30 Tuesday Nov 2021
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Driving back from Arcos l was so excited to see the Amazing Alexandra del Bene back working on her epic project painting 15 gigantic murals commemorating the quincentennial of the Magellan-Elcano expedition to circumnavigate the world. What a woman.
30 Wednesday Jun 2021
So, remember Tania? My lovely neighbour and – as it turns out – very artistic friend. Well awhile back she said she wanted to make me a hand painted tile and asked which image I would like. Of course the first thing that occurred to me were the sherry symbols (because if I ever get a tatoo THAT is what it will be) so I mentioned an abanico that was given to me at the last Vinoble in Jerez and sent her a photo. And I mean, just look what she did!
I love the cobalt blue, the addition of the carnations, and all the beautiful detailing. 
If you’d like to order your own custom hand-made tile from Tania get in touch with her via Instagram… Ceramica Tania.
14 Monday Jun 2021
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21 Friday May 2021
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So remember me telling you about my friend Alexandra del Bene’s crazy and wonderful new mural project the other day? Well, I had to go and see for myself how she was getting on. Turns out I showed up on the first day of actual painting. Previously the walls of these fifteen buildings had been freshly painted white to create her “canvases” and then, for each mural, one of her paintings is projected onto the wall at night (by Alex’s friend Fran), and she traces out the basic outline before starting the actual painting. Seeing it up close like this just floored me. I mean, the amount of work, the fact that Alex will spend all this time up in a cherry picker when it’s 35º in Sevilla… the sheer effort being put into of all this incredible.
The buildings are facing the Port and are mostly house university students. Apparently the paintings should last about four years and, with some upkeep, as long as eight. But what happens after this herculean task is finished is out of Alex’s hands. Apparently it’s also up for a Guinness Record.
Anyhow, I walked over to the site… a good hour’s walk from home (I’m still not using public transit). And I stupidly didn’t leave early enough so I got there when it was already super hot, BUT I also got there when Alex was finishing for the day and so we went out for a beer and a chat. I’ll be keeping an eye on this and visiting during its various stages of completion. But next time will leave early in the morning.
17 Monday May 2021
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I was so excited when Alex pinged me with a link to this video about her latest project. I had no idea that she was doing this and it’s absolutely amazing. She will be creating 15 gigantic murals themed around the 500th anniversary of the first round the world voyage, the Magellan-El Cano circumnavigation (1519 – 1522). See those buildings up there? Those will be her canvases. Located in Calle Tarfia, facing the river it is expected to set a Guinness world record.
Below you can see virtual depictions of how they will look when finished. Impressive, right?
I first met Alexandra by chance ten years ago when she was starting out here working as a “graffiti artist for hire” painting shop and bar shutters so that they wouldn’t get vandalised by taggers. One day I saw her painting a bar shutter while out for a walk on a Sunday afternoon and stopped to chat and we’ve been friends ever since. She once even joined one of my tapas tours in progress while “on the job” painting the shutters at Bodeguita Romero.
And while Alexandra still does the occasional shutter art, she is now also an award-winning artist recognised both here and abroad. An amazing accomplishment for someone who arrived here from Rome in 2010 with a young daughter to start a new life. I am quite in awe of not only her talent but also her energy and spirit. You can check out her website here…
casa azahar 