May the force and Leia be with you in Levenshulme...
HUGE PORTRAIT OF STAR WARS HEROINE PAINTED ON SIDE OF HOUSE
A MUM has had a giant mural of Princess Leia’s face painted on the side of her home.
Jo Lowes, from Levenshulme, said she hopes the eight-metre image of the ‘original rebel princess’ will put a smile on a few people’s faces, while inspiring young women to draw strength from the Star Wars heroine.
The mural was painted by Jo’s friend and local artist Trafford Parsons on Monday, and was based on a print he’d done of the film character, called ‘Rebel Rebel.’ The pair are both involved in running Manchester Art Month in April, which celebrates finding alternative spaces to exhibit work throughout the city.
Jo, who also runs music and arts festival Sonder, said: “When Trafford was round at my house a few weeks ago, he suggested putting Leia on my wall. I couldn’t think of anything better. Princess Leia has always been an idol of mine. She was the original rebel princess.
“When I was growing up, it was all about Disney princesses. At the time there weren’t many strong female roles, except Leia.”
Trafford created the mural, at Jo’s home on Dorset Road, by casting an image of Leia onto the building using an overhead projector.
He then spent five hours overnight painting over the outline to create the mural with Jo’s help. The pair worked from 10pm to 3am as he had to wait until it was dark to see the projection clearly. The pair turned a few heads when passersby saw them and wondered what they were up to on six-metre scaffolding at 1am.
“Taxi drivers went past and said ‘what are you doing?’ People have been really positive. It’s amazing, I love her,” Jo said.
“If it makes people smile on the way to work and if it makes young women think that they can do stuff, then that’s a good thing. There’s graffiti everywhere that needs to be painted over and there’s a lot of litter that needs to be cleaned up on the streets. She’s not offensive, and she’s not bothering anyone. I’m hoping it will inspire a bit more street art in Levenshulme. And hopefully it will, judging by the reaction I’ve had. I think people in Levy would like some more street art.”
Artist Trafford said: “I have this view that art has an opinion of itself, just like I have an opinion, and other people have an opinion. I think Princess Leia wanted to be on that house.
“Levenshulme is a place where anything is possible.”