Getting Arty in Kawerau

Art has been a big focus at the Kawerau District Library and Museum over the last year.  This kicked off with the  commissioning of a large mural for the outside of the Library and Museum building by acclaimed trompe l’oeil artist Marc Spijkerbosch.  The mural has attracted a great deal of positive attention from the community, resulting in an increase in new customers.  One new customer noted that he had walked past the building for the last twenty years, “I was inspired to come in and have a look this time”.

A few months later, artist Jason Hellens was commissioned to design and paint the Maori Reference Collection bookcase.  This was done within the library so the public was able watch as the worked progressed – proving very popular.  Jason’s design is based on the concept of the phoenix to symbolize the rebirth of the library building and incorporated the proverb:

Ko te manu e kai ana te miro, nona te ngahere,

Ko te manu e kai ana te matauranga, nona te Ao.

The bird that eats the miro tree owns the forest,

The bird that eats knowledge resides in the world.

Both artists were often approached by youth who were interested in art as a career but were unaware of the possible jobs that would come out of this path.  The Library and Museum decided to hold an art exhibition in the Museum featuring local College pupils; this was supported by books and information on art as a career.  This proved so successful that funding was sourced by Council to continue art promotion in the future and the district can now look forward to the next youth exhibition to be held in August 2011.