Makeover to stop tagging
Local artist Erna Van Der Wat recently won a competition to beautify a blank Chorus cabinet into an original art piece in the heart of Waiuku.
Van Der Wat was one of five artists who were selected through a competition run by Chorus and the Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust earlier this year.
The competition aimed to reduce graffiti in hot spots around South Auckland and also help emerging artists get their work seen. Cabinets were chosen to be given a makeover as they have been targeted by taggers.
By making parks, walkways and public areas beautiful again, the trust hopes to discourage future tagging. Van Der Wat said she was thrilled with the end result of her cabinet, located in Hamilton Drive.
‘‘Everyone thought it looked awesome and they all expressed that it was such a good cause. I had groups of kids, adults and elderly spending time while painting and asking heaps of questions - quite an educational journey.
‘‘What I felt was really special is the fact that this cabinet is positioned across a play area and a community centre with its own wonderful community garden, the cabinet fits in so well with its childlike art and the theme that speaks to everyone coming to the park and community centre.’’
‘‘What I felt was really special is the fact that this cabinet is positioned across a play area and a community centre with its own wonderful community garden.’’