Mural Masterpieces - KidsFirst Kindergarten, St Albans

Location:
Kidsfirst Kindergarten Sunbeam, 13 Cornwall St, St Albans, Christchurch.

Team:
Rachel McRobb (artist), Alison Duggan (mural proposal to Kindergarten Head Office), Judy, Neroli and Karen (kindergarten teachers and instrumental in initiating the project and consulting on the mural design), all the children (who kept Rachel company as she painted and often painted at an easel alongside her!) and various other kindergarten mothers (who amused my 3 month old baby so I could carry on painting!).

Accessible to public:
Yes.

Mural theme:
A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree.

Background to mural creation:
To enhance the playing and learning environment for the children, a once cream garage wall has been transformed into a mural featuring a wetland/swamp scene of pukekos and native foliage, based on illustrations from the classic New Zealand children's book by Kingi M. Ihaka, illustrated by Dick Frizzell.

They wanted a mural that would blend into the natural colours of the garden and not be too intrusive, yet still be colourful and visually appealing for the children. The mural is also visible whilst inside the kindergarten building and forms a wonderful backdrop for the outdoor play area. Care has been taken to choose a mural theme that is appropriate, that has significance to the history and cultural heritage of St Albans, and is also relevant and meaningful to the diverse family cultures that are part of the kindergarten community. The emerging, unfurling new fronds of the fern form the spiral koru shape - this is a key form in Maori culture and art, representing the unfolding of new life, growth and development. The pukeko is a bold, amusing and personable bird, easily recognised and identified by children.