Wow what a year so far! From a small creative pebble of an idea, we have created a mountain of rocks and rockers in our community. In just 6 months, the #TimaruRocks Facebook group has grown to 6 admins and a team of 3000 rockers, all of their time is voluntary with a pay-it-forward feeling. The new creative outlet is bringing our community together, and helping others in ways that they never imagined. From getting families outside into the fresh air for a modern-day treasure hunt, to giving kids and adults of all ages and abilities a new creative hobby, sense of belonging and purpose. Most significantly, the rocking activity has brought new faces to the gallery, and significantly increased the visitor numbers both in the sculpture garden and the gallery. A wonderful way to inspire and celebrate the love of arts in Timaru and reinforce the galleries importance as the art hub for the district...
Rockers wish to thank the Timaru District council and gallery team in their support behind the scenes for the community events. The Aigantighe team has helped Timaru Rocks hosted many free community rock events which has helped increase visitation at the gallery as well as the district’s parks cultural facilities and beaches. Our first rock painting picnic had 11 attend, the second 750 showed up! We have also held a Easter Rock Hunt and dress up rock hunt at the gallery grounds. And had a rock display inside the gallery to give inspiration on how to use fluro paint, black light, crayons, permanent markers and dotting tools.
We have painted rocks to thank those who contribute to our community, to give to fundraisers like a recent Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Breakfast, and to place along the route of the Heart Foundations Fun Run Fundraiser. We painted large rocks to thank the business’s at the Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards for all that their organisations and business’s do to make our community what it is. And most recently we helped thank those who helped NZ become NZ nuclear free 30 years ago, with a giant peace symbol of painted rocks at Caroline Bay. Photos of this event were even shown on the big screen at the recent Nuclear Disarmament Conference in New York in front of representatives from 132 countries! Who would have thought a few rocks from Pat-iti Point could do so much!
We have been proud to help #TimaruRocks to establish community rock box painting kits, that can be loaned to groups for free to encourage creativity. The kits of paints and brushes have been used by over 1800 people in schools and groups. It continues to grow momentum now reaching out to retirement homes. And we are now working on ways to grow the rock box collection so smaller kits can be gifted to inspire even more creativity.
You might be thinking about how you could help? You can paint rocks, and share a little bit of happieness. You might like to donate to help us fund prize rocks at the Aigantighe (usually painting materials) or help fund our rock boxes. You could arrange a team building rock painting party, or perhaps you have some other great ideas that you would like to share? Flick us a message on the TimaruRocks Facebook page and get involved. Or email Timaru Rocks and Wuhoo Timaru Admin Roselyn Fauth: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
One rock at a time we can really create a lot of happiness and inspire people to create art. This community project really demonstrates that TIMARU ROCKS!