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Jen Barnett takes a look at Urban Paint Festival Upfest, a street art event taking place in Bristol this weekend.

Upfest, the Urban Paint Festival, is back this weekend (June 4th – 6th) with three days of art and music. Now in its third year, the free event has grown to become the biggest event of its type in all of Europe.

As in previous years, the festival will be centred on live painting at the Tobacco Factory on June 5 and 6. Over 200 urban artists and illustrators will be painting live over the weekend, with 50 artists having come from around the world to be a part of the event. The artists will be mixing it up with this year’s “MashUP” theme, with some very special collaborations due to take place.

Artist Julian Kimmings is looking forward to the event. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. Collaboration is what it’s all about – gelling of ideas and skills to produce a final stunning visual effect,” he said. “I like the unexpected and having to adapt, it makes things more interesting.”

Upfest’10 will kick off with a preview of the Urban View group show at View Art Gallery on Hotwell Road. The show features work from seven urban and contemporary artists, including Kimmings, and will run through 17 July.

Saturday, the festival will be in full swing at the Tobacco Factory. From 11 am, over 200 urban artists and illustrators will be painting live. Visitors to the free event are also invited to take part in the painting, with a children’s painting area and the Kiss101 Give It a Go painting boards.

Kimmings added: “Events like this are great for members of the public – people get to mix with artists and get ‘involved’ in the creative process. People are often fascinated in how the artwork comes together.”

The Tobacco Factory will also host a Very Affordable Art Sale and dedicated print room, where original artwork and prints by the artists painting at the festival will be available for sale at bargain prices. There will also be badge making, clothing, and art material stalls around the venue.

Painting at Upfest for the first time this year, Nathanael Draws encourages people to come down to check out the event: “I think visitors to Upfest get a sense of how big and varied the world of urban art is and they can connect with the art work in more of a personal way compared to going to a gallery.”

He added: “Also as I know from being a spectator last year it’s a great day out where you can relax with good art, music and cider!”

The musical line-up of Upfest runs throughout the weekend, with DJs, beatboxers, hip hop groups and MCs taking to two stages at the Tobacco Factory. Along with music, the world renowned Kompany Malakhi will host dance workshops on Saturday.

During the day (11 am to 6 pm) on Saturday, a live illustration event will take place indoors in the Tobacco Factory Theatre Foyer. In the evening (6 pm), six artists will battle it out in a Secret Wars live art competition, where the public will vote to decide whether who will be named champions of the 90-minute drawing competition.

The evening will wrap up (10 pm to 4 am) with the Upfest’10 Mid-Festival Party at Basement 45, presented in association with Kiss101. The party will feature The Loose Cannons, Ninebar Sound System, Chris Read (Music of Substance), Dave Cridge (Ninja Tune) and Kiss101 DJs.

Upfest’10 finishes up on Sunday at the Tobacco Factory from 10 am with additional live painting, music, and art sales.

Upfest has raised over £10,000 for Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) since the festival began and Upfest’10 will continue to raise awareness of and fundraise for the charity.

Jen Barnett is a local freelance writer with a keen eye for the arts.

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