Say goodbye to dull, empty walls as Boon Street Art Festival brings Hamilton’s brightest artworks to Liverpool Street in central Kirikiriroa.
Armed with paintbrushes, spray cans, scaffolding and scissor lifts, this year’s local artists, Rachel Kiddie McClure, Ahsin Ahsin , Pauly B, Ali Selliman, Kieran Horner, Xavier Tapp, Brya Rose, Pounamu Wharekawa, Liam Bourton, and Craig McClure, set about reimagining the cityscape.
The festival may have toned it down a little this year due to Covid uncertainties but that didn’t dampen the creativity of the 10 artists.
“It was either, cancel the 2021 festival, or take the opportunity to look at our whole project and come up with a new strategy,” festival director Craig McClure says.
“Some of the decisions we could make quickly to put our best foot forward, was to work with Hamilton-based artists only, cancelling the public programme that included live music, art markets and hospitality events, and to increase the experience as much as we can for an online festival.”
Thanks to the continued support of their sponsors, Hamilton City Council, Foster Construction and with the help of BECA, Boon was able to deliver brand new digital elements for a fresh festival experience the public could safely enjoy from the comfort of their bubbles.
There’s a suite of digital offerings presented by local disco witch Patty Smack, including: videos of artists at work, ‘Paper to Concrete’ how to guides, competitions, epic art and merch up for grabs, and artist interviews sharing the stories and ideas behind their designs.
Also being developed are 360 degree high resolution photographs, similar to Google Maps Street View, where viewers can digitally experience the murals the artists will create, and visit murals around the city too.
To catch all the festival action head to BOON Street Art Festival’s website (boonstreetart.co.nz), follow @boonstreetart on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or wander down Liverpool Street for a view of the mural masterpieces.
