Top dog takes out top art award

Picture: Darren O’Brien and Mayor George Seymour with Bitza.

The bottom of your kitchen drawer isn’t where you would expect to find award winning art, but Darren O’Brien did.

The Glenwood resident took out top spot in the open category at the 2021 Waste to Art Competition with Bitza, the junk yard dog who represented the problem of rubbish in our oceans.

The 1m tall cattle dog perched atop of a wave was made from bric-a-brac including CDs, broken sunglasses, batteries, and toys.

Darren described Bitza as a “big pile of crap” and that creating the work had been a labour of love.

“I was really injured a couple of years ago and art has been my saviour,” he said.

“I don’t have kids, but I was around at my mates place digging through their kitchen junk draws and finding old broken toys.”

Darren said his favourite item on the work was the Scrabble tiles and the most unique were painted fish shaped soy sauce containers. 

Councillor David Lewis said the competition was a highlight of the year.

“This is a wonderful event that just continues to grow and grow,” he said.

Mayor George Seymour said it was a joy to see how different artists had celebrated reusing and repurposing waste.

“There are hundreds of art works on display all created from what otherwise would be in our landfill,” he said.  

The Over 18s category was rounded out with Nora Hanasy’s work Discarded Love Symphony in second place and John Olsen’s Wild Honey Bee in third.

The 12 to 17 years old age group was won by Breanna Schmierer, Sakura Flux and Benito Binoy from St James Lutheran College, second was Louise Stewart and third went to Matilda Holley.

8 to 11 years old was won by Rebeccah Henderson, second was Rachel Cordie and Tyson Muggleton from Maryborough Special School and third place was won by Torbanlea State School,

Unndennoo Kindergarten won the Under 8 age group, Saint Mary’s Primary School came in second and St. James Lutheran Kindergarten won third.

The Waste to Art Competition exhibition is open until 16 January 2022.

Everyone is encouraged to check out the work and place a vote for People’s Choice Award who will be announced at the end of January.

For more information go to www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/waste-to-art or visit the event listing.