MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release November 24, 2015

Taking Art to the Streets of Petone

Petone’s Jackson Street is set to receive a make over in the form of a unique community art project designed to bring the town’s main street alive with colour, culture and diversity.

The brainchild of Petone business Scratch Design, the “Blank Canvas Project” plans to revamp the curtain wall at 1 Jackson Street with a commissioned piece of art, refreshed every four months over the next year.

Scratch Design’s James Walshe says with the Petone retail and business districts set to welcome some of New Zealand’s large-scale stores, including Bunnings, Rebel Sport and Kmart, the idea was to create a sense of balance with the inclusion of large outdoor art pieces that could be enjoyed by the wider community.

“We have lived in Petone for 12 years, we have a young family and we moved our business out from the city two years ago. We love it here and want to see Petone thrive. 1 Jackson Street is a prime Petone location, a high traffic area with plenty of exposure. We thought it made a great starting point but would love to see the initiative eventually grow, securing additional spaces along Jackson Street, ultimately becoming a Street Art Trail,” he says.

Artists will be approached and asked to submit work to be considered for the project, with works chosen then digitally transferred onto a vinyl print that can be easily applied and removed from the Jackson Street glass curtain wall.

Wellington-based artist, Kumi whose recent typography project “Love Letters” received rave reviews, is the first artist to take to the wall. Her brief was simple, to illustrate the changing face of Petone. She says her work; “P for Petone” includes vivid colours to express Petone's bright future and vibrancy. “Unique objects represent Petone's history and its position as a lively place,” she says.

The Blank Canvas Project also aims to foster young design talent by sponsoring a recent graphic design graduate whose work will feature within the project as well as receiving a three-month internship at Scratch Design.

Mr Walshe says he is currently looking to develop a team of key sponsors interested in assisting with the commission costs for each artist involved in the project.

The Blank Canvas Project is set to kick off on December 3rd with the reveal of the first commissioned piece.

ENDS

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