Mural Town’s murals go on show

Katikati Open-Air Art — the group that started New Zealand’s Mural Town — is having an exhibition to share some of its well known murals. Open-Air Art was formed in 1989 in response to the hardships the community was facing at the time due to the share market crash and a then struggling kiwifruit industry.

The answer to boost the town’s profile and the community’s morale was Katikati became known as New Zealand’s Mural town.

The first mural to be produced in 1990 was the Waitekohe School.

And today, in 2021, there are over 80 outdoor murals, sculptures, carving and weaving, dotted throughout the community, free and accessible

to everyone.

Katikati Open-Air Art, consisting of a small dedicated committee and one part-time employee, is the caretaker of the artworks, as well as managing

the Carlton Gallery and part of the Retail Therapy shop located within The Arts Junction in the centre of Katikati.

This exhibition, which opens next

Friday, May 14, features some of the town’s well known murals as framed prints, prints only, on canvas or as cards.

The exhibition runs until Sunday, May 30.

So pop in for a visit to see what Open-Air Art has achieved through the decades.

Central Motors is a peep into the garage which once stood on this site in main street from the early 1930s.

Titled, Overload this mural sees Les Hume’s record load as he piled people aboard at Athenree to help them get to Waihi.

Athenree Homestead — the home and garden of Captain Hugh Stewart and wife Adela.