Photo Op: Peace City mural almost complete at Tuam St carpark
20 February 2003
A 30m x 8m permanent mural celebrating peace is being painted on
the walls of the Tuam Street City Car Park.
The artwork-in-progress, a partnership between the Christchurch
City Council’s Legal Art Programme and the Peace Foundation
Disarmament and Security Centre, will celebrate Christchurch’s
peace history - in particular the 2002 Peace City designation and
the 20th anniversary of Christchurch as a Nuclear-Free City.
The mural has been designed by Jonny Wartmann and features native
flora and fauna and scenes of people working for peace. “The
windows symbolise a view into the hopes of people for peace”
Jonny says. “Three complete window scenes are bordered by the
word peace in different languages and the Maori words Maukaroko
and Hohouroko, which mean the renewal of peace, hence the forest
growing through the crumbling wall.”
The Peace City mural should be finished by Friday 21 February.
Since January 18 2003 this space has been more public, as the venue
of The World Famous Christchurch Produce Marketplace.
In 1982 Christchurch was the first city in New Zealand to declare
itself nuclear free. This was five years before New Zealand adopted
a nuclear-free policy.
In July 2002 Christchurch City Council adopted a proposal to make
Christchurch New Zealand’s first Peace City, linking with the
UNESCO Cities for Peace Network - municipalities around the world
supporting the nurturing of a culture of peace and tolerance.
Support for the mural project has been received from all over the
community including the City Council, Te Runanga ki Otautahi o Ngai
Tahu, Orion, Butler Auto Mart, Christchurch Environment Centre,
and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
“This project was inspired by the idea of getting positive
and accessible messages promoting peace into the community, especially
through art, which is emblematic of a culture of peace.” Says
Peace Foundation worker Adrienne Ross.
To arrange a photograph or for more information, please phone
Jonny Wartmann on 021 1374 233.
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