PARK(ing) Day was on again recently in Wellington. The concept is simple — once a year, artistic minded people take over a car parking space for a day, and produce an installation that challenges our notion of what a car park can be — other than just to park cars.

This year over a dozen spaces were appropriated and turned into art spaces by architects, performers, artists — my personal favourite was a teeth-brushing station, opposite the doors to Wellington Railway Station, with water, toothpaste, and toothbrush supplied for those who didn’t have time before they went to work… Next to it was a fountain of seriously elaborate means (bronze panels and splashing water) — beating the Bucket fountain of Cuba St fame.

Others were more subtle — Occupation: Artist gilded the cobbles of their car park with gold leaf (stunning visuals and self-fulfilling prophecies — in Wellington the streets ARE paved with gold). Outside the library, a duo sat performing a Maori-Italian play to enraptured passers-by. Some schemes were lame: more work needed in preparation!

But there were some real gems, including one by SANNZ students labelled ‘Pecking Space’, of a timber-framed wall, clad in acrylic panels, upon which you could bestow a kiss, declare your love, or snog to your hearts content. Lipstick, mirror, and wet wipes were provided for you to leave your mark: a series of pink and blue kisses hover and float in your place.

A bevy of gorgeous boys and girls, all students at Victoria University of Wellington’s architecture school, pouting enticingly back at passing shoppers ensured that this entry won the People’s Choice award — a well-deserved winner, kissed with fame.

But next year we really need to up our game, and take over more than just a dozen car parks for a single day. Surely, as an artistic imperative, we need PARK(ing) Day to take over the city? One park at a time?