If you’re taking a stroll through Ponsonby, then pause to check out the new mural at the corner of Wiliamson Ave & Ponsonby Rd.
The mural, painted by NZ artist Dan Tippett, will eventually become part of a series of murals around Ponsonby. The project, dubbed The Colour of Our Community, seeks to beautify the ‘Soho Square’ site in the area.
Mark Castle, owner of The French Art Shop at the top of Ponsonby Rd says that the project is a collaboration inspired by people who care about their community.
“This was an idea I came up with a year and a bit ago. It’s taken us since around January/February last year to get this far. We approached the Waitemata local board to deal with the receiver who was using the site, and pitched the idea of getting a group of artists to paint the murals. Then Progressives bought the site, and we presented The Colour of Our Community to the board of Progressives.”
Several well-known NZ artists are involved with the project, including Otis Frizzell, Dan Tippett, Adrian Jackman and Karl Maughan. Each artist has been asked to design and paint a 12-metre mural reflecting the ‘colours of our community’. The artists will also mentor various local community groups who will be completing other sections of the hoardings surrounding Soho Square.
Resene is the project sponsor, and will underwrite most of the costs of materials. Mark says that the plan is for the finished mural to stay up for two years. Maintenance costs will be covered by sponsorship and donations. At the end of the time, the murals will be auctioned off to raise money for charity.
Check out a video featuring Dan Tippett and Otis Frizzell below.
Looks great! Will def check it out!
What a wonderful gift for the locals to enjoy while the abcessed gigantic hole behind the mural walls is filled in and a new shopping complex is built. The murals have replaced those "bumper boats are coming" posters that were often pasted up as a joke about the huge hole that had filled with water.