Arts Sunday is your extra dose of arts news, artist profiles and photo galleries from the NSW Central West, brought to you by Arts OutWest and Fairfax. Arts Sunday is published online on the first Sunday of the month. If you’ve got a story to share contact artsoutwest@csu.edu.au
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One man's trash is another's art material. From a horse made from discarded cutlery, a beautiful fruit bowl made from old nuts and bolts to stunning handbags made from scraps of material, any old bit of waste can be turned into a work of art with just a little imagination.
The SIMS Metal Waste to Art program celebrates eight years across the region this month. Through the program, thousands of people across the Central West – from pre-school aged children to professional artists – have tried their hand at turning junk into creative masterpieces. Along the way they’ve saved tonnes of scrap from landfill and helped challenge people’s perceptions about ‘rubbish’.
Today (Sunday May 5) is your last day to catch the local exhibitions of these masterpieces in Lithgow, Bathurst and Parkes with Wellington running for another week and the Oberon and Forbes exhibitions opening next week. The Regional Waste to Art exhibition will open in Bourke on June 1.
“This art program was introduced as a way to raise awareness about the amount of waste that we all throw away every year and to challenge attitudes to the value of the 22 million tonnes of non- recyclable waste that ends up in landfills,” says Sue Clarke the Environmental Learning Adviser from Netwaste, the organisation that coordinates the regional competition.
The NetWaste region extends from the Blue Mountains to Broken Hill, representing 28 regional councils and making up two thirds of the State.
“The NetWaste Waste to Art isn’t a new initiative but the communities within NetWaste have certainly embraced the concept and it goes from strength to strength each year,” Sue Clarke said. “Waste to Art seems to have developed a life of its own and is truly community driven.”
Competitions are ran locally by participating councils with a Regional Exhibition hosted each year by a different NetWaste council. This year the best of the best pieces are headed off to Bourke to spread the waste message. Nineteen councils will be represented at the regional exhibition, bringing along about 120 artworks.
The local competitions have spurred a range of associated community workshops, from school holiday sessions for kids to a workshop just for women, happening today in the Oberon area, looking at skills like welding and heavy duty sculpture making.
“I have been truly amazed by the incredible works that people create from everyday items of waste but I think my very favourite part of Waste to Art is reading the stories that come with the artworks. The inspiration behind many of the works is very powerful and a key part of engagement with the community,” Ms Clarke said.
In the Central West, the 2012-2013 competition ran this year in the Bathurst Region, Forbes, Lithgow, Oberon, Parkes and Wellington local government areas. Weddin, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Lachlan and Orange councils were involved last year.
For Bathurst Regional Council, being a part of Waste to Art is part of the council’s broader waste management and education strategy.
“Council runs many activities, for example our waste related childcare lessons aimed at young children, but it can be difficult to engage different groups. Waste to Art allows us to engage people across the community,” said Alison Thompson, Environmental Programs Officer at Bathurst Regional Council.
“It is a very satisfying feeling to see the range of creative artworks that we receive in place and on display. The strong level of support that we get from the community in attending the annual awards ceremony is good and reminds you why it is important to run event such as this,” Ms Thompson said.
Russell Deans, Manager Water and Waste at Bathurst Regional Council, said the local program last year garnered about 50 entries and they were hoping for at least as many again this year. “These artworks covered a multitude of themes and materials and really showcased the wealth of local artistic talent.”
Local artist Ann Mara assisted with this year’s judging of the Wellington competition and described the entries as creative and clever: “I think it is very artistic to be able to use one’s mind to bring together bits of nothing to create these intriguing works of art,” she said. “The entries are curious to look at and the use of colour is captivating.”
For Netwaste’s Sue Clarke the most exciting part is that’s a community program and encourages such a diverse range of participants to get involved. “It’s such an innovative way to encourage conversations about waste.”
Waste to Art exhibitions in the Central West:
Bathurst: Last day of exhibition Sunday 5 May from 10am to 3pm at The Flannery Centre, top of Havannah Street, Bathurst
Lithgow: Last day of exhibition Sunday May 5 at Eskbank House and Museum
Parkes: Last day of exhibition Sunday May 5 at Parkes Shire Library
Wellington: At Wellington Library until early May
Oberon: Wednesday May 8 to Saturday May 11, 12pm-4pm at the Robert Hooper Community Centre, Oberon
Judges are Macgregor Ross, of Lithgow Ironfest, blacksmith and metal artist; and Victoria Theyers, ceramicist and owner of Potters Needs Gallery in Oberon. Prizes are sponsored by Oberon Council, with Oberon Arts Council supporting a new Group Artwork Prize and Oberon Rotary supporting the popular People's Choice Award. Friends of Oberon Library are facilitating the event.
Forbes: Entries due Monday May 13.
Presentation Night Wednesday May 15, 5.30pm at Forbes Town Hall
Regional Exhibition: June 1 through to June 27 at the Back O’ Bourke Centre, Bourke
Official Opening and announcement of this year’s winners Saturday June 1 at 11am.
More information: www.netwaste.org.au or contact your local council.
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