More artistic makeover of Chorus cabinets
To prevent vandalism, a Chorus cabinet on Shaw St in Timaru will be transformed by artist Anthony Fowler.
It is one of three artworks by Timaru artists to be commissioned by Chorus over the 2019/20 year.
While Fowler would not be drawn on exactly what the art work would look like, his childhood friend and fellow artist Thorne Hutton has helped him prepare and mark the outline art on the cabinet.
‘‘It will be a bit of a surprise,’’ Fowler said.
He hoped to complete it within the next few days, weather permitting.
In 2010, an art work trial in Auckland on the cabinets found it countered the frequency of tagging and the idea has since been rolled out around the country.
Chorus spokesperson Jo Seddon said each year about 120 cabinets were painted nationwide.
The company had hoped to work in partnership with the Timaru District Council but was told the council did not have the resources to be involved.
Its role would have been to choose the artworks from those submitted by artists and liaise with them while Chorus took responsibility for paying the artists.
She said without the council’s
‘‘They [Chorus cabinets] just looked so bad I wanted to cover them up.’’ Anthony Fowler
help there would be no more paintings at this stage.
A Timaru District Council spokesperson said while the council could not commit ‘‘properly’’ to any involvement in the project, it may reconsider its position next year.
Fowler said he was also painting other cabinets in Timaru which had been heavily graffitied.
‘‘They just looked so bad I wanted to cover them up,’’ he said.
Timaru artist Anne McDonald completed Choruscommissioned
work on two of the cabinets in February in Luxmoore Rd, and three in 2018 in Wai-iti Rd, Rhodes St, and George St.
Three other cabinets were painted by Nick Lowry in 2018 in Orbell St, Hassall St and Wilson St.