Cape Town – The more than 20 artists behind painting 100 murals in Delft were recognised in a ceremony at the Nelson Mandela Peace Park in Delft yesterday.
The murals stretch from Symphony Way in the west to Baleles Road in the north, Mallard Street in the east and Loma Street in the south.
The initiative was part of a larger landscape upgrade project to improve the aesthetic in Delft, by ARLA Consulting Landscape Architects, funded by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements.
Since May, Delft residents have emblazoned their homes and that of their neighbours with their own artwork.
Resident Lennox Stozela, 63, said he was excited to participate in the project as it “invigorated” him with his own business.
“I have my own cleaning and construction business and the project has shown me how I can use these skills in my business. I am involved in community projects and I became involved through the ward councillor,” he said.
Artists Janet Ranson, Gary Frier, Velile Soha and Scott Eric Williams worked with the community.
Ranson said they held workshops where the participants conceptualised the artwork and they helped them transfer that to a larger scale.
ARLA director Antoinette de Beer said: “Over 300 people came and when we explained, many came on board and took ownership and ran with the project.
"The next phase we hope to begin next year and will include street tree planting, parks and a sports precinct, but that will be reliant on funding.”