Tory St will get a splash of colour this week from local street artists as part of collaboration between the NZ Transport Agency, the Wellington Tunnels Alliance, and The Wellington City Council.
The initiative is intended to prevent tagging on the fence at the WTA site depot, then merging with the Wellington City Council Arts Centre’s community project giving street artists space to showcase their work.
NZTA Wellington state highway manager Rod James said the NZTA and WTA supported the project by supplying paint, materials and an exhibition space to the artists.&nsp; He felt this was a positive way to support a good idea and contribute to a wider local community initiative.
“A mural of 11 art panels, each by a different local artist, will be put up on WTA’s fence in Tory Street. The murals will bring some colour and interest to the site as well as giving aspiring artists a positive way to showcase their talent,” Mr James said.
Each panel was reviewed by both the WTA and the WCC and Mt Cook School and the local residents association were also involved in the process.
A variety of artists’ styles are represented on each 1.3 by 2.4 metre panel, including portraits, landscapes, abstracts and graphic design work using brushes or spray cans. The panels will be mounted at the northern end of Tory Street, opposite Mount Cook School, and will remain there for the duration of the tunnel upgrade project. At the end of the project each panel will either be given back to the artist or auctioned off for charity.
The Wellington Tunnels Alliance, made up of Leighton Contractors, AECOM, Sinclair Knight Merz and the NZTA have been working collectively to upgrade The Terrace and Mount Victoria Tunnels in Wellington.
