Pupils to make their mark on underpass
WANAKA
‘‘MANY hands make light work’’ could perhaps best describe a project involving every pupil from a Wanaka primary school painting a mural on the town’s new underpass.
Yesterday, classes of children from Te Kura O Take Karara school in Three Parks made their first site visit to the concrete underpass or ‘‘blank canvas’’ under State Highway 84 for inspiration.
Art project manager and local artist Chrissy Wickes said due to the school’s support for the underpass and its proximity, principal Jodie Howard was very keen for ‘‘every child to have some brush stroke on there’’.
The design of the mural would come only from the children, she said.
‘‘Today is quite important because as teachers, parents and adults we are going to stand back and allow the kids to look at the site and come up with their own wonderful ideas.
‘‘When they go back to school and it is still fresh in their minds, we are going to start brainstorming and come up with a great design.’’
Ms Wickes said Queenstown Lakes District council, Wanaka Community Board, and NZTA were behind the project and Mitre 10 was supplying the paint.
She said the children would probably have one more site visit and painting was expected to be finished by the second week of next term.
‘‘It is a very creative, engaging and super learning process for the kids.
‘‘They are just finishing a mural in their school and the next step is to do this mural for the community,’’ Ms Wickes said.