Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust’s community street art festival is set to take place in Whitianga during 4th to 8th March, between the first two weekends in March when the annual Mercury Bay Art Escape Open Artists’ Studios will be held. The festival is running in conjunction with the ‘Chasing Mercury’ workshops being held by Art Escape during the same week.
Art Escape sought expressions of interest from its Mercury Bay artist members with experience in mural painting. Outside of the membership Dave Fowell expressed interest in contribution and Peter Nicholson joined with the blessing of his landlords who were already in conversation with him about creating a mural on the wall of Mainly Casual. Peter has almost completed this mural which is an early contribution but in accordance with the completion of the seating area in the new Plaza area and it provides a good historical reference point for summer holiday visitors. As well as local artists, the Trust extended an invitation to out of area and well known street artists, and were met with enthusiastic response.
“The level of interest continues with several enquiries coming in in recent weeks,” says organiser Jane Parsons. Artists are donating their time, talent and services to create the artworks. The artists have been largely inspired by the kaupapa of the Tuia – Encounters 250 project and the opportunity to make a creative contribution to Tuia 250 commemorations.
“It is incredibly generous of the artists – many of whom keep an annual allocation for community contribution,” says Jane.
Artists involved are; street artists Charles & Janine Williams, MBAET’s Patron Artist Michael Smither, Paul Be Artist, Caitlin Maloney, Dave Fowell, Monique Rush and Peter Nicholson from the Whitianga Art Group. A large community wall will feature art from local schools.
The Tuia 250 Whitianga Street Art Festival will see the creation of a series of 12 murals painted in the upgraded Whitianga township, reflecting the Tuia 250 kaupapa of “First Encounters” or of “Navigation”. Tuia 250 commemoration programmes across the country will promote the exceptional skill, innovation and courage of our Pacific and European ancestors, the integrity and values of Aotearoa New Zealand today as well as the natural beauty of our seas and whenua (land).
Specific regional commemorations are being developed and delivered by four charitable trusts in the four parts of Aotearoa New Zealand where Maori and Europeans first met during the 1769 voyage, and Te Whanganui o Hei Mercury Bay is one of these four regions, with commemoration initiatives spearheaded by Mercury 250 Trust.
The Street Art Festival organiser Jane Parsons says; “These works will be a constant reminder of the history of Te Whanganui o Hei/Mercury Bay and the early relationship between local iwi and the seafarers who observed the transit of Mercury.” The public will be able to view the works as they are created and a leaflet to inform and guide them around the sites will be available. Once the murals are completed a full leaflet will serve as a walking guide around the art sites in Whitianga.
The Tuia 250 Whitianga Street Art Festival is funded through a grant awarded from the Tuia 250 Lotteries Fund. The Mercury Bay Art Escape Trust acknowledges support received from Creative Waikato, Thames-Coromandel District Council and the Mercury 250 Trust, as well as the building owners and sponsors, including major sponsor Resene Paints, who are providing paint through their Fagans Flooring Xtra ColorShop in Whitianga.
Image on the right is by Charles and Janine Williams who will be creating on the wall of the former Guthrie Bowron building on the lane leading to the bridge over to Taylors Mistake.
Article Published 29 December 2019
