Wellington council removes artists’ bus stop murals

Aro Valley’s colourful bus stop was painted by Xoë Hall in 2011.
Photo: RNZ / Sammy Carter

Some quirky colourful murals in Wellington’s equally colourful Aro Valley are being taken down or covered up, but the move has locals upset by the move toward the drab.

Popular Wellington artist Xoë Hall painted her retro fashion mural emblazoned with ‘Bus Stop Boutique’ on Aro Street in 2011, but Wellington City Council will be replacing it.

Further down Aro Street, another bus stop mural – a swirl of colours and shapes – was painted over in grey a few weeks ago, and the artist said she was not notified prior.

Anu-Dhyana Edser was disappointed to find her 2011 mural painted over.

Edser said the council commissioned $500 for the original mural – including paint supplies.

“If I could do another one somewhere else and get paid for it and paid for it properly, that would be pretty good.”

Anu-Dhyana Edser painted this mural on an Aro Valley bus stop in 2011.
Photo: Dhyanaartist.com

In a joint statement, Metlink and the Wellington City Council said the work had been done as part of the bus stop maintenance programme.

“Murals are considered temporary public artworks that last between 5 and 10 years.”

The bus stop on Aro Street close to Raroa Road was painted over with grey.
Photo: RNZ / Sammy Carter

They said both murals had passed their agreement periods.

“Wellington City Council and Metlink aim to notify artists when their work is approaching the end of agreement periods, and due to be repainted. Scheduled works can change, so sometimes this isn’t always ahead of time.”

They said graffiti had also obscured the artworks.

Some Aro Valley residents were gutted the bus stops were being decommissioned, saying the suburb was known for its colour and vibrancy.

Resident Jo Tregidga wanted to see a compromise, where the artists could be paid to spruce up the old murals.

“It’d be very sad to see it replaced with just … standard bus stops that we see everywhere.”

Aro Valley’s now-grey shelter is where local Kim Pollock catches the bus each day, she said she missed the mural.

“It was definitely the highlight of my day because it was like bubbly, it was fun, it was colourful.”

“Now? Not so much.”

Pollock didn’t understand why the mural had been covered, saying there was nothing wrong with it.

She said she was disappointed in the council and they should have asked Aro Valley residents what they wanted first.

“Why do it to the bus stop? What has the bus stop ever done except bring happiness?”

Xoë Hall’s Bus Stop Boutique.
Photo: RNZ / Sammy Carter

Artist Xoë Hall said the public murals were only ever temporary, and it was understandable to see them eventually taken down or covered up.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if WCC replaced what’s left of our public art with more advertising for Uber and what not,” she told RNZ.

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