I thought today, to remind myself of past passions and posts - I would collect together a few scribbles from other places here. This little tumbler blog is my own sandpit, so I can do what I like. Today I’d like to remember stuff…

After two long stints living in Newcastle NSW where the artist community is as deep-dug into the rock as the old ockers who hollowed it out in the first place – I am convinced that unless ‘community’ art springs spontaneously and opportunistically from the artists’ personal motivation to connect – its just sanctioned municipal wallpaper – and usually mediocre twaddle.

Local artists do sometimes put their work into shop windows there – thriving, young businesses that welcome the excitement of their association with the artists. They also ‘flash art’ the streets, the walls, the beach and come together in clumps to start things.

Mostly they do it without interference from the local plodding counsellors and the dwindling retail streets, and a dingy shopping mall that is still a no-go area after 9pm are not much improved by these local artists’ efforts. Of course not, how silly to imagine they would be.

Now I live in Bristol and Banksy has a lot to answer for round these parts. Chuck a sparycan in any direction and you’ll hit a mural. Take a wander down Stokes Croft to see how unlikely ’shop window’ art is to inspire regeneration, or cheer up the locals. (Although there is a sense of fierce reverse pride in the homemadey, ramshackle, independence of the area).

The people who live here, in the SW need to make some cash to spend in the shops, and when they do – my guess is that they’ll be rushing past these art daubed derelict commercial units on their way to worship the art of Geiger, Baker and Moss in the frighteningly huge Cabots Circus.

Find Flynn’s work and writing here http://fionaflynn.wordpress.com/