NEWS RELEASE
Friday 26 March

New artwork regenerates Brooklyn

Ohiro Road will be transformed this weekend when more than 20 high-school students and local artists paint a 30 metre-wide artwork on the wall at number 145.

The artwork, which will be in place for at least 5 years, is to coincide with Enviroschools Regeneration Action Festival which has seen a number of school communities around the country celebrating sustainable and innovative action over the last week.

About 15 students from several of the region’s secondary schools have worked with local artists and the Brooklyn community for the last three months to design the artwork. Now they are set to paint what is being dubbed locally as “The Brooklyn Mural”.

Project coordinator and Enviroschools Youth Coordinator for the Wellington Region, Charlie Devenish, says the project has been “a truly youth-led community project”.

“The students developed the process to be as inclusive as possible by involving schools, local residents, community groups and some interested councillors. It’s been a great opportunity to celebrate intergenerational action across the community and, ultimately, to regenerate our urban environment.”

The artwork captures a Brooklyn perspective of Wellington, aiming to highlight the natural beauty of the suburb and to acknowledge the local work done to restore Owhiro stream and to celebrate the return of Kaka to the neighbourhood.
Paul Bradley, lead artist for the project says: “The students have embraced the theme of regeneration, and I think that the artwork communicates this in a really beautiful way.”

The artwork will be painted on the wall at 145 Ohiro Road, Brooklyn all day on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March. The artwork is expected to be complete at around 4pm on Sunday. Anyone is welcome to come along and join in the painting.
The project is supported by Enviroschools, Wellington City Council, Resene and a number of local businesses.
ends

© Scoop Media