A NEW mural spraypainted on Taunton Library aims to highlight climate change — as part of a project from Go Create and Rights Community Action.
Sam Gaden, artist and owner of Aerosol Art, spent two weeks on a cherry picker painting the giant mural above the Library, on the side of Taunton’s Orchard multi-storey car park.
It was completed on Tuesday, June 11, with a grand opening date set to come.
The design representing “Mother Nature” was decided on by Go Create and Sam, in collaboration with local creators and residents. A message added to the design reads “Sharing Your Stories On Climate Change” and “#WeAreHere”.
The design represents “Mother Nature”. (Image: WhoIsBenjamin Photography)
Rights Community Action’s project, We Are Here, is campaigning for a “fairer planning system, which respects the views of local people and puts our homes at the top of the priority list”. Particularly concerning homes being built “in flood risk areas” and disrupting “flood management”.
Go Create CEO Jenny Keogh, said: “We’ve been working with the Rights Community Action on a project they’ve been running called We Are Here. They have funding to go into areas specifically at risk of flooding, and Somerset is one of those.
“They’re raising awareness of climate change and policies, and bringing local people together to share their voices. The project finishes at the end of July.
“We've been holding frequent creative workshops, inviting people to share their stories about climate change and the change they’d like to see. We asked people from various community groups what they'd like to see from a climate mural, so lots of people fed their ideas into that.”
Access issues meant the mural couldn't be "wraped around" the building. (Image: WhoIsBenjamin Photography)
Jenny, and Go Create director and former primary school teacher Liz Hutchin, spent over a year negotiating with the council to find a mural space — after initially being told they could use the Bus Station, which fell through.
Liz said: “The main thing is for people to know how climate change will affect where they live, so they have the knowledge to ask for change from their MPs and local Government. For example, the tidal reach of the River Parrett is huge, it’s something like third in the world.
Jenny added: “If things carry on as they are Bridgwater could be underwater in 35 years or sooner.”
The library mural, which has come at no cost to the taxpayer, should last for “at least ten years” as it was painted with high-quality masonry paint and “the best quality spray paint with UV protection in it, on top of that”, Sam said.
Sam, a Go Create committee member and professional artist, has been spray painting for 30 years. He said: "The interactions with the public during the painting of this mural have been so positive and rewarding, we have received some lovely messages."
The artist thanks Pete at Lesser Litter, the eco shop on Paul Street, for “looking after us” during long days of painting. Go Create thanks Taunton Library and Somerset Council for allowing the mural.
Follow Go Create and Aerosol Art on social media to be informed of the mural launch date.
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