Activism in Aotearoa - mural completion

Jalen with my completed mural at VUW

Party time! My mural is (finally) complete. I'm going to make a little confession... I think I'm falling in love again. I've met a really nice guy and yesterday I promised myself that IF I managed to finally complete the mural I would reward myself with a day off from painting and uni to hang with him. What awesome motivation! After months of dragging my feet it finally came together in one clear, frosty Wellington winter afternoon. At 3pm, I had to pause and get Jalen from school but instead of my usual routine of packing up and returning on the next fine, free day I went and asked my son for a wee favour...
'What?' He rolled his eyes at me. 'Let me guess... something at uni!'
'Mmmm, right, I really need some help to get my mural finished.' I replied. 'Will you please come up and film me putting the finishing touches on my painting?'
A couple of bribes later we were on our way...

Jalen created this great little clip (hehe - kept him busy) and if you can handle his 10 year-old sway n jiggle motion technique it is worth checking out. He observes and grills the artist as she works and gets to the heart of the mural with the open sincerity and candor of youth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVN3ks_jw5A

Ahhhh, Xena! (Mural update)

Finally! A whole weekend of sun that coincides with Jalen being with his dad. I feel really happy with how the mural at VUW is progressing. I can almost see the end (happy face, sad face, happy face). Even though my back and neck ache from painting figures higher than my head, even though I ended Saturday painting in the dark (red looks brown but it isn't), even though it was still fr-fr-freezing... standing in front of that wall painting makes me feel whole and happy and at peace. Feeling cold, hungry and tired doesn't even register when I get to do the thing I love.

Its definitely WORK but... other people hate working and get paid, whereas I love my creative work but usually don't get paid much. The mural is an unpaid gig but to me its worth all the time and energy I'm putting in. I love the challenge. Physically and psychologically this work has pushed me. Other murals I've painted were completed off site - in my warm, comfy home with light, heat, music, food, etc - and then installed afterwards. This project is coming to life with an audience of hundreds walking past. They are noisy and many of them want to stop and chat and ask questions - bless their friendly souls. Even the ones who clearly know little English stop and say - 'Ahhhh, Xena! Very good!' The surroundings are oppressive with walls all around me and 4 tall buildings blocking out the sun. Directly above my head is a giant crane that probably won't drop anything on my head... I hope. The wind howls through the pathway and the noise from the construction site is shattering. But still... I love it.

It is still a work in progress but here are a couple of pics...