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The Rainbow Square was created by local artist Tash Frootko and her team of creatives in May 2022. As she has just put her finishing touches to the masterpiece that is the Rainbow Square we decided to have another chat with her to get to know the lady who is transforming the city one street or square at a time.
Please tell us about your latest project the Rainbow Square?
This project was about transforming an entire area of Gloucesters City Centre into a giant patchwork of colour and creativity. The transformation saw 25 victorian houses painted in bold and vivid colours on three adjoining streets, Nettleton Road, St Kilda Parade, and Station Road. The rows of colourful houses are linked by two stunning giant murals.
How do you pick your locations?
I actively seek out the most run down and shabby parts of the city as they are the ones most in need of my make over skills. The locations often have many issues including litter and fly tipping which I work hard to sort with the help of the community before any painting starts.
Do you already know the residents living there before you start or do you chat to them when you’ve identified an area to work in?
On this project, I knew some of them as I painted one of the streets, Nettleton Road, back in 2018. I have spent the last few years introducing myself to the other residents. It is essential that I get them on board and prepared for how the look of their neighbourhood is going to be vastly improved and to be prepared for the amount of attention it will attract! It really is the most magical process and restores civic pride in the area.
The artists you worked with on the murals have done a stunning job. How do you go about approaching artists to work with?
On this transformation, I gained permissions for the two giant murals. The process of selecting artists is such fun! It was vital that the murals were colourful, non controversial and that the artists were happy to follow my brief. It was essential that the Zoe Power mural had lettering on it to title the project 'Rainbow Square' and even more importantly to have the word Gloucester. The lettering for the word Gloucester was taken from an old pub sign on Hopewell Street, just off Barton Street. We all seek out things to photograph and post on the internet. Having these words will allows for that artwork to be recognised worldwide. This piece has already become a landmark for the city and has been attracting many visitors.
Do you have any other projects up your sleeve or coming soon?
Of course! I absolutely love what I do and people seem to love it too. The feedback from the Rainbow Square transformation has been overwhelmingly positive and everyone wants me to carry on and turn Gloucester into the Rainbow City. People want colour and creativity as they are bored of living in a bland and neglected environment. I see Gloucester as a blank canvas that needs to be decorated. I also have plans to regreen parts of the city. I am excited that I have so much in the planning stage watch this space!
What’s your favourite colour house?
The ultramarine blue house on Nettleton Road. it is a very highly pigmented blue paint and one that French artisit Yves Klein invented. I was introduced to his work when i was a child visitng Nice in the South of France. I was so excited to get it onto the colour scheme and I have also used it to decorate the Rossette on the row of houses on Station Road. It's like we now have our won piece of Yves Keli artwork in the city!
Do you have any tips for people wanting to embrace the rainbow and paint their house a bright colour?
Go for it but it's much easier if you get a group of people on your street do do theirs too, then you don't stick out like a sore thumb! I get lots on enquiries about how to make a Rainbow Street and I am happy to advise. I can be contacted on Twitter: @FrootkoTash
More information on The Rainbow Square can be found below:
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