The Star: October 14, 2021

The Star Thursday October 14 2021
8
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Latest mural celebrates our city’s
• By Andy Brew
CHRISTCHURCH’S striking
street art scene has a new kid on
the block.
The latest instalment to the
burgeoning portfolio of murals
is the creation of James Nikitine,
founder of charity the Blue
Cradle Foundation.
Adorning the wall of the Kiwi
Bank at the
intersection
of Lichfield
and Colombo
Sts, the giant
painting took
Nikitine and
his small
team of artists
James
Nikitine
a month to
complete,
often working
day and night
in all types of weather.
Called ‘The Ocean is in
Our Hands,’ the artwork was
designed and created by local
artists Richie ‘Pops’ Baker and
Olly Kade of OK Creates.
The mural, said Nikitine,
has an important message
behind it.
“This is more of a statement,”
he said, “the idea is to bring the
ocean to the central city.”
Nikitine said Christchurch
was seen as a farming city rather
result, this part of the region was
being ignored.
“Some kids have never been to
the ocean, but they live here, and
there,” he said, pointing over
his shoulder.
Nikitine said that the city’s
street-art movement was
identity post-earthquakes and
the ocean should play a part in
the new version.
“Christchurch is not so much
Allied than a coastal Press (The city, Star and as / North a Canterbury they grow News up here / Ashburton and it’s right Courier) redefining - Half Page the - city’s 18cm culture x 8 col and (180mm the x cathedral-centric 263mm) garden
OCEANIC: The
new mural
stands opposite
the Bus
Exchange on
Lichfield St.
PHOTO: ANDY
BREW ​
city it once was,” he said, “It’s
Ōtautahi now, 2.0, the city is
changing every day so I think we
could very well include the ocean
in our narrative.”
WIN a free solar system for your favourite charity
it’s time to
let the sun in
the
solar for good
project
to celebrate the opening of our
new solar hub in Christchurch
we are gifting a $30k solar system
to a local organisation that you think
does great things in your community.
to nominate
scan this QR code or
visit www.lightforce.co.nz
entries close Thursday 21st October
Robert Webb of The Whangarei Native Bird Rescue Centre
- Lightforce Northland charity winner