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Totara Street looks a lot more cheerful, thanks to the artistic efforts of local children.
A dull concrete water tank in the middle of Leigh has been given a bright and colourful facelift, thanks to a dedicated team of young artists.
The large tank at Leigh Central in Totara Street was transformed by students attending after-school classes at the Foundation Gallery & Arts Hub, painting vivid local scenes and designs, as well as adding aerial cut-outs of local birdlife and even the Auckland rescue helicopter.
Foundation proprietor Hillary Austin says the young Barefoot Artists’ mural was a Term 2 project that had been interrupted by lockdown restrictions and formed the centrepiece of the gallery’s most recent community exhibition, “The Rights of Spring”, celebrating rebirth and renewal.
“The mural project is a bold public art expression and seeks to help all the participating local artists, children and families of Leigh to celebrate resilience and community in the face of extraordinary circumstances, and to celebrate the beauty of our little village,” she said.
Hillary was keen to thank Resene Warkworth for supplying paint; Dean Grise of Footings and Floorings for scaffolding; Alan from Leigh Central use of the site and the loan of his metal nibbler to cut out the birds (the tin for which was salvaged from the old tram car at Tramcar Bay); tank owner Christopher Calder; Leigh School for support and encouragement; and Michael ‘Red’ Stephenson for measurement and bird attachment.
