Creativity exudes from the new exhibition on display at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery.
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Friday saw the return of Gunnedah Shire Council’s biennial Waste into Art competition, which encourages entrants to re-purpose waste items in unique ways. This year’s theme was “technologic”.
For the first time, the competition was opened to the New England North West with more than 30 entries from the Gunnedah shire, Liverpool Plains and Tamworth shire.
Gunnedah resident Elizabeth Emmerson impressed judges Sheridan Cameron and One of a Kind’s Lynda Coffey with her portrait, Lady Maria, earning her the title of overall winner.
Ms Emmerson said she was excited to win and used many items in the creation of Lady Maria, including pages of an old book, parts of remote controls, circuit boards, garbage bags, cupcake cases, stationary, a hair barrette, tea bags and a toy car.
“I just wanted to do a portrait,” she said.
“I was just trying to make something look like something else.”
Ms Emmerson also received first prize for the most creative category with another entry titled Junkware Lady. The entry was made out of a bookcase shelf, flattened beer bottle tops, paper mache and nuts and bolts.
Winner of the 2015 competition, Warren Barwick produced a bright work this year made of tree branches, a wok lid, spark plug spanner, timber and LED lights.
Mr Barwick said inspiration struck when he was pruning a Cadagi tree at home.
“I could see the shapes of them and I thought, ‘I could do something with these’,” he said.
“All my life I’ve made things, tinkered around, look at things and see what I can make out of them.”
Nancye Bridge received a highly commended for her piece, Heart of Autism – a heart made out of barbed wire, intertwined with coloured lights.
“That represents every parent’s and grandparent’s love for their autistic child,” she said.
“It was inspired by my grandchildren.”
Teens, Callum Dear and Ryan Li received first place in the high school section for their wooden work, Ark of Reason, which resembles a boat, complete with a mast and anchor.
The Year 8 St Mary’s College students said they worked on the piece before and after school and during lunch breaks.
Council’s arts and cultural officer, Lauren Mackley said she was thankful to everyone who participated and attended the opening.
“I was very impressed [by the art works],” she said.
“I was so happy so many people contributed.
“I have a dream that one day it will take over the whole gallery and go out onto the street.”
Council’s planning and environmental services director, Andrew Johns, said the creativity illustrated was wonderful.
“The way councils and individuals look at waste these days has changed a lot. Waste these days is looked at as a resource, not just waste,” he said.
“I’m blown away by the variety and the thought process that’s gone into these [works].”
The exhibition is on display for a month, with community members encouraged to have a look and put in their vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Miss out on the 2015 exhibition? See the amazing works here.