Newlands’ big-name artist gets to work
NEWS
RELEASE
13
November 2009
Newlands’ big-name artist gets to
work on home turf
The Newlands Community Centre
needed a mural on its large exterior walls, and none other
than Newlands’ Michel Tuffery, MNZM, came up with a
winning solution.
Together with students from
Newlands College and the wider northern suburbs and local
graf artist Pete Sole, Michel is now working on getting the
mural completed in time for its blessing on 4
December.
Michel says he first thought about doing
a mural on the newly-opened community centre at the end of
last year. “I got talking to the then-coordinator of the
centre, and after applying to the Council’s Public Art
Panel, we got going on quite a large-scale consultation with
the Newlands community.
“Having grown up there, I
know every nook and cranny of the place, as well as having a
good idea of all the kinds of people that make up the
Newlands community – the community has roots going back to
42 different countries. I wanted to simultaneously
incorporate every street name and country of origin in the
mural, and I think we’ve managed to come up with something
that almost represents the lot,” says
Michel.
While the Newlands community brought Michel
international stamps for the artwork, the younger generation
made sure their penchant for graf-art and graffiti would be
part of the wider picture as well.
“What’s
resulted is a cross-cultural, inter-generational artwork by
the community for the community. While I’ve orchestrated
the project and worked on the design, I truly see this as
something the entire population of Newlands can own as
collaborative creators,” says Michel.
“It’s
been a joy working with some of the younger folk from
Newlands College as well – I’ve been really heartened by
the talent and enthusiasm they’ve put towards
it.”
The Council’s Arts Portfolio Leader,
Councillor Ray Ahipene-Mercer, says the fact that Michel was
born and bred in Newlands strengthens the sense of community
ownership.
“The mural traces the development of
Newlands, and I can think of no better person than someone
who remembers the suburb from its infancy. Michel is also a
big name in the art world, both nationally and
internationally. I think it’s a wonderful project from
start to finish,” says Cr Ahipene-Mercer.
Michel
Tuffery attended Newlands College in the 1980s before
studying fine arts in Dunedin and Hawaii. He’s had
countless group and solo exhibitions and held workshops
worldwide and won numerous awards for his
work.
Michel is a multi-disciplinary artist. His
interest in the history of Polynesia and the colonial
encounters of its people have been a rich source of
inspiration for his drawings, prints, paintings, sculptures,
live performance art and time-based
installations.
ends