Hamilton: NZ's Best Small City: Art in the CBD

What if people came in to Hamilton CBD for more than just shopping? What if the public came in for the experience? I believe that purposeful art in the CBD would do that. I am all about making our City interesting and exciting with that special feel good factor involved.

Todays featured pictures are of David Zinn's artistry. David is a guy with talent who is having a good time creating art for all to enjoy. David is an artist from Michigan. He spends his days out and about in the streets of Ann Arbor using sidewalks, construction sites, cracks and more to create amazing fairy tales out of chalk. His most famous creations is a little monster called Sluggo, also featured in today's pictures.

It would be good to see this concept embraced by the Hamilton City Council. A city is more than just An excellent CBD is more than just bricks and mortar.

Properly handled this idea has the legs to resonate with the public, business people and shoppers alike.

Ideally the Council would take advantage of the contacts and skills of a place like the art department at the Waikato University or The Waikato School of Arts  to find the best person for the job, someone who has the skills and ability to make the project their own. I imagine it would require approximately two days a week's worth of work from our chosen city artist.

They could use similar techniques to my suggestions in my article about street music. E.g. Good artists could be invited to apply to be the resident artist. Additionally a competition could be set up where the public vote on the artwork, creating a buzz. Other options could be regular showcases where artists are invited to an advertised event allowing the public to watch the street artists at work. It could be graffiti art on blank walls one time, chalk art on the ground another time, comic creations another, mixing up different types of art work. Local food and coffee trucks could be invited to make it a special event.

I believe the cost to the Council would be more than compensated for by the extra movement within the CBD. The result is priceless if it brings the public back to CBD.

I'm proposing we use community art as an alternative to projects currently under suggestion such as digging up Garden Place or one of the many other ideas that have been circulating lately? Why can't we use this to make us Hamilton: New Zealand's Best Small City?