Truck Art hits the streets of Christchurch

Basketball jargon, religious icons and takeaway packaging are among innovative images used by third and fourth form students to sell the anti-litter message.

The students were taking part in the Truck Art competition, a vehicle for Christchurch's young people to reach and teach their peers through art work. They were also competing for the opportunity to have their designs placed on the sides of four City Council litter trucks and two floating litter traps.

The four competition winners were:

• Rachel Wison and Kate Laveesen ­ Villa Maria College
• Jenny Davis ­ St Andrew's College
• Edward Van Dadellszon ­ St Bede's College
• Milly Watson and Kate Aitken ­ Rangi Ruru Girls' School

The winning works will hit the streets and waterways in June or July. Designs will remain on the trucks and floating litter traps for at least a year.

Prizes have been awarded to the winning artists as well as their schools. Every school entered in the project went into the draw for the major competition prize, a software package of the winner's choice valued at $3000. Christ's College was the lucky winner.

Consumer workshops commissioned by the City Council in the early 1990s revealed that teenagers were among the worst litterers. This is often attributed to rebellious attitudes during teen years, and peer pressure. However, it can be reasonably argued that young people spend more time in public places than children and adults and are the target of intensive consumer advertising. Many of the products in the litter stream are specifically aimed at youth.

Council staff were advised that peer pressure, by way of positive role models, is a more effective way to improve youth littering than either education or enforcement ­ hence the Truck Art Competition.

(kerry.everingham@ccc.govt.nz) Kerry Everingham
Environmental Promotions Officer