A beacon of tolerance, love and peace' Jacinda Ardern mural to be painted on Australian silos

A silo in Brunswick in Melbourne, Australia will feature a large mural of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern hugging a woman in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings.

More than $11,750 was crowdfunded in just over a day for a street artist to paint the Tinning Street silos with a photo of the leader wearing a hijab and the Arabic word for peace written underneath.

The mural was orchestrated by the architecture firm behind the region's sustainable Nightingale apartment projects.

In March, the same image was projected on to the world's tallest building in the United Arab Emirates as Ardern was praised for her response to New Zealand's worst massacre, which claimed the lives of 50 people.

Tamara Veltre, one of the mural organisers, said that the image showed how Ardern had responded to the tragedy with humanity and empathy rather than politics.

"It has, for us, become a beacon of tolerance, love and peace in these divisive times," she said.

The owner of the 25-metre silos, which have local heritage significance, has given the green light for the painting. The silos were built in 1952 by a plaster manufacturer.

"He not only gave permission for us to paint his silos but has also offered to pay for the power to light the silos," the fundraising page said.
The City of Moreland and Coburg Islamic Centre have also offered their approval.
The mural will be painted by street artist Loretta Lizzio, with the money raised to pay for her accommodation and a cherry picker. Donations of paint and electrical equipment have also been promised.

Funds raised over $11,750 would go to the Christchurch Shooting Victims' Fund, the organisers said.

The mural is planned to be finished by May 30.

Stuff  Tom Cowie10:47, Apr 23 2019