The Star: June 28, 2018

6 Thursday June 28 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
The Star
News
What ratepayers fork out for
Christchurch has
become one of the
street art capitals
of the world and
ratepayers are helping
to pay for it. Bridget
Rutherford reports
MORE THAN $100,000 of
ratepayer money has been spent
commissioning street art to
brighten up the city, deter graffiti
and raise the city’s profile in the
past seven years.
City council figures released
to The Star show it has commissioned
seven pieces since the
February 22, 2011, earthquake,
when the city experienced an
explosion in street art.
In total, they cost $104,908.
The most expensive work was
a trio of murals in Oxford St Reserve,
Lyttelton, which was done
earlier this year, costing $45,000.
Los Angeles-based street artist
Dcypher, aka Guy Ellis, did the
large mural, which depicts the
history and community spirit
of Lyttelton. He had help from
fellow street artists Wongi, Yikes
and Ikarus.
The work was done as part
of an overall $375,000 upgrade
to the reserve, including a new
skate park, playground landscaping
and repairs to the park’s
earthquake-damaged walls.
Dcypher also did the Kiwianathemed
mural on the side of the
Wharenui Recreation Centre in
Matipo St. The city council-commissioned
it in 2016 for $15,000.
It coincided with the reopening
of the centre after earthquake
repairs.
Three artworks were commissioned
last year to activate the
central city.
No Place Like Home was created
by Flox in Plymouth Lane.
Inspired by the Wizard of Oz,
it represents the journey people
have gone on since the quakes.
It is 75m long and took four
LARGE: Dcypher’s mural
(left) at Oxford St Reserve
in Lyttelton was the most
expensive commissioned
by the city council. The
artwork on the side of
the Wharenui Recreation
Centre (above) was done by
Dcypher in 2016.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
days to do, costing the city council
$15,000.
Brandon Warrell’s colourful
mural of a silver eye bird and yellow
kowhai flower buds was created
on the side of the Ibis Hotel
on Hereford St late last year.
It also cost $15,000. The design
was voted the most popular in
a city council’s Enliven Places
competition.
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