Team New Zealand want youngsters to show their colours

By JULIE ASH

Oliver Marshall-Harrington doesn't particularly like his own name, but he does like Team New Zealand and their chances of defending the America's Cup next year.

Team New Zealand are looking for young artists to help to decorate the hallway of their base and inspire the team in the countdown to the cup.

Oliver, of Auckland, was one of the first youngsters to send in his work.

The seven-year-old's colourful painting shows Team New Zealand and an Italian boat racing off Rangitoto.

It also shows the sun setting, a shark, a few eels and a school of fish.

Although a real work of art, the youngster signed the name Oscar at the bottom of the painting rather than his real name of Oliver.

"I don't really like Oliver," he said. "I get teased a bit about it, so I thought I'd put Oscar."

Oliver's painting was part of the Blue Apple art programme - an initiative started by local artists and art teachers which offers holiday programmes and private lessons to educate children in multicultural and sporting events.

The theme for Team New Zealand's hallway is whatever takes your fancy - boats, people, New Zealand, national pride, anything.

Team NZ would prefer that all the art work be displayed on A2-size cardboard.

OneWorld and Oracle Racing are also calling for the work of local artists.

Oracle want to decorate the internal hallway leading up to their base.

The winning selections in each age group (under 15, 15 to 25, 25 and over) will be painted on the 20m-long hallway.

Oracle's competition has prizes of $200,000.

OneWorld are holding a worldwide art competition encouraging children to express their thoughts about the future and the environment.

The work will be displayed in the Maritime Museum in November and December during the Louis Vuitton Cup series.