Murals fail to please everyone

Bakehouse Cafe owner Craig Minehan thought he was helping beautify South New Brighton when he had a mural painted on the side of his business to deter taggers - but it appears someone thought otherwise.

Sick of unsightly graffiti on his Bridge St cafe Mr Minehan, after a chance meeting with a local artist several months ago, decided to have a mural painted. Three local artists, who did not wish to be named, painted the mural for free to help brighten the quake-hit community.

But shortly after it was completed, Mr Minehan received an anonymous note and a phone call opposing the mural. He said the caller was particularly upset by the use of a skull in the mural and felt it was an inappropriate reminder of the devastation of the February quake.

Then two weeks ago Mr Minehan found the word: "NO" spray painted in the middle of the skull - something, he believes may have been a protest to have the mural removed.

He said it was disappointing the wall had gone months without being touched by taggers to then be defaced in this way.

"It's just a shame. I think it's totally positive [the mural], anyone who doesn't should think about what was there beforehand," he said.

Last Monday, a new mural was painted with monarch butterflies and flowers. Two days later he had already received an anonymous note asking the mural be taken down.

Mr Minehan said the note stated: "They really liked the cafe but it was a shame to see such cheap and tacky graffiti on the wall."

He could not understand why someone would prefer the abuse and swear words littered over the wall over the bright coloured mural.