For the Word on the Street project, we turned quotes from local poets, school children, residents, writers and rappers into large murals on the streets of Bradford.
In preparation for the Bradford City of Culture 2025 bid, I worked with Oli Bentley (Split and People Powered Press) to convert their Graft typeface into a stencil version to be used for a series of large murals around Bradford city centre. Quotes from local poets, school children, residents, writers and rappers make up the Word On The Street.
Graft Stencil was turned into a physical stencil set. Each letter was laser cut from 2-meter tall sheets to make an enormous aluminium alphabet.
We set markers in the stencil so we could place each letter with a good level of kerning, adjusting for letters with less mass such as A, T, L, etc. It really helped to have Oli there to double-check the spacings before spraying.
The murals are sprayed with temporary chalk paint, over time they will fade away.
Update: It was all worth it, Bradford has been awarded City Of Culture 2025. Read more on bradford2025.co.uk.
Word On the Street.
I COME FROM HOPE, I COME FROM BRADFORD
Iqra Khan, Belle Vue Girls Academy.
IF WE DON’T TELL OUR STORIES, NO ONE ELSE WILL
Munaza Kulsoom, Bradical Press
BRADFORD ARE YOU WITH ME, ARE YOU THERE?
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
WE’RE BUILT WI YORKSHIRE STONE, RADICAL IS RACING IN US BLOOD. YOU CAN TEK US OUT OF BRATFUD, BUT YOU CAN’T TEK THE BRATFUD OUT OF US
Kirsty Taylor, Poet
Photography and drone by David Lindsay.
