VIRTUAL NEW ZEALAND MURAL CONTEST
The theme of the 2021/2022 Festival held in April 2022 was: “UNSUNG HEROES IN 2020”
He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
“What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.”
2020 was an ‘unprecedented time’ for our country and globally. Lockdowns; face masks; changes to employment, have affected us all and has brought out the best in many of us from kindness to networking within our community.
Katikati Open Air Art wanted to celebrate and acknowledge the individuals in our community who gave outstanding service to those isolated and in need. Someone who has done great deeds but received little or no recognition for them.
In a move from our normal mural contest each artist received a photo of one of our chosen unsung heroes to paint from their home studio from 19th-23rd April 2022 with the public following their progress online.
All the portraits will eventually be placed together to form one large mural to be installed in our town as a reminder of this challenging time in modern history.
The nine artists and their Unsung Hero of 2020 were:
Shane Walker (Tauranga NZ) painted Anna Menendez of Anna Menendez Photography
Andrea Green (Tauranga, NZ) painted Sue Spriggens, Katikati Christian Foodbank
Steve Monk (Bendigo, AU) painted Allan Wainwright, Katikati Community Centre
Zeke O’Dey (Waihi, NZ) painted Peter Mackay, NZ Red Cross
Lorraine Tyler (Wellington, NZ) painted Brendan Gibbs, Combined Churches of NZ and Katikati Fire Station 76
Wolfe Girardin, (Wellington, NZ) painted Marg Jordan, Katikati Christian Foodbank
Kerry Nicholson, (Queensland, AU) painted Kristin Crockett, Katch Katikati
Michelle Estall (Tauranga, NZ) painted Chris Steel, Katikati Advertiser
Dan O’Brien (Tauranga, NZ) painted Patrick Dunn, representing Katikati’s Unsung Heroes.
Prize-giving was held on Saturday 30th July 2022 and the winners were:
Winner of the June Carlton Memorial Trophy was artist Andrea Green for her portrait of Sue Spriggens, who represented the Katikati Christian Foodbank.
Second prize went to artist Steve Monk for his painting of Allan Wainwright, representing the Katikati Community Centre.
Third prize was awarded to artist Michelle Estall for her portrait of Chris Steel, representing the Katikati Advertiser.
The Spirit of Katikati Award went to artist Michelle Estall and the People’s Choice Award was awarded to Shane Walker for his painting of Anna Menendez, of Anna Menendez Photography.
View the videos from the NZ Mural Online Contest here.
Watch a celebration reminder of the Unsung Heroes and the organisations they represent from the 2022 Mural Contest here: https://youtu.be/jhBwoVFaaoc
Song Credit:
Two’s Company – Jacquie & Peter Faulkner
Contact: rodewaldj@gmail.com 027 2876030