Mural Makeover in Aro Valley

Two artists have been commissioned to create two new murals in the Aro Valley Community Centre area and work with a small group of young graffiti artists to help combat the graffiti in the neighbourhood and engage them in the beautification of their own communities.

The Aro Valley based artist Stephen Templer whose illustrations and murals are part of the Wellington visual landscape is passionate about the city and regularly brings fun and energy to communities through art projects such as the Arolympics and the recent festival of lights on bikes down at Wellington waterfront. These events have been created to unite communities and bring people together in a fun way.

Stephen ran two workshops at Te Aro Primary School to get design input from the students. Students commented that they hope Stephen “will include birds like kaka and tui” as well as “the bush up the top of Epuni Street as it is a great place to go exploring”. They also thought “the mural will make the Valley better as the other mural is now quite old”.

Stephen wants to “create a mural that is a beautiful, inclusive, vibrant reflection of Aro Valley, like a series of postcards or stamps from the Valley. A love letter from home to some one living abroad.”

Sean Duffell the second artist, is a full-time Wellington based graphic artist, predominantly painting commissioned large scale walls in public and private spaces nationally and internationally.

Sean has a strong sense of community and enjoys working alongside youth to educate, inspire and bring social change. He has a personal affiliation with Aro Valley having lived there for a few years and he continues to create his own personal works in Aro Valley when he can.

In collaboration with BGI (Boys and Girls Institute) Sean has run two art workshops with young graffiti artists getting their input and ideas for the mural and they have also helped him paint. Sean has enjoyed “engaging the chosen youth in the mural design process and creating a contemporary mural designed with Aro locals in mind”.

AVCC has teamed up with Wellington City Council (WCC) and the Boys and Girls Institute (BGI) to make this project happen.

The Aro Valley mural project is taking place now.

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