Butterflies brighten up grey wall
Butterflies have invaded a battleship-grey backdrop in one inner-city suburb.
Eden Terrace’s unsightly flyover wall on the corner of Bright St and Aitken Tce has been given more than just a lick of paint in a resident-led project to brighten up the neighbourhood.
The kowhai flower and butterfly design, created by Bright St artist Kate Millington, is near completion.
It marks the end of a twoyear campaign to have the 300 square-metre wall spruced up with street art, capturing the history of the area and deterring vandals ( Auckland City Harbour News, February 14, 2014).
Bright St resident Lyn Barnes says the community seems delighted by the transformation.
Arch Hill residents have even been popping over to take a look, having spotted the mural from across the motorway.
‘‘It’s gone from 50 shades of grey to something really sexy,’’ she says.
‘‘The whole area is looking healthy, beautified and feeling safer.’’
Barnes first came up with the idea in 2013, gathering support from other residents, businesses and Auckland Council along the way.
Millington’s butterfly design was chosen during a competition to see which of four ideas would be brought to life on the blank canvas. She has enlisted the help of artist Nigel Roberts to tackle the large project.
The council’s central joint funding committee stumped up more than $18,000 for the mural and planting of native trees around the site.
Albert Eden Local Board member Graeme East wants to allay any fears that the wall will be torn down if plans to remove the Dominion and New North roads interchange is realised.
‘‘My proposal is to leave that wall precisely as it is, in fact my proposal is to leave all the walls exactly as they are,’’ he says.
The board has asked Auckland Transport to investigate the possibility of removing the interchange consisting of a flyover bridge linking Dominion and New North roads, the New North Rd underpass and two ramps connecting the two roads.
‘‘Some walls will wind up being buried but that one will remain – there is no need to touch them, therefore the artwork will not be impacted at all.’’
The residents behind the mural project have now formed a charitable trust. They plan to install security cameras to deter taggers, paint the inside of the pedestrian tunnel and plant more kowhai.
Barnes also hopes there will be funds left over to put towards the ‘‘butterfly garden’’ opposite the wall.
She has been maintaining the patch of land herself for the past three years with permission from the council, planting trees and plants to attract butterflies, insects and birds.
Residents would like to see it turned into a reserve in the future.
A street party will be held to celebrate the completion of the mural.
Go to facebook.com and search ‘‘The Wall on the Bright Side’’ for details.