The launch of Paint NZ Beautiful takes place on the 29th June and will involve the community in a special unveiling ceremony of a mural at the Massey and Birdwood Settlers Association hall.
The artist for the mural is is a well known West Auckland artist, Mandy 
Patmore. who has strong links in both the Creative and Community Development sector. A painter and sculptor, Mandy lives in Karekare, and has a passionate relationship with her local environment. Her work is strongly influenced by this – with an emphasis on native flora and fauna, and the past, present and future of our land.
She has worked as a freelance artist, Arts Educator, and most recently for Auckland Council as Arts Coordinator for Project Twin Streams, where she was for 5 years. She is currently working Arts Education Manager at Corban Estate Arts Centre, as well as freelancing part time to pursue her own artwork.
Through her work with Project Twin Streams, she has project managed numerous large scale artworks, including ‘Kei Tua Mai’ in 2011 – a 27 metre long collaborative art piece which is displayed on the exterior wall of Westfield Westcity. Involving over 1000 community members, it is thought to be Auckland’s largest community arts project to date. She was also lead artist on the transformation of the Arataki Visitors Centre Pedestrian Tunnel in 2012 – which involved 11 Auckland Schools, and has had a hand in creating a large percentage of the community art works on display in West Auckland. She has the ability to work intimately with community to help translate their vision into a functional art piece.
Mandy will be working closely with students from Massey Primary School and will also engage with local high school students from Massey High who pass the hall on there way to school. Red Hills Community Kindergarten children will be involved in the unveiling.
In 2008, she was chosen as lead artist on the Piha Domain Footbridge, which won the 2009 NZ Recreation Association Award for most outstanding Project. The design focused on our endemic long finned eel, and aimed to educate the public about the incredible journey of this creature, and highlight the concerns around its decline.