Napier ocean-art landscape set to grow

Auckland artist Aaron Glasson at work on one the 29 murals created during last year's Artists for Oceans mural event in Napier. Photo/File HBT16033001

Twenty internationally recognised mural artists are set to put brush to wall in Napier next month with the staging of the second Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans event.

The PangeaSeed Foundation has been working in with The Napier City Council and Alternative Arts Initiative to bring the event back to the Bay.

The 29 murals which were painted across Napier and its coastal areas will become 49 after the artists wrap up their works on March 24, after setting out to create them on March 20, and Mayor Bill Dalton is looking forward to seeing the next additions to the city's landscape which he said he had heard many positive comments about after last year's artistic event.

"Napier is very lucky that the PangeaSeed Foundation has chosen us once again to showcase its unique blend of art and environmental awareness," Mr Dalton said.

The foundation's New Zealand coordinator, Napier-based mural artist Cinzah Merken, said he was excited to be part of growing Napier's present landscape of ocean-influenced murals through the proposed 20 new works and said they would embrace a branching out into new mediums like sculpture and installation-based works.

"It will also provide the opportunity for local Hawke's Bay up-and-coming mural artists to be part of the festival."

As well as New Zealand artists there will be artists arriving from the USA, Brazil, Portugal, France, Germany and Australia.

As a build-up to the artworks event there will be a series of free guided walks for locals and visitors to see the existing murals - as part of Seaweek 2017 which kicks off on February 26 and runs through until March 5.

"Everyone knows something interesting about Antarctica or the Amazon River, but closer to home the natural world can be a mystery," National Aquarium of New Zealand educator Jake Brookie said.

He and Mr Merken have teamed up with to lead the walks to view the murals in Napier's CBD and Ahuriri, focusing on how they have been made and what they depict.

Mr Merken said the Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans events helped raise public awareness about "critical ocean issues" as well as beautifying the city landscape and creating a "real sense of pride and ownership of public spaces by the local community and visitors".

The founder and director of the Hawaii-based non-profit foundation, Tre' Packard said he was looking forward to returning to Napier to again lead the project and support the artists.

"By taking the oceans to the streets we aim to inspire communities to be aware of and and be proactive about what is happening to our oceans."

He described New Zealand as "a special place" with a unique marine environment which deserved protection.

"We look forward to enriching Napier's landscape with more murals."

As part of this year's mural event an artist's panel discussion will be held at the MTG Hawke's Bay on March 25.