Mural could cover theatre graffiti
As work on a multimillion-dollar Blenheim theatre comes to a close, the trust behind the building is considering its next project, which could rid the building of a daring piece of graffiti.
The Marlborough Civic Theatre Trust will consider creating a mural on the outside of the ASB Theatre after the completion of its intimate Anderson Theatre in February.
The theatre was tagged in January last year by a vandal with a head for heights.
Almost two years on, the letters ‘‘JFK’’ or ‘‘UFK’’ – opinion differs on the spelling – still loom large over the town.
ASB Theatre general manager Andrew Scott said that although the graffiti had been removed from the wall, it had left a ‘‘ghosting imprint’’ behind.
‘‘When the incident occurred, [the trust’s insurance company] told us we could either leave it for two years to fade, as suggested, or paint the whole wall, which would cost us,’’ he said.
The trust decided not to paint over the graffiti, Scott said, as ‘‘even a small amount of paint’’ contrasted against the concrete, prompting the idea for a mural.
‘‘We would want a mural on the north, west or southern sides of the theatre ... they’re high visual impact areas due to the proximity of the nearby roads.’’
If a mural were to be placed on the northern wall of the theatre, it could potentially cover the graffiti ghost, he said. But as a non-profit organisation, the trust would be responsible for sourcing its own mural funding, which could take time.
If funded, Scott said he thought the mural should reflect Marlborough and what the region was about, while also touching on aspects of the theatre.
Blenheim local Leonie MacDonald said the trust ‘‘absolutely should’’ put a mural over the graffiti, as it would be ‘‘something to look at, and the concrete itself is quite ugly’’.
MacDonald said she thought local businesses could band together to help sponsor the mural’s creation, if the proposal went ahead. She also said a local artist should be hired for the job.
Nikki and George Doran, of Blenheim, joked that a mural over the graffiti would be a ‘‘great idea, as long as they don’t tag it again’’.
‘‘It needs to be something tasteful, something historical,’’ Nikki said. ‘‘You’d want it to be made of something that would last a while as well.’’
‘‘There’s that guy from the North Island who does [mural] portraits, it would be good to bring him down here to do it,’’ George said. Despite his appreciation of portraits, he was ‘‘not sure’’ whose likeness should be inscribed on the theatre.
Michael Lane said on Neighbourly he was ‘‘all for’’ a mural, provided the trust paid for it, ‘‘and not the ratepayers being fleeced again’’.
The Blenheim resident also said painting the outside of the theatre would be ‘‘more natural and less expensive’’ than a mural, and suggested painting it ‘‘Marlboro red’’.
Fellow Marlburian Nathan McLaren said he didn’t mind whether the graffiti on the theatre was covered by a mural. ‘‘It’s not that I like the graffiti, I’m just not fussed.’’
Trust chairman Kevin Moseley told Stuff last year he had approached the organisers of Christchurch’s RISE street art festival to get names of prominent street artists, and an estimate for the mural.
He received quotes in the vicinity of $10,000, but that didn’t include the cost of health and safety requirements like scaffold hire. While the idea was to hire a professional artist to do the mural, Moseley said he wanted the Marlborough community to have input into the design.