Tag Archives: graffiti

Generator House at Blakely Harbor

We were making a trip to Bainbridge Island one weekend and Nancy had done some research that brought up something she thought I might be interested in.  Blakely Harbor used to be the location of a timber mill.  It has long gone away but there are still some remnants of the mill.  There are piles in the water from the old jetties but the most conspicuous part of the old generator house.

This concrete building is obviously more resilient than the other buildings and it stands out on the shoreline, not just because it is the only remaining building, but because it has become a focus for graffiti artists.  The interior and exterior of the building have been covered with work from artists of all types.  Some is really intricate work and other pieces and less polished.  However, the combination of colors is really striking when alongside the natural colors of the harbor.

I was interested in looking around inside but climbing in required some effort and, while I could have done it, I wasn’t that keen and I suspect Nancy would have thought I was nuts!  She may have been right.  There are some iron frames that are still part of the structure which have an aged look which contrasts with the recent artwork.  I imagine in low light you could get some very interesting shots of this place.

South Bank Caverns

C59F0483.jpgThe South Bank of the Thames is a strange mix of places. County Hall and the Royal Festival Hall are alongside boat piers and railway tracks. The area has progressively developed and become more popular although there was a time when it was a pretty dodgy area. One strange place still there is a section of covered concrete that has become a popular haunt for skaters. The area looks intimidating enough but it has been heavily decorated with graffiti and it looks like something that you would enter in a movie with the audience shouting not to go in.

C59F0479.jpgActually, the area is quite busy and the skaters are only interested in skating. The fact that they haven’t been driven away but have, instead, been embraced is a pretty cool thing I think. The art on the walls obviously involved a lot of effort. While it may look like something to avoid, I would certainly take a look if you get the chance.

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