The title Picture of Pinky and The Brain is my Competition Entry
I absolutely love this graffiti buggy with the main art in the background. I want to buy it!
A wider shot of the courtyard where the mini-festival will take place.
Hidden Street Art Courtyard
In a little-known corner, hidden down an alleyway, and behind a community-run cycle repair shop, lies one of Liverpool's hidden counter-culture gems. This street artist's mecca provides a safe place to paint murals and artistic tags.
As the courtyard is owned by the artists collective, who also fix bikes, it provides a place street artists can let their creativity wild without fear of the police sticking their stickybeaks into the creative process.
I have huge respect for street artists, and as I rocked up to this spot on my bike two fellas were busy working on new pieces. Having been an avid skateboarder in my mid-twenties I knew a lot of skaters who were also graffiti artists, so I know the etiquette around how to approach an artist at work. At the end of the day these guys get harassed by police, and occasionally arrested, for creating what I see as wonderful, colourful creations that enrich our urban environment. I used to also get chased by the police when I was a street skater, so I know what that's like.
I quickly explained to them that I write a blog, and sometimes share Liverpool street art in a community that has subscribers/viewers from around the world. I asked them if they minded if I took pictures of the finished pieces, and they were cool about it all... especially after I mentioned my skateboarding past and dropped a few names of established graffiti artists I know.
"Yeah mate, shoot away. Just don't take any pics of us working please."
"Of course not mate" I answered before wandering the courtyard to snap the pictures you can see above.
It’s Good to Talk – A Music and Art Event in August
Before I left one of the artists asked me if I have an Instagram account where he could check out my blog and writing.
Lol… awkward pause, then I explained that I’d shut down all my social media (apart from Twitter) that had caused me to become addicted to checking my phone every ten minutes.
He laughed and said “I know that feeling. It is hard to get that social media monkey off your back. But how do you make any money if you don’t promote your blogs on Insta, Ticktok or Twitter?”
I briefly explained how I make money blogging on a blockchain-based content hosting site called Hive that pays in cryptocurrency and directed him to check out my @Peakd page, showing it him on my phone. PeakD is the best front end for long-form content which is what I mostly write. But I also showed him @Liketu and @Ecency to show that there are many different options for different forms of content.
He seemed genuinely interested in Hive, and perhaps I’ve got a convert on my hands 🙂
He then told me that they were hosting a mini-festival in the courtyard on the 13th of August with food, a bar with live music from a grunge band and a hip hop DJ.
I mentioned that all the art had changed in the courtyard since the last time I visited a few years ago, and we waxed philosophical for a while about the transient nature of creativity, and how street art shows this in a pure form.
“That is why we’re painting a bunch of new work today… the canvas never changes but the visions are ever evolving.”
“Fckn A mate” I responded.
“I feel that way about my writing. Once it is done, edited and published, I let it go and move on to another world. It lives on in the minds of my readers, but I don’t re-read any of my short stories once I’ve completed the final draft.”
After this rather deep and meaningful, I asked the two guys their names, told them mine and thanked them for taking the time out from painting to chat.
“We’ll see you at the festival on the 13th mate?”
I grinned “for sure, who doesn’t like live music, hip hop and beer. I’ll see you later lads, and good luck with the pieces and the rain holding off.”
An Open Invitation to any UK Hive Peeps who Fancy Partying in Liverpool?
Seriously, if anyone wants to make a long weekend trip to Liverpool, especially if you like street art, music and beer in the sun… hit me up in the comments section, or message me in discord if you’re on my friend's list (unfortunately I block all messages other than from long term hive friends as so many scammers target crypto folks).
An open invitation for a guided tour of … the bar at the mini-festival in this great hidden art gem of Liverpool City 😂
This invitation is also extended to all and everyone on 
Photos by raj808-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Samsung S7 Smart Phone.
Thanks for reading 🌿
All picture used in this are my own property, taken using my Samsung S7 and edited/cleaned up using GIMP photo editing open source software. If you have enjoyed this photography post, please do check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content. Thank you.
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