People / full moon and attic
My Bristol favourites: Sarah Thorp
Sarah Thorp is a practising textile artist and member of North Bristol Artists who runs Gloucester Road’s thriving community art gallery Room 212. Sarah has also also been instrumental in creating Glos Rd Central as a means to unite and promote the independent traders and community groups in the area and improve the street scene. She has now started up the artists’ printing service 212 Productions, which launches with a collaborative exhibition with Cheltenham Road gallery It’s All 2 Much at Room 212 from March 16-26.
Here are Sarah’s top-five Bristol favourites:
Gloucester Road
“I live on it, work on it, love it. Everything you could possibly want is here – independent shops, loads of cafes, bars, live music. I have to allow extra time to pop to the shops, because it always becomes a social occasion. The Glos Rd Central Mayfest (Saturday, May 2) is a high point on the social calendar with loads of creative activities, music, bike-powered entertainment and the arrival of the Jack in the Green procession. The gallery’s April exhibition will be Scenes of Gloucester Road – because so many artists are inspired by it and everyone who lives here loves it.”
The Full Moon and Attic
“The Guardian put this venue in their top-tenUK clubs, but I like The Full Moon and Attic because my best mate from Tobago runs it (I moved to Bristol because of her), my teenage son is prepared to hang out with me there, they put on a wide range of music and it’s got a buzzing outside space.”
Golden Hill Community Garden
“The Golden Hill Community Garden allotments are overshadowed by Horfield Prison but that doesn’t stop them putting on loads of fantastic activities throughout the year, from Get Growing Trails to Bonfire Night. Seeing the straw bale building going up has inspired me to build my own – watch out for the two-storey straw bale house being built to the back of Room 212!”
Photo from www.facebook.com/TheGoldenHillCommunityGarden
Bristol’s art trails
“Another social opportunity, a great way to buy original, locally produced art and a brilliant excuse to have a nose around people’s houses. I love the fact that each art trail reflects the diversity of Bristol – and brings everyone out onto the streets.”
Photo from Claire Isaacs at Totterdown Arts Trail
Hills
“You can’t avoid Bristol’s hills – but they’re a great way to keep you fit, as well as a reminder that we are in a small city surrounded by countryside. On a clear day you can see from Gloucester Road right over Bristol to the green hills beyond.”
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