Past Project: Emerson St Playground Mural

The Emerson St Playground Mural opened in August 2020. The mural was a collaborative effort led by the Greater Green Island Community Board, Keep Dunedin Beautiful and Ara Toi alongisde artists Claire Rye and Jonny Waters.

Collaborative effort

Based on community surveys, more than three quarters of people living in the area have a sense of belonging, know their neighbours, and think that the quality of life is high in the suburb. Designs were proposed by artists usisng these values and the community chose the final design.

Ko Makamaka Te Mauka

The name Makamaka (Saddle Hill) is embedded into the form of the hill Jonny Waters has placed at the centre of his mural on the Emerson St Playground changing rooms and toilet facilities. Surrounded by people, new fern growth, and 'happy' houses, the mauka watches over the community below. Fellow artist Claire Rye drew inspiration for her accompanying mural from "symmetry and balance ... and Nature thriving in harmony", and chose a saturated colour palette designed to appeal to children.

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air"

The surrounding street names of Thoreau, Mulford, and Emerson reference 19th century US writers and Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote above wraps around the doorways of the facility. Individual words are picked out in fonts and colours that burst with playful energy.