Don’t rubbish the art, it’s not a waste of time
Is it rubbish or art?
The annual Waste to Art competition is back with $2,800 in prizemoney on offer for the winning pieces.
Cr David Lewis said the competition challenged the way we looked at waste and celebrated reusing and repurposing waste.
“The competition and exhibition are a chance for aspiring and professional artists to explore waste reduction and showcase their artistic ability,” he said.
The competition is open to artists of all ages to create a work of art using recycled and upcycled items.
The entries will be displayed in the Waste to Art Exhibition at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough at the end of the year.
Due to the popularity of the competition, organisers are this year asking for artists to lodge an Expression of Interest.
“The expressions of interest will allow us to better manage the space requirements at the gallery,” Cr Lewis said.
“Previously it was not until the artists turned up with their pieces at the closing date that we knew how many items, and the size of those items, that we would receive.
“This way artists will let us know what they are preparing so we can better organise wall and floor space to best display the items during the exhibition.”
Expressions of Interest open today, Thursday, June 3, 2021 and close on August 26. Once the artwork is ready, artists can fill in the entry form which is due by October 26 and the artworks can be delivered between November 13 and 21.
The exhibition will close on January 16.
All artworks must be made primarily of materials sourced from home, Fraser Coast Reuse and Recycle Centres, op shops, second-hand stores or garage sales on the Fraser Coast.
Reusing or repurposing items means that they don’t end up in landfill, Cr Lewis said.
“The tip shops in Hervey Bay and Maryborough are very popular,” he said.
“The items residents drop off are re-used and repurposed rather than being buried in landfill.
“The Waste to Art competition encourages people to relook at those items and see the artistic value in them and not just their functional purpose.
“Residents can drop off unwanted items that are in good condition, such as sporting equipment, lawn mowers, furniture and left-over building materials to the reuse market drop off zones at the Saltwater Creek Road Landfill in Maryborough or the Nikenbah Transfer Station.
“The more of your load you divert from landfill on your visit to a landfill or transfer station the less it costs to dispose of waste.”
To help, event sponsor Hyne Timber will offer artists free timber offcuts to use in their creations.
For more information and entry forms go to www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/waste-to-art
CAPTION: Something shinny … artist Graham Branes (middle) explains the thought process of choosing pieces of waste to David Bennetts from Hyne and Councillor David Lewis.