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Southland graffiti artist Deow is teaming up with Fiordland College students to bring to life a mural celebrating Māori Language Week.
Southland’s famous graffiti artist is teaming up with Students at Fiordland College to create a mural ahead of Māori Language Week.
Founder of the South Sea Spray Festival, Danny ‘Deow’ Owen is collaborating with students at Fiordland College to design and paint a mural on one of their concrete block walls.
The group is set to start painting from September 8 to 11 with the school inviting the public to come and view the process anytime from midday Saturday, September 9 until the following Monday.
Students involved in the design process have been brainstorming with Deow using Google Classroom ahead of when they plan to paint the mural.
The mural comes under the school’s Project Based Learning initiative, which invites students to develop skills in an area that they are passionate about.
A year 11 student at the college said having something creative and new in Te Anau will add a “much-needed” spark of art and creativity to the community.
“The areas surrounding Te Anau offer so much that could be portrayed through a mural for locals and tourists to admire,” the student said.
Owen has left his mark on many New Zealand and overseas cities, including the Kelvin Hotel in Invercargill, and lives between South California and Southland.
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Some of Deow’s work displayed at the Aden Motel in their BBQ area.
He was asked to be involved in the project and guide students in creating an installation piece for the school and start conversations of increasing public art in the Fiordland community.
Owen said he believes the growing acceptance of street art will enable more youth to be involved in the art form.
The project is being managed by the Te Anau Waitangi Charitable Trust on behalf of a wider group collaborating on ‘Matariki in Fiordland’.
Trust chairperson Jill Mitchell-Larrivee said they were “thrilled” to collaborate with Fiordland College on a street art project.
Other event open to the community during Maori Language Week include an adults Te Reo 101 – Māori language for beginners on September 9. Kapa Haka Wānanga – Māori performace for beginners on September 9 and a Fiordland Kite and Kemu day on September 10.
More information on events ahead of Māori Language Week can be found on the Trust’s Facebook page.
