This week's mural is another one from the Hokitika pathway. Named "Arahura" a Maori te reo word meaning "pathway to dawn" by Andrew Dempster and here is some information I found about him:
Andrew's life is immersed in art, from a love of art school, attending art school and teaching art at secondary school. He enjoys seeing young peoples creativity unfold and grow while also unleashing his own artistic talents in fresh works.
Linking up with Monday Murals and Mosaic Monday.
This is another piece of street art that I saw on the Hokitika Beach pathway a couple of weeks ago. Named "Out my window" and the artist is Sheryl Brooker.
Linking up with Monday Murals and Mosaic Monday.
Both sides of the wall throughout the pathway which leads to Hokitika beach are lined with different artwork from artists, I think once in a while new ones replace the current ones. This one is titled "Weta" by Karyn Roberts. I love these insects, I've seen some big and small ones over the years. They are harmless, non poisonous and do not hurt people but they can bite if you bother them.
Linking up with Monday Murals and Mosaic Monday.
I found this mural last week in our local town square, not sure who painted it, could be artist Mark Haldane but it depicts an old house in the bush, very reminiscent of West Coast historical miner's hut.
The explanation about the new blog name is based on one of my favourite songs - Blue Day by a band named Mi-Sex who were well known in New Zealand during the late 1970s and early 1980s in which the lead singer is named Steve Gilpin. Well thanks to the wonders of DNA and family tree research has shown me I am related to him on my father's side, so there you go.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
This fish mural suddenly showed up on one of the bumps at the local skatepark yesterday. I have no idea who the artist is but it's nice to see some colour among the grey cement.
Linking up with Monday Murals and Mosaic Monday.
At one of the local beaches in Cobden is this small mural on the side of a rubbish bin. The artist is Kieran Knutsford who was aged 11 at the time he painted this. I'm not sure what the story around it is but it looks like a child who is happy and sad when the parent is feeling the same.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
I can't remember where I first saw this but I suspect it was in Kaitaia when we visited there about 5 years ago. It looks to me like it is Maori artwork that symbolises waves and the ocean and it would've been a photo I took as we drove past.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Quite often in this country painted travel vans are something we see regularly. The first one I think is some sort of Maori design and not sure what the second one is, peraps something outer space-ish?
Linking up with Monday Murals.
I saw th is mural on the side of a the local library building when were in Pukekohe for the day last year in November. Painted by artist Regan Belzer the name of it is "Kumete Kai" - a food bowl for the mind. It was blessed by mana whenua and the artist was helped by local Pukekohe High School students. The food bowl idea represents the local area's fertile soil, waterways and plentiful food.
The idea also goes with the library and "Te Kai a te Rangatira" - the food of the chief is korero - as a place where people gather to to share knowledg, consider, discuss and learn.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
While driving through New Brighton last December I spotted this mural on the fence next to one of the local supermarkets.
Painted by artist Dove Finch it depicts the local area with the library, the bridge, beach and dolphins.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Recently when we visited Murchison I spotted this colourful mural on the front of the local skatepark building. The artist is Sean Duffell it was initiated by the Murchison Youth Council as phase 1 of refurbishment of the area. I call this one "Natives" as I can see many New Zealand icons in there such as Trout, Kea, a Wood Pigeon and a Morepork (Ruru).
Linking up with Monday Murals.
This mural has been painted onto another utility box outside one of the local takeaway shops, depicting ice creams it's perfect for our weather at the moment. Something nice and cool.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
I spotted this dog kennel outside one of our local hardware stores. It's outside the front entrance in case customers want to let their pet rest there while they are inside. This little mural has been painted on the outside and features a border collie named "Dog" who lives on a farm. Back in the 1980s a movie was made from what was originally a comic strip "Footrot Flats" and was very popular.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Near the top of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street in Auckland City is this religious mural (as I think it looks) on the side of the one of the old buildings, it seems to be situated right next to the Methodist Church. I'm not sure who it is meant to depict but thanks to Tom the artist is Owen Dippie from Kawerau.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
The Womens Institute branch here has been an important part of New Zealand for decades. So apparently it started in Canada, before making it's way to Great Britain. In 1919 a New Zealand woman Anna Jerome Spencer attended a craft exhibition in London. She was so impressed and investigated it with a thought of establishing it in New Zealand too.
Before the 2nd world war Anna and her friend Amy were based in Havelock North and the first meeting was held at Amy's home in January 1921 with Anna elected as president.
The first annual report of the institute provided a model for programmes until the 1990s. The movement slowly spread at first and by 1925 there were 6 institutes based in the Hawkes Bay region.
Over the years women in this organization have worked together to generate huge amounts of goods, services and funds for various causes both local and national.
These days Womens Institute groups have spread all over the country.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Quite often around the country we sometimes see tourist vans or campavans that have been decorated by artists. I spotted this one in Hokitika recently featuring clouds and sun setting behind mountains - a typical New Zealand scene.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
Another utility box seen on the outskirts of central Greymouth. Most New Zealanders and Australians will recognize this one. The iconic "buzzy bee" is a wooden toy with wheels that babies and toddlers grow up with and makes a clicking noise when it's pulled along. Painted by Mark Haldane aka Raja the toy was originally created by Maurice Schlesinger around 1939/1940.
This is the same toy that Prince William was filmed playing with during the royal tour to New Zealand in 1983.
More about the lightning strike we had the other night. Apparently our neighbour across the road had one of the power poles outside her house blow up due to being struck so it ended up damaging some of the internal wire. Being not far away from her we were lucky not to end up in the same boat.
Linking up with Monday Murals.
