KARANGAHAPE ROAD IDENTITY PROJECT
The Karangahape Road Identity Project is a cultural mapping project developed to capture a meaningful account of the identity of Karangahape Road (K’ Rd). One that accounts for the rich ecology and its parts and people. One that is consistent with and sympathetic to the values of the community. And one that delivers outcomes that are practical and add value to the future endeavors of the Karangahape Road Business Association, it’s membership, the Auckland Council and its CCO’s, and the people of K’ Rd.
The project is designed to deliver understanding of the diverse K’ Rd community that will provide the business association and other stakeholders with an understanding of what is valuable, who it is valuable to, what conditions have enabled it, how it will be valuable in the future and how to promote those things so that the K’ Rd precinct and its people can prosper through a period of change.
Is a cultural mapping exercise undertaken to lead and promote the articulation of the identity of the Karangahape Road precinct.
THE KARANGAHAPE ROAD YEARBOOK
People and their relationship with Place are key contributing elements to the cultural identity of the Karangahape Rd area. The Karangahape Road Yearbook employs photographic portraiture to document the People aspect of this equation while providing a platform to capture their relationship to Place. It is a concept created by Erin Forsyth in 2012 and taken up by three photographers with their own history and relationship with Karangahape Rd.
“K' Rd has had, and is going through, some extreme developments both structurally and culturally. The Yearbook will provide a snapshot of the K' Rd we know and love right now in much the same way as 'K' Rd Crossing Over' (a book about Karangahape Rd produced by the KBA in 1996) did in its day. One of the great things about it is that it reveals the hidden K' Rd too, by featuring artists in their studios, proprietors in the back of their shops and other secret locations where people hang.”
Erin Forsyth 2012.
Serena STEVENSON
STJOHN MILGREW
Laura FOREST
COMMUNITY INTERVIEWS & PANELS
Karangahape Road is regarded as a place for all. Somewhere that makes space for all members of its community. This gallery of interviews and panel discussions are focused on gaining some understanding of the different perspectives held by the K’ Rd community regarding the identity of the precinct and the feelings within the community about the prospect of change.
Included in the interviews and discussions are business owners, NGO representatives, artists, residents and more. Interviews and panels are being conducted on an ongoing basis and are uploaded to this gallery once complete.
Y K RD?
Y K Rd? or “why K’ Road?” is a exercise in capturing an instinctual response to a simple question that asks “why here and why not anywhere else? Regardless of what you spend your time doing while here, why is it that you choose to be here? While its a pretty simple question, there is a sense that for some the answer is not, as the facilitator of this activity found out.
“Many people expressed love for a community that, put most simply, let’s them be themselves. A place they feel accepted, celebrated and at home. People wanted to tell us about the cafes, bars and shops they’d worked at along the street. They wanted to know if we remembered personalities from the street circa 2004? or 2008? Or figure out where our timelines may have crossed or intertwined. They wanted us to know the year and reason they first encountered Karangahape Road and each had a story about why they’d stayed around.”
“Most interesting and impactful for me were the reactions of the shop owners. I had initially viewed the question “Why K’ Road?” as an invitation to express what you enjoy about the place, what keeps you coming back - and many of the people on the street reflected this but for some shop owners the answer to “Why K’ Road?” is that it’s simply the place they do business - and I got the impression it’s a complicated relationship.”
ALL FRESCO
Karangahape Road is a long time home to creative activity and art that hasn’t always fit within the mainstream vernacular. It is a part of Auckland that abounds with mythical figures and local legend from across multiple generations. It is an area fighting to retain its’ character and champion the grit and grime that is part of its’ authenticity. It celebrates the eccentric and values the unconventional. It remains a relevant and vital creative community that is recognised for its value as a rich depository of cultural artefact and activity.
All Fresco was created as both a response to the creative traditions of Karangahape Road and to the paucity of street art in the precinct following the removal of graffiti and street art over the period of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Since 2013 it has been the primary vehicle which has brought murals, street art and graffiti art back to the Karangahape Road area, restoring a sense of identity, providing a platform for local artists and re-engaging in a public form of visual dialogue with the community.
HARUNGA
In unveiling Karangahape Rd's histories and visions.
Harunga is a response to an opportunity created by the Karangahape Road Street Enhancement project led by AT. This street enhancement project will transform the nature of the street, introducing bike paths, increased planting and reduced on-street parking. In anticipation of these works a suite of street furniture and rubbish bins were primed by the council to be repainted. The KBA identified these works as an opportunity to provide a platform for the precincts’ creative community to initiate dialogue, explore identity and present ideas through the execution of artwork on these bins and seats.
As part of the Karangahape Road Development Response Project a suite of street furniture and rubbish bins were primed by the council to be repainted. The KBA identified this as an opportunity to provide a platform for the precincts’ creative community to initiate dialogue, explore identity and present ideas through the execution of artwork on these bins and seats.
The result is Harunga - In Unveiling K’ Rd’s histories and visions. Curated by Momoko Burgess and Ahalia-Mei Ta’ala and managed by Laura Armstrong. Supported by Auckland Council and the KBA.
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Artists
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KBA LOGO REDESIGN
Karl Sheridan of Monster Valley discusses the challenge of redesigning the KBA logo.
The redesign of the Karangahape Road Business Association (KBA) logo is a piece of work that was on the radar for some time.
It was seen as part of a broader range of work taking place with the aim of equipping the association with the tools it will require to successfully navigate a period of significant infrastructure led change. As such, it was determined that any new logo should be developed contextually alongside existing thinking and projects informing the position of the KBA and the identity of Karangahape Road.
These pieces of work include: