218 Riddiford Street
Latin Collective mural by Chilean Artist, Alfonso Ruiz Pajarito, 2019
This big, bold mural painted on the North side of the building at 218 Riddiford Street in Newtown brings to life the stories of the Latin American community who have made Wellington their home.
The mural, facilitated by the Latin Collective, was inspired by stories and experiences collected from Latin American residents living in the Wellington region.
The collective held several workshops to gather stories and ideas, as well as a final workshop with the artist where community members agreed on the final design. Around 70 people from the community attended meetings, representing all ages and 12 different Latin American countries.
The Artist, Alfonso Ruiz Pajarito is a prominent muralist from a well-known collective founded in the 1960s called Brigada Ramona Parra. The Brigada have a particular Latin American aesthetic and a history of working with communities to depict their stories.
Over 100 people helped with the mural, including guests from the Wellington City Mission and local passers-by. They joined in painting, preparing food, setting up scaffolding, and a Brazilian Batucada band (a traditional samba music band) even performed during the mural's development. The atmosphere was vibrant and humbling for the Latin Collective.