Most parents would have a heart attack if they went to a public gathering and let their children run loose, only to later discover they had been using art and craft materials to paint a parked car.
Fortunately, children at Saturday’s Waitati Music Festival had permission to paint an old Mazda 323 parked in the middle of Bland Park, and 11-year-old Oriana Osmers, of Dunedin, was making the most of the opportunity.
"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Dad would never let me do this to his car."
She wasted no time grabbing some paint and a brush, and started drawing rainbows and rats.
Why rats?
"Duuh! Because rats are adorable. I’ve got two pet ones," she said.
As dozens of children joined in, parents stood on the sidelines cringing, while reminding them not to do this to "mummy and daddy’s car". Oriana was one of an estimated 4000 people who attended the festival on Saturday — not just to paint a car, but to listen to music and enjoy a picnic with family.
There were about 30 live bands, including Panther Claw, Rhythmonyx, Left or Right, Devine, Tiny Pieces of Eight, Inati, George Street Normal, Carmina, Painted Blind, Kill Martha, and Wizeman playing selections of reggae, soul, blues and rock music.
There was also a mini rave with DJs and live electronica, poetry reading, artists creating stone carvings, wood block carvings and screen prints, as well as a children’s entertainment area featuring nest weaving, craft workshops, giant bubbles, magic, and vehicle painting.
