Creating a mural under Andersons Bay Rd railway bridge, in South Dunedin, and sporting headphones blocking out traffic noise, they identified another part — traffic-free spaces for people.
Howard-Smith raised his paint-spattered arms skywards and proclaimed: "Make it so!"
Transport is at the heart of the mural’s theme on bridge 228.
Half-finished, and sponsored by KiwiRail, it symbolised the "three waves of migration to South Dunedin" and features a plane, train and waka.
"Murals are part of the solution to make streets great, to slow down and ponder and smell the roses.
"We are changing the culture of our environment," South Dunedin Street Art Trail volunteer organiser Rachel Elder said.
"Not all people go to art galleries.
"It’s also a form of performance art while it’s being painted."
Mrs Elder said thousands of people would see the art in progress and have a chance to "bond with it as it grows in front of your eyes".
The trail group was "small but passionate" — and there were more murals to come.
"We are on the lookout for more sponsors and more walls," she said.
