For over 20 years, Ronald McDonald House Christchurch, located on Cashel Street, has provided a ‘home-away-from-home’ for families travelling to Ōtautahi for medical treatment. A welcoming space for whānau to find respite from hospital rooms, Ronald McDonald House provides warm hospitality in tough times, a truly vital service that removes further stress for families already dealing with so much.
This meaningful work and powerful history ensured Watch This Space was truly honoured to support a mural project at Ronald McDonald House Christchurch. After an initial meeting with house manager Lisa Hay, we connected with our friend Jay ‘Daken’ Skelton, whose vibrant work provided a perfect fit to enliven a courtyard wall at the house. As it turned out, Jay also had a deeper respect for the work Ronald McDonald House performs:
“When I was approached about the Ronald McDonald House mural project, I was very excited and jumped at the opportunity. I was born with a cleft lip and palate and was in and out of hospital, undergoing many surgeries throughout most of my childhood. Although I never needed to use the Ronald McDonald House facilities myself, I had an understanding of what the kids and families who do utilise Ronald McDonald House feel and go through.”
Guided by that sense of connection, Jay developed a series of mural concepts, working with Lisa to finalise a design to enliven the outdoor eating area.
Jay’s final concept, built around the word FAMILY within a sunny, uplifting, flower-filled landscape, incorporated an important participatory element – the blue sky layered with handwritten text and doodles – providing house guests an invitation to directly contribute. With paint kindly sponsored by Wattyl, Jay spent several days painting and engaging with house guests of all ages to create the lively, upbeat mural – the sky filled with names, words and images that reflected the real presence of those families staying at the house. For Jay, the project was rewarding and evidence of the role art can play in adding meaning to place:
“I hope the space now feels more inviting and makes the families feel more at ease, reinforcing the idea that it is for them to use as if it were a home away from home, while also giving them the confidence that whatever they may be going through, they aren’t alone — as shown by past and current staff and families’ contributions to the mural itself.”
For the team at Ronald McDonald House, the impact of the mural has been clear, Lisa explaining:
“RMHC NZ supports families through some of their toughest times, and creating spaces where children can feel joy and distraction is so important. Jay’s mural has completely transformed the Christchurch House’s outdoor area; bringing colour, imagination and a sense of play into what was once a blank wall. The impact it’s had on the space (and the kids who use it) has been wonderful to see.”
Watch This Space is proud to have played just a small role in this project, with massive gratitude the team at Ronald McDonald House, Jon Bennett at Wattyl, Jay ‘Daken’ Skelton, and, of course, those families who contributed to the mural – we hope the new artwork brings smiles and comfort for many years to come!
If you can support the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities NZ, please find more information here.
