A BIG mural destined for Auckland Airport was unveiled at the Auckland Airport Marae, Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae on Thursday 2nd November. Commissioned by the airport for its International terminal, the 4.8 by 2.4 metre mural was produced by twenty students at Otahuhu College.

The college has a strong tradition of woodblock print making and its students have been among the finalists or prize winners in recent Wallace Secondary Schools Art Competitions with their prints.

One of the Art teachers had made acquaintance of Osmeivy Ortega, a well known wood block printmaker in Cuba, who offered to come and help. Thank you to the Wallace Arts Trust and John Boscawen, A benefactor of the college for making it possible for Osmeivy to visit ans six week residency.

The college’s Whakaairo (traditional Maaori carving) department under the tutelage of Ta Jay Mason (Ngati Awa) carved the beautiful tauihu, or canoe prow, which symbolises all arriving vessels.

The mural will be on display for a year, then returned to the school.