Manchester: street art
Manchester is a city with a rich seam of street art to explore. We spotted the mural above, the UK’s largest piece of LGBT street art, on our first afternoon. Organised by Queerchester it depicts some of the city’s LGBT icons including two faces which have already appeared in my Manchester posts, Emmeline Pankhurst (middle left) and Alan Turing (bottom right). I didn’t know the former was a gay icon, but I learned that and more about the mural and its other characters on I♥️MCR.
We found some of the bees remaining from the Bee in the City Trail of 2018: the worker bee is a symbol of Manchester. The Love Bee (left) was outside the Cathedral, while the LGBTQ+ Queen Bee was in Sackville Gardens in the Gay Village.
Sackville Gardens are also home to the statue of Alan Turing which featured in my post about Manchester science and industry, and to the Beacon of Hope (2000) a memorial to everyone lost to HIV and a symbol of solidarity with those living with HIV today.
Another largest, this time the largest digital ceiling in Europe in the Printworks – 1000m² of delights which I could have watched forever. Well, not quite – we had other things to do!
It was Eunice of Life in the Mouse House who took us to see the ceiling, and all the murals in the gallery below. I didn’t take notes so offer them without comment, except to say they are all from the Northern Quarter.
I have to give this little critter in a tiny window a gallery of its own. Mr Smith’s Dream is exquisite.
Still in the Northern Quarter is Afflecks, self described as an emporium of curiosities. It was very decorative inside and out.
Finally, a few sculptures from various walks around the city. Sheep in Castlefield.
Chopin on Deansgate opposite John Rylands Library.
And Paddington in Spinningfields. 23 of these fun statues were installed across the UK and Ireland ahead of the release of Paddington in Peru. Most were temporary, but Norwich won the vote to have a permanent version.
Still a few Manchester themes to go – next up, churches.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I’m so late here. I’ve been off for a week and wanted to do so much…that didn’t work. I love the walk with the brilliant colours I see here. I read about Turing and how horribly he was treated due to him being gay…very sad. I love The Sheep and that lady with the big teeth(a painting). They are all great.
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it’s Birgit, by the way.
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Thanks Birgit – yes, I knew it was you!
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You found some nice street arts Anabel and the ceiling display are lovely. I loved visiting all the art gallery and museums when I lived in Manchester.
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It has such a lot of culture!
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I absolutely love street art, Anabel. The ones that you have shared here are so much fun!
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Thanks Donna, they were fun to find (with a lot of help from Eunice).
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hi Anabel – what a great selection … the art work always amazes me; while the sculptures are extraordinary too – Paddington I love – cheers Hilary
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Paddington is very appealing!
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oh what fun
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It was – thanks!
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I loved all the art, but I have to admit that my favorite was Paddington. He’ll always hold a special place in my heart.
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I know, I’ve always loved him too. I read all the books when I was a child.
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