Weekend snow in Birmingham enjoyed by our creatives

The snow overnight on Saturday the 24th January gave a great opportunity for some families and other socially 'bubbled' people to come out for a while and create some great snow sculptures in Centenary Square, as well as all over the city we reckon. Daniel was out to grab some photos later in the day to record some for posterity and inspiration.

Creativity in Centenary Square

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Creativity by the canals at Old Turn Junction

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Creativity at Victoria Square

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Creativity in Central Square, Brindleyplace

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Stars in Millennium Point's Eyes from Eastside City Park

For our last pre-Christmas post of 2020, we pop to Eastside to check out the Christmas lights at the front of Millennium Point as seen from Eastside City Park. Also at the end of New Canal Street near The Woodman pub (closed) and Curzon Street Station. Was hoping for some dry weather on the evening of the 22nd December 2020, but it was raining again. A nice display even in the rain!

Millennium Point's Christmas Lights in Eastside

This will be the last pre-Christmas post of 2020. The only Christmas lights to see outside in Eastside is at the front of Millennium Point in Eastside City Park. There is no Christmas lights down Curzon Street (probably due to HS2). Just the regular lampposts. This was on the evening of the 22nd December 2020 around 5pm. Was hoping for dry weather for once (it was dry all day). But it started to rain after work in the evening, and was a bit heavy by the time I got to Eastside.

 

First view of Millennium Point with the stars all to the left, in front of Thinktank and above the Thinktank Science Garden.

dndimg alt="Millennium Point" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Millennium Point Eastside Xmas lights 22122020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view from in front of The Woodman pub (which is sadly still closed due to being in Tier 3).

dndimg alt="Millennium Point" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Millennium Point Eastside Xmas lights 22122020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Millennium Point has put the fairy lights on the top of the building below their sign.

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The stars seen to the left above the Science Garden.

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From the bottom of New Canal Street between The Woodman and Curzon Street Station.

dndimg alt="Millennium Point" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Millennium Point Eastside Xmas lights 22122020 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Beyond here, New Canal Street is completely closed off to traffic and pedestrians by HS2. And an area behind The Woodman has fences up. Plus the part of the park where the water jets were is behind fences. So walked back to Moor Street Queensway for the bus.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Digbeth Custard Factory and Zellig festive lights

Every year you can see festive lights on Floodgate Street in Digbeth (although I think they are there all year round now). Plus at the Custard Factory on Gibb Street Christmas lights and Christmas trees go up every November and December. Popped into The Courtyard this year to find a bit more at Zellig. Comparisons between 2018 and 2020 mostly. In different weather conditions.

CUSTARD FACTORY AND ZELLIG

DURING THE  CHRISTMAS PERIOD

It's not just Southside, the Bullring, or the Retail area in the City Centre that gets decked out in Christmas lights and trees every November and December. Head down to Digbeth and the Custard Factory. There is lights on Floodgate Street that stretches from under the Bordesley Viaduct towards River Street. Plus the Christmas lights on Gibb Street as well as in The Courtyard at Zellig.

 

Floodgate Street

On the 15th December 2018 around 4:30pm, I was walking from Eastside (after checking out Ice Skate Birmingham at the time). Then headed towards Floodgate Street in atrocious weather. It was freezing, sleeting and raining. This was close to Little Ann Street.

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The rain made interesting affects with the lights. Entrance to the Custard Factory over the River Rea bridge to the right.

dndimg alt="Floodgate St lights 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floodgate St lights Digbeth (Dec 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

On the evening of the 12th December 2020. Approaching the lights on Floodgate Street in Digbeth under the Bordesley Viaduct. This was around 4:45pm, with the entrance to the Custard Factory on the right.

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The lights stretch past the Gent 48 street art on the left towards River Street. You can also see them from the bus in the evening on the Digbeth High Street, looking down Floodgate Street (just look left).

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Gibb Street

On the 15th December 2018 around 4:35pm on Gibb Street at the Custard Factory. Having crossed over the River Rea bridge and under the Bordesley Viaduct, it was still really cold and wet. But my first view of the Christmas lights on Gibb Street, despite the weather.

dndimg alt="Gibb St Christmas lights 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gibb St lights Custard Factory (Dec 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

"Oh the weather outside was frightful ...". Yes, but not festive weather, heavy rain and sleet. Christmas trees on Gibb Street outside of Besoke Framing.

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More Christmas trees on Gibb Street. At the time was a giant wall painting of (the now late) Sir Sean Connery.

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Heading to the end of Gibb Street near Clink. Zellig on the right. Was glad to get to the bus stop on High Street Deritend.

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Much better weather on Gibb Street on the 12th December 2020, around 4:45pm. A lady and her daughter near the Christmas tree.

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A close up look at the main Gibb Street Christmas tree near the yellow rimmed pool.

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It looks so much better in dry weather. NHS blue heart on the left by Fokawolf. The Custard Factory Digbeth Reception on the right.

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Another Christmas tree outside of The Old Library near the end of Gibb Street.

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Zellig and The Courtyard

Pair of Christmas trees at the entrance to Zellig seen on the 6th December 2019 around 4:10pm. The first one near the Matrix sign.

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The second one as you head into Zellig.

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Was a couple more Christmas trees inside of Zellig, near the Reception and Shops sign.

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A quick look at The Courtyard at The Custard Factory. Entrance from Gibb Street. Seen on the 12th December 2020 around 4:45pm.

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The Christmas lights in The Courtyard during Blue Hour. Towards the Factory Works, NO64 and Chance & Counters.

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There was a Christmas tree to the right of the giant lion sculpture.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Colmore BID Parklet art roadside

Back to the five Parklets again around the Colmore Business District. During December 2020, they had an artist paint the side facing the roadside. They can be found on Colmore Row and Barwick Street (Grand Hotel), two on Waterloo Street and the other one on Church Street (Hotel du Vin).

Click this link for the original Colmore BID Parklet post.

 

All five of the Parklets around the Colmore Business District are still there as of December 2020. And to brighten things up, they have commissioned artwork to be on all five of them. As you will see below.

 

Colmore Row

Pigeons in front of the Grand Hotel Birmingham and opposite the Pigeon Park aka Cathedral Square (home of Birmingham Cathedral aka St Philip's Cathedral).

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Barwick Street

A mixtures of oranges, blues, greens and whites to the back of the Grand Hotel near Primitivo Bar & Eatery. To the right of Barclays Bank.

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Church Street

In front of the Hotel du Vin. With a flowery design in yellows, blues, blacks and oranges. Also some hands / gloves.

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Waterloo Street

Outside of Theatrix and opposite Victoria Square. Green leaves with some birds.

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Outside of Christchurch House and Brook Street is this abstract art in oranges, blues, greens and whites.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown.

The Lucy McLauchlan Birmingham street art trail

Go on this street art trail around Birmingham of the street art of Lucy McLauchlan aka Beat 13. One piece is in Moseley Park, while the rest can be seen in Birmingham City Centre. Mostly in Digbeth and Eastside. A recent piece went up on Smallbrook Queensway on the hoardings of of what was Superfi. The 48Sheets billboard was there for a short time back in 2012, so is no longer there.

LUCY MCLAUCHLAN aka BEAT 13

For the first Lucy McLauchlan post click here for Todo es Posible (2010-16).

Lucy's unique monochrome street art is in greys, blacks and whites and is in an abstract style. She has painted all around Digbeth. One piece is now in Eastside. More recently she has done a piece on Smallbrook Queensway in Southside.

 

Moseley

Location: Moseley Park & Pool, Moseley, B13 8DD.

Boathouse by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2016

Seen during a visit to Moseley Park during Birmingham Heritage Week. Usually you need a key to enter this park.

Date found: September 2016.

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Digbeth

Location: Shaw's Passage, Digbeth, B5 5JG. Opposite Original Patty Men and below Birmingham Moor Street Station.

Shaw's Passage Car Park by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2015

In the five years since, this large car park mural has faded quite a bit. The surface where the cars are parked is the remains of a demolished building, so it is uneven to walk on. Shaw's Passage is between Park Street and Allison Street in Digbeth.

Date found: January 2015.

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Location: Grand Union Canal (Digbeth Branch) near Warwick Bar, at Proof House Junction, B5 5RH.

Proof House Junction Bridge by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2018 

This is under the Proof House Junction Bridge No 96 and the Proof House Railway Bridge (Disused). It is where the end of the Digbeth Branch Canal joins the Grand Union Canal (formerly part of the Warwick & Birmingham Canal).

Date found: February 2018.

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Eastside

Location: Belmont Row, Eastside. Near the Digbeth Branch Canal on the Lock Keepers Cottage. 7 Belmont Row, B4 7RQ. Close to the Birmingham City University Eastside Campus and Gopsal Street.

Lock Keepers Cottage by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2020.

It is close to the Digbeth Branch Canal at the Belmont Row Bridge and Ashted Lock No 3.

Date found: January 2020

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dndimg alt="Belmont Row Lucy" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Belmont Row Eastside Lucy McLauchlan (Jan 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Southside

Location: Pershore Street in Southside near Upper Dean Street. Near the Travelodge. Now the site of Tru Birmingham Student Accommodation, B5 4RW.

48Sheet: Cut Down Tree by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2012.

Back in 2012, various street artists were given the opportunity to put up their street art on billboards around the City Centre, such as this one owned by ClearChannel. This art was only there for a short time, and the billboard is no longer there.

Date found: April 2012.

dndimg alt="48Sheet Lucy" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/48Sheet Pershore St Lucy McLauchan (Apr 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Location: Superfi, Smallbrook Queensway. Not far from Snobs at B5 4HX.

Superfi by Beat 13 (Lucy McLauchlan), 2020.

One of the many hoardings on Smallbrook Queensway with street art. Most of it down here by the legend that is Gent 48 and recently one by Annatomix.

Date found: August 2020.

dndimg alt="Lucy Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Superfi Smallbrook Qway Lucy McLauchlan (Aug 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Date found: November 2020

dndimg alt="Lucy Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Superfi Smallbrook Qway Lucy McLauchlan (Nov 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Street art by Lucy McLauchlan. Click the link on the left to visit her website.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown