Graffiti Seen #6

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No.5 winter 2017

Olly MacNamee - words & pictures

GRAFFITI In September 2016, Steven Spielberg came to Birmingham to shoot a great deal of the new sci-fi film, Ready Player One, which is now only a few months away from release globally. It may not be the first film to be shot here, but it’s certainly the biggest and it drew crowds from far and wide to see the filming take place on the streets of Birmingham and, hopefully, catch a glimpse of the main man himself.

As part of the street dressing, graffiti was commisioned (albeit not from a local street artist, unfortunately) and carefully pasted across the streets in the Jewellery Quarter used for much of the exterior shooting.

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And so, camera and phone in hand, I was able to sneak in after the filming was finished for the day, and took as many shots as I could to share with you all.

Here then are the final shots, along with a further selection of the astounding graffiti I’ve managed to snap across 2017.

It was also a shame not to have a third City of Colours festival this year, but with the collosal work involved, I’m not surprised.

Here’s hoping it does return in some form in 2018, at least.

Karl, are you listening, fella? ;)

Olly MacNamee

The hardest part has been witnessing the many different places utilised in the past. legally, by local artists, decline thanks to the oncoming gentification of Digbeth that’s already started. Sad times as conformity sets in. vehicles used in Ready Player One

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distorted minds crew ft. will barras

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distorted minds crew ft. will barras

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distorted minds crew ft. will barras

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next issue...

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We go on tour around the UK. Well, Brighton, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Berlin. Basically all the places I’ve been while travelling around covering the many comic conventions I attend. Always have a camera ready.

And, because I do, I’ve collected quite a few photos along the way. Photos I’ll be sharing with you all soon.

berlin

See you in 2018!

Olly MacNamee camden

Brighton

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No.5 winter 2017

all words & pictures, copyright - Olly MacNamee