at the Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham, from Rotunda Square, going down was Brum's Big Splash. In association with the Birmingham Hippodrome. A long water slide basically.

Brum's Big Splash

Heading up St Martin's Walk at the Bullring & Grand Central Birmingham (renamed Central Street) was Brum's Big Splash. It was installed and tested the day before on Friday 26th August 2022. But opened on Saturday 27th August 2022, just after 12pm. People who wanted to ride it had to book up a space in advance, but was apparently some walk-up slots.

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I headed up to Costa Coffee in Next, and managed to get a window seat, and got these views, as I saw some people slide down the splash-way!

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brums Big Splash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum%20Splash%20Bullring%2027082022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This was all part of the Birmingham Weekender, which was held on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th August 2022.

Photos by Elliott Brown

PoliNations coming to Victoria Square in September 2022

PoliNations is coming to Victoria Square from the 2nd to 18th September 2022. A free event. Following the end of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, this is part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival, and they are putting it up in the last three weeks of August 2022. Elliott got a first glimpse on Saturday 20th August 2022 on passing through Victoria Square.

PoliNations is part of Unboxed Creativity in the UK. During the last three weeks of August 2022, after the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games things were dismantled (including Hew Locke's Foreign Exchange on the Queen Victoria statue). PoliNations moved in.

The free event is due to take place from the 2nd to 18th September 2022.

Step into a spectacular city-centre garden of magical proportions where you will be welcomed by an epic array of colour and nature.  

Giant architectural trees and thousands of plants will transform Victoria Square into an urban oasis, which will host free events, workshops and performances including live music, dance, spoken word and drag.

This supernatural wonderland uncovers the origin stories of the plants we know so well – daisies, pansies, apple trees, roses – in fact these, and most of the plants we see in our gardens are not from the UK. They tell the story of journeys, movement, dispersal, and new roots. 

PoliNations is a celebration of colour, beauty, and of natural diversity. Explore, enjoy and be your true unique self. You can experience music from around the world, an incredible light show each evening, and a grand finale like no other where the tree’s canopies will burst into a joyful cloud of confetti and colour.  

This is Carnival and Holi combined in one brilliant, messy, playful party and everyone is invited.

 

I first spotted the giant trees from Chamberlain Square.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

Heading into Victoria Square, the PoliNations construction is all fenced off at the moment.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

They encourage people to get public transport to PoliNations, including the West Midlands Metro, get off at Town Hall Tram Stop. Also in walking distance of the main railway stations and your bus stops.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

The statue of Queen Victoria has been returned to normal after two months as Hew Locke's Foreign Exchange.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

Key to the City ended on the 7th August, so it will no longer be possible to get views of Victoria Square from the 18th floor balcony like before.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

Heading down Pinfold Street, then catching a view of a tram heading up towards Victoria Square and the PoliNations trees.

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

dndimg alt="PoliNations" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/PoliNations%20Vic%20Sq%2020082022%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%" />

 

I will probably get more photos of PoliNations over the next couple of weekends, and probably in September as well (if time).

 

Photos by Elliott Brown

The World Reimagined - a painted globes trail around Birmingham City Centre

The World Reimagined is a trail of painted globes in Birmingham and other UK cities, from mid August to the end of October 2022. There is eight globes to find in Birmingham City Centre.

 

The World Reimagined Birmingham trail

 

St Martin in the Bullring at St Martin's Square, Bullring

Spirit of the Diaspora by Pauline Bailey

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20%20St%20Martins%20Sq%2008082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Cathedral Square - corner of Temple Row and St Philip's Place

Dear Archives by Glory Samjolly

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20St%20Philips%20Pl%2008082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Unity by Gabriel Choto

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20St%20Philips%20Pl%2008082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Hippodrome Square at Hurst Street, Southside

A Code For A Better Future by Jess Perrin

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20Hippodrome%20Sq%2013082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

City Centre Gardens off Cambridge Street, Westside

Sacred Healing Wisdom by Gayani Ariyaratne

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20City%20Centre%20Gdns%2013082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Golden Square near Vyse Street, Jewellery Quarter

The Love From Africa by Kassessa Gandara

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20JQ%2014082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Augusta Street at Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter

Voyage Of The Guineamen by Donna Newman

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20JQ%2014082022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

St Paul's Square, towards Ludgate Hill, Jewellery Quarter

Abstraction Be Damned by Tamika Galanis

dndimg alt="The World Reimagined" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWD%20JQ%2014082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Outside of the City Centre there is two more on the trail in Newtown. And there might be more inside of Millennium Point, the Library of Birmingham and at the Roundhouse.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown