A stunning eagle crafted from recycled cutlery captured the spotlight at the Waste to Art Exhibition, which opened at Gatakers Artspace in Maryborough over the weekend.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the popular annual exhibition, launched on Friday, 15 November, saw a record-breaking 151 entries across five categories, including a newly introduced Outdoor Category and a prize pool of $4,500.
“This event challenges how we see waste, showcasing artists’ creativity as they transform everyday items into incredible artworks,” he said.
The top prize in the Over 18s category went to Ariel Betiz for his impressive piece ‘Eagle and her Nest’, a one-metre-wide, over 20-kilogram eagle sculpture created from welded recycled cutlery.
“This work highlights the ingenuity and craftsmanship seen across all entries this year, demonstrating how household items can be repurposed into powerful art,” Cr Seymour said.
In the 8–11-year-old category, Archer Lorenz claimed first prize with ‘Recycled Existence: A Posthuman’s Last Hope’, an artwork depicting a future world shaped by pollution and environmental decay.
“I used recycled rocks, glass, old toys, computer parts, and mirrors to show what might happen if we keep polluting the earth,” Archer said.
Rebecca Hoyes was awarded third prize in the Over 18’s category for her work “Scruffy and Sherbet (Leafy Sea Dragons) after entering for the competition for the 7th year.
“I really love sea dragons and how they move through water,” Ms Hoyes said.
“This piece took me six months to complete using a combination of recycled children’s toys, milk bottles and various plastic materials.”
For the first time Council included a new Outdoor Sculpture Category to accommodate larger works that are too big to be displayed in the gallery space.
Rosemary Anderson for ‘The Ballet Class’ was the winner for her outdoor piece which stood 1.7m high and 4 metres wide.
“This piece features bench swivel chairs, whirligigs, motor parts and paint which I sourced from various places including the Maryborough Tip Top Shop,” Ms Anderson said.
Cr Seymour said the entries were very creative this year and he was impressed with the quality and message behind the artwork.
Now in its seventh year, this annual competition and exhibition requires all works to be made from recycled or re-purposed items and materials sourced from Fraser Coast Regional Council Reuse Markets, op shops or second-hand shops on the Fraser Coast.
“Its purpose is to change the way we look at waste and spark conversations on how we could be recycling and repurposing better as a community,” Cr Seymour said.
“The total prize pool was increased this year to $4500 thanks to our generous sponsors – Hyne Timber, Cleanaway, Reuse and Recycle Group, and Nugrow, with the first prize winner receiving $1,500 – up from $1000 last year.”
The full list of 2023 Waste to Art winners:
Over 18s Category
1st Prize – Ariel Betiz, Eagle and her nest
2nd Prize – Nick Coates, Eclectric Dreams
3rd Prize – Rebecca Hoyes, Scruffy and Sherbet (Leafy Sea Dragons)
12 – 17 Year Olds
1st Prize – Maryborough State High School, Flourishing over adversity
2nd Prize – George Rowland, Social With-Draw
3rd Prize – Mia Beer, Withered
8 – 11 Year Olds
1st Prize – Archer Lorenz, Recycled Existence: A Posthuman’s Last Hope
2nd Prize – St Helens School – Eco Superstars, Crazy Compost Hope
3rd Prize – Pialba State School, Pialba’s Pelly the Pelican
Under 8s
1st Prize – Busy Bees at Fraser Coast, Beauty is in the eye of the Bee-holder
2nd Prize – Torquay Kids Early Learning Centre – Kindergarten, Caring for Country
3rd Prize – Maryborough West State School – 1B, Wirak the Owl
Outdoor Category
1st Prize – Rosemary Anderson, The Ballet Class
The Waste to Art exhibition is now on display at Gatakers Artspace until Sunday 5 January, 2024 and entry is free.
Gatakers Artspace is open Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30am to 3.30pm and weekends 9.30am to 2pm.
Visitors are invited to participate in the People’s Choice Award by voting for their favourite artwork in the exhibition. Simply visit Gatakers to view the pieces and cast your vote in the ballot box on-site.
The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced in the second week of January.
For more information go to https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/waste-to-art
Article and image submitted by Fraser Coast Regional Council
