Help us complete a giant artwork at Westfield Newmarket

What happens when a landscape artwork becomes a canvas for Aucklanders’ imagination? We're inviting the public to add people, wildlife, drawings, messages and memories to a large-scale artwork at Westfield Newmarket – helping complete a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

From Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, we're working with artist Linda McFetridge to invite shoppers to pick up a pen, stencil or other creative tool and add their own contribution to her landscapes. 

The artwork will start with Linda’s landscape, but what happens next is up to the public. Shoppers can add their own ideas and details, creating an evolving artwork that will take shape over the three days. 

This free ‘Art out of the Park’ activation as part of our support of Art in the Park, taking contemporary art out of the gallery and into the community. 

Meet the artist

For Linda, the activation reflects her belief that creativity is for everyone. She didn’t pick up a paintbrush until she was 34, having initially been encouraged towards more academic subjects. Growing up on a Taranaki dairy farm, surrounded by music, dance, the outdoors and her family’s own creative pursuits, eventually found its way into her art. 

Her landscape work explores themes of stillness, movement and memory, drawing on her own experiences and observations. As a MAS Member, this collaboration is particularly meaningful as she shares our belief in the important role art and creativity can play in supporting health and wellbeing. 

“I’m a great believer that creativity doesn’t belong to a particular type of person – it’s something we all have,” says Linda.

“You don’t need to be an artist to make something, and that’s what I love about this activation. I’m giving people a landscape, but they get to decide what happens next. 

“They might add a person, an animal, a message or something completely unexpected. Everyone will see the landscape differently, and I’m really looking forward to seeing all those ideas come together in one artwork.” 

Why we’re bringing art into the community

MAS CEO Jo McCauley says Art out of the Park is about making creativity accessible and giving people an opportunity to experience art for themselves. 

“Art has a wonderful way of bringing people together, sparking curiosity and giving us a different way to see the world,” says Jo.

“We’re delighted to take a little bit of Art in the Park out into the community and give people the chance to be part of creating something themselves. 

“Linda is a fantastic artist and we’re delighted to have her leading this activation. We hope people will come along, get involved and discover for themselves the joy and wellbeing benefits that creativity and art can bring.” 

By Sunday 1 November, the landscape will have been transformed by the collective contributions of everyone who has taken part – creating a unique artwork that could not have been made by one person alone. Once complete, one of the pieces of artwork will be moved to Art in the Park at Eden Park, where visitors can see the collective creation in its final form. 

Visitors will also have the chance to win prizes through a scratch-and-win activation, including tickets to Art in the Park, giving them even more ways to experience New Zealand’s contemporary art scene. 

The activation is part of our wider support of Art in the Park, which celebrates New Zealand’s contemporary artists and encourages more people to experience the benefits of creativity and art. 

Creativity and wellbeing

The focus on wellbeing is particularly relevant to the healthcare community we serve. WorkSafe research into the psychosocial wellbeing of healthcare workers found high levels of physical and emotional exhaustion, with 72.5% reporting physical exhaustion and 67.7% emotional exhaustion at least some of the time. Almost half (47%) reported levels of mental wellbeing associated with an increased risk of depression. 

There is also growing evidence of the positive role arts and creativity can play in health and wellbeing. As Professor Daisy Fancourt, a world-leading arts and health researcher at University College London, recently highlighted in a webinar supported by MAS, engaging with the arts can support mental health and wellbeing, while helping to build connection and community. 

About Art in the Park

Art in the Park returns to Eden Park from 12–15 November 2026, transforming Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic national stadium into a vibrant showcase of contemporary art.

Want to be part of Art in the Park? Get your tickets now.