Artist immortalises Angus
The first brush strokes are up for what will be a four-storey-high mural of artist Rita Angus above central Wellington.
When completed, the Bond St mural – based on a photo of the New Zealand artist on her Wellington balcony – will look over at the site of the former Suzy’s Coffee Lounge in Willis St.
It was a place Angus would frequent in her Wellington years and even painted some of the interior of.
New York-based artist Elliot O’Donnell, aka Askew One, started painting the mural yesterday and expected to have it completed by the weekend.
Before painting the actual work, O’Donnell, formerly of Auckland, was up in a cherry picker using a hand-devised code to help him navigate where to paint the large-scale work upclose.
The project was organised by street art advocate, illustrator and museologist Bruce Mahalski, who said that the piece was going to originally be based on an image of Angus holding a cigarette. But modern sensibilities meant that had to be vetoed and an image of Angus sans-cigarette was chosen.
It adds to other art works he previously arranged in the Bond St area.
Wellington City Council has contributed $5000 towards the project with Ryman Healthcare, which operates the Rita Angus retirement home in Wellington, the major sponsor. Resene Paints donated the paint.