THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B R I S T O L’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E
A STREET-ART NATIVITY There’s a poignant story behind our Christmas cover this year, which was taken from a piece by Jody Thomas. It’s shown in its full glory above; this photo is the only way you can see it now. “I painted the Madonna and Child in Stokes Croft over two very cold days in the run-up to Christmas 2012,” says Jody. “I based the design on an old stained-glass window I’d found with the help of Father Christopher, a priest I knew from my local church in Whitchurch. I adapted it and added some of my own details. It was so cold during that weekend that the gold paint barely wanted to leave the can, then it refused to dry and ran down the wall.
“I wanted to paint something classically religious in an unexpected setting. The feedback I got was very divided. Most people stopped by to say they loved it, others questioned, why that? Why here? It was a very polarising wall, which wasn’t surprising given its subject and location. “Sadly, it lasted less than 48 hours before being deliberately taken out by another gra ti writer it probably took him less than ten minutes to ruin it. “I’m usually OK about my work being painted over, as it’s part of the ephemeral nature of street art, but I did want that one to last at least until Christmas.
www.mediaclash.co.uk I BRISTOL LIFE I 15
