Artwork brightens up Whangarei's Town Basin

Artist Jo May and Artisans Fair Markets owner and organiser, Jodie Hannam, reviving the old container near Whangarei's Canopy Bridge with Jo May's colourful art.

Whangarei Town Basin's aesthetic appeal has received a new addition of local, inspired art.

Whangarei artist Jo May has recovered the eyesore of the shipping container near the Canopy Bridge by exhibiting her outdoor paintings.

Artisans Fair Markets owner and organiser Jodie Hannam said, "The old container was just hideous.

"I put a call out to anyone who wanted to do something with it. Jo, one of my most successful stallholders, jumped to do it," Ms Hannam said.

She wanted the container looking wonderful for the start of this summer's Artisans Fair Market season, which begins next Saturday, Labour Weekend. The paintings took six weeks to complete and digitally print onto aluminium sheets.

Ms May crafted her outdoor art at no expense to Ms Hannam who is diverting her own funds into revamping the fair that is such a big part of the Whangarei community.

"I was speechless when I saw it [finished]," Ms Hannam said. "You can't miss it, it's beautiful."

Ms May said the vibrant art is influenced by the nature of Whangarei Heads and native birds.

"I wanted to keep it local and make people feel good about home," she said.

Ms May is well known for her outdoor paintings that brighten the gardens of many Northland homes. The revamped shipping container works well to showcase the art and to promote the Artisans Fair Markets.

The markets, held on the Canopy Bridge, is where Ms May sells most of her work and she has been a stallholder since the day it began in 2004.

Ms Hannam became the owner and organiser of the markets last year, and she is going into her second summer season with a fully booked market.

She said the fair is a celebration of the artists of Northlanders and a chance to showcase their talent. It has a wonderful family atmosphere in the beautiful setting of the Town Basin, she said.

"It's full of colour and just amazing."

Ms Hannam's hard work paid off last year when the markets encountered more tourists than they ever had before.

"It's been a humbling and amazing experience to bring [the fair] back to what it used to be," she said.

This year, Ms Hannam is hoping to extend the fair's focus from art and crafts to gourmet foods too.

Ms May's scenic art has been finished just in time for this season's fair, launching again at 9am to 1.30pm on Saturday, October 23.

The fair will continue through summer, every Saturday until January 28, then every second Saturday until April 15.