This year’s Red Socks Day falls nearly 11 years since Kiwi legend Sir Peter Blake was killed by pirates on the Amazon. Today, the Sir Peter Blake Trust continues to honour not only the man himself, but also his leadership, love for the environment, and his dedication to New Zealand youth. And to help raise awareness for this year’s Red Socks Day, Westpac, which is the foundation sponsor for the trust and has supported it since it formed in 2004, and .99 worked with street artist Sparrow ‘Component’ Philips (co-founder of the Cut Collective) to create a one of a kind stencil-art styled image of Sir Peter’s face made from almost 3,000 red, white and black socks.
“Westpac has a very strong alignment to the trust’s purpose through our own focus on leadership development, environmental stewardship and how we recognise young leaders,” says head of brand and community at Westpac, Suzie Marsden.
So why a giant sock mural?
“We’re all about helping others and delivering an experience that goes above and beyond what’s expected,” says Westpac brand manager Bec Reynolds. “We wanted to do something surprising, creative and attention-grabbing to help bring awareness to Red Socks Day and remind the public of the reasons we celebrate this day.”
As to what Sir Peter would have thought of the mural, Shelley Campbell, chief executive of The Sir Peter Blake Trust, thinks he’d have loved it.
“I think he would have laughed—through all his achievements what came through and what his friends still talk about was his great sense of humour and fun.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Vjh2gxgEI
Elsewhere, Contagion also released a video tribute (and a Facebook app will soon be launched to continue his journey virtually) and the Sir Peter Blake leadership awards were handed out earlier this week, with the line-up including the Amazing Race’s Phil Keoghan, filmmaker Roseanne Liang and ex-All Black Sir John Graham.
The mural will be on display in Takutai Square until 9:30pm Friday 29 June. And you can buy a pair of socks here.
Credits:
Client: Westpac New Zealand
Brand Manager: Bec Reynolds
Community and Sponsorship: Bec Williams
Senior Brand Manager: Michael Healy
Agency: .99
Account Director: Chrissy Powlesland
Account Executive: Abby Venter
Executive Creative Director: Craig Whitehead
Creatives: Charlie Godinet, Edward Bell, Dom Antelme, Mark Easterbrook
Agency Producers: Therese Bielawa, Gary Reader
Artist: Sparrow Phillips aka Component, from The Cut Collective
Artwork Production: Bootleg
Video Production: Reel Good
Post-Production: .99
