Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize 2025
10am – 2pm Thurs 17 – Sat 19 July at Wollondilly Shire Hall Picton
WINNERS I LIST OF WORKS I TEXTILE THEME I WORKSHOPS I PREVIOUS YEARS
The STA Region’s premier Waste to Art exhibition, with $2600 in prizes over three categories.
The WW2A Prize is an annual art exhibition with a deep commitment to reducing the waste going to landfill by inviting Artists to make art from waste materials. The exhibition is a gallery full of creative treasure made from trash complimented by a program of workshops and events.
The Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize is an annual Wollondilly Shire Council project delivered in partnership with STA.
- OPEN – (18+) $1700 1st Prize $1,000 / 2nd Prize $400 / 3rd Prize $300 Open to STA Region Artists
- Youth (12 -17 YEARS) & (7 – 11 YEARS) $400 4 equal prizes of $100
- WOLLONDILLY COMMUNITY – $500 All entries from Wollondilly artists
All works displayed in the exhibition are part of the STA Peoples’ Choice Award. The winner of which receives an STA Stories from the Studio feature.
$2600 in prize money. Entry is FREE and open to all residents of the STA region
There was an amazing turn out for the opening and prize announcements for this years exhibition at Wollondilly Shire Hall on Tuesday 17 July. It was a record year with over 100 works of art on display from across the STA Region. Please see the Winners and all the works IRL in Picton and listed below.
All sales queries please email [email protected]
2025 WINNERS
Els Dirickx Running Stream
A4 waste document paper. ripped by hand , soaked in bucket of water spread out and rolled on old flyscreen and dried. Once dried brushed PVA glue over it. 800 x 600mm
SOLD WINNER 1st PRIZE OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Holly Davies Plethora of plastic Couture
One roll of rope found at an abandoned worksite. Plastic bags, brand new found next to shopping centre tip due to store closure with slashes
Brand be Plastic waste.. resources straight to landfill
$500 WINNER 2nd Prize OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Belinda Taylor Reclaimed Warrior: Mandalorian Samurai
cardboard, twine, recycled black leggings, black recycled bedsheet. The artwork is also finished with metal gromets and held together with hot glue and staples. This sculpture, a fusion of the iconic Mandalorian helmet from Star Wars and traditional Japanese samurai headwear, explores the enduring archetype of the warrior across cultures and time. Crafted primarily from recycled cardboard, twine, black leggings, and a black bedsheet, the artwork speaks to the transformative power of repurposed materials, giving new life to discarded items. The use of metal grommets and the visible hot glue and staples highlight the construction process, celebrating the raw, handmade quality. By blending these distinct cultural symbols, I aim to create a dialogue about honour, protection, and identity, showing how universal themes can be expressed through diverse historical and fictional lenses, all while championing sustainable art practices.
POA WINNER 3rd Prize OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Freya Jobbins Melameanee
Metal coat hanger, discarded doll parts, plastic medical waste, gold and plastic buttons, old wooden stand, and plastic waste matter. H 60cm x W 36cm x D 34cm
‘Melanmeanee’ (mel-a-mee-nee) is an everlasting little plastic devil. ‘Melameanee’ is deadly to all creatures and causes serious damage to the environment on this planet, they are everywhere, in everything, and they just won’t die. Nothing can destroy these evil little critters except ………….you. Stop creating the demand. Born in 1834 into the Melamine Family, a new magic organic compound mixed with formaldehyde and resin and used to make colourful laminates for furniture, cabinetry, containers and dinnerware all for humans. One hundred years later the Melamine Family morphed into the Fantastic Plastic Family and dark history begins with this rampant pest.
POA WINNER Wollondilly LGA OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Tobias Taylor The Mothering Owl
POA 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Chloe Smith Untitled
CD record glass and textile waste. 30cm diameter. NFS WINNER 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Kayathri Baranowski A Dragons Fruit
A gymball, chicken wire, recycled brown paper, recycled plastics, milk bottles, recycled foam, coat hanger wire, recycled fabrics, paint. 120 x 70 x 70 cm My sculpture of a dragon fruit explores creativity, sustainability, and transformation. I was inspired by Peter Anton’s playful, oversized food sculptures and Kathleen Ryan’s use of recycled materials to turn waste into art. Using a gym ball, chicken wire, recycled paper, plastics, milk bottles, foam, coat hangers, and fabric, I built the form and added vibrant colours to bring it to life. The dragon fruit’s bold shapes and textures symbolise how something ordinary—or even discarded—can become extraordinary. I hope this artwork encourages others to think differently about waste and the power of creativity. NFS WINNER 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Manon Neilson Steam Punk
Metal NFS WINNER 12 -17 YEARS QPRC
LIST OF WORKS
Glynnes Taylor Tree of Life
Various metal pieces and solid tree branch. 1900mm H x 800 mm W x 800mm D
I have worked with visually impaired secondary students for many years. Working with scrap metal allows visual and tactile experiences. This artwork consists of metal from discarded metal and wire pieces as well as electrical wire. The shapes, textures and techniques aim to create a rich sensory experience, beyond the visual realm and offering a deeper connection with my artwork. $400 OPEN 18+ Goulburn Mulwaree
Linda Jane Burgess Launching – Yellow tailed black cockatoo
polystyrene packaging over papier-mâché (plastic, cardboard scraps, school book paper), wire (new) leftover from other sculptures, spiral binding wire, eva foam scraps, acrylic paint (new), wood from pruning, varnish, craft eyes (new). 550x490x400 mm
I make sculptures from natural and waste materials, keeping them out of the waste cycle as much as possible. I enjoy finding different types of waste and turning them into something beautiful or interesting that also makes a statement.
$90 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Ingrida Spole Crazy Bird- Nurse Chy Lartay
Plastic lids and aluminium seal from Arcadia Chai latte, aluminium foil from milo and malted milk pill blister packs, aluminium pie casing, gold coloured aluminium from My Dog food container. Green plastic lid from sour cream. The armature was made from old bird cafe wire and some rusty old fencing wire. I covered that with cardboard packing that I wet and pulped with aquadhere. This was used to cover the wire. I used a hot melt glue gun to assemble the outside covering. I used alcohol ink for some colour. Width 28 cm, height 350 cm
I’ve been collecting lids and foil for some time, waiting for inspiration. It is scary and surprising how fast this waste accumulates. Collecting it is a real eye opener. The Waste to Art Exhibitions provided that inspiration. I have been painting Crazy Birds for some time. My sculptural attempt was a new adventure – one I enjoyed.
POA OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Catherine Dengate Littoral Zone
lace and trimmings, stones, glass, driftwood, raffia, Christmas baubles, and other miscellaneous scrap and waste items, including plastic straw and soy sauce containers 33 cm diameter the incredible edge of sea and intertidal zone that is home to so much life and increasingly is inhabited by plastic waste, the detritus of today’s humans’ existence. $60 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Doreen Lyon A walk in the Reserve
vintage table linens and old lace, eco prints and mono prints, paint and stitch and embroidery. wooden rod and leather to hang 40cms x 43 cms
Discarded and vintage textiles offer interesting creative opportunities. I search for discarded bed sheets and table linen which I use in my work in printing and add my own paint and embroidery and collage.
$100 OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Doreen Lyon Tea in the garden with birdsong
eco printed squares on cotton vintage napkins with added lace, fabric pieces, paint, monoprint, paper and stitch. Discarded Cotton bed sheet backing. timber hanging rod and leather 300 cms x 48 cm
Discarded and vintage textiles offer interesting creative opportunities. I search for discarded bed sheets and table linen which I use in my work in printing and add my own paint and embroidery and collage.
$200 OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Constance Ross Reclaimed Shop fitting
mannequin and broken jewellery etc. 50cm x 50cm
$170 OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Bonnie Milner Jewel Garden
CD chain and waste materials . NFS 7 – 11 YEARS QPRC
Bridie Gleeson Untitled
record and CDs $15 12 -17 YEARS QPRC
Maureen Hollow Open for interpretation (is inspired by Pollack)
The backing is scrap of material leftover from quilt. The top is the threads and scraps of material that were in my waste bin. The buttons are excess from a shirt factory. 33cm x 33cm
NFS OPEN 18+ Goulburn Mulwaree
Suzanne Ayre Sleep time for me
Frame with an assortment of scraps Approx 70x 40.
I enjoy playing and this was fun. $10 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Rosa Daniela Diaz Mother of pearl – Vessel of hope and healing
Found and repurposed curtain ties, fabric, necklaces, wire, sequins and cotton cord 45.5 x 26.5 x 26.5cm
I started this work in response to the heartbreaking Bondi attacks in 2024. As my thoughts were with those who had lost a loved one, the act of tearing, binding and deconstructing materials, felt comforting to me, an act of care and repair. As the materials transformed they became a container, a vessel, a metaphor for hope and healing.
$500 OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Zahkia Williams Spin
old record and tape and metal . $5 7 – 11 YEARS QPRC
Noah D Untitled
magnet, paper roll, tape blue wire
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Andie Stanton Take a Moment
Old Walle t-shirt, old denim shirt, Hessian shopping bag, old camping spork, lid from candle jar, calico cloth from Xmas pudding, scrap fabrics, vintage doilies, thrift store trinkets and buttons, bread bag ties. 30cm x 86cm The image of the Pixar Walle robot is a reminder for us to take a moment to make kind and thoughtful decisions in how we treat Earth, animals and each other. Every small action impacts the present time and the future. Take a moment everyday to help create a beautiful world. NFS 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Matilde Veronsi A Classic Affair
vintage record and textile waste. $5 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Haden Chalk Bubble wand
wire wood. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Nick Taylor The spear
Cardboard, plastic and paint 65cm x 35cm x 20cm
My name is Nick Taylor, I’m 13 and I like to repurpose materials to create something new.
NFS 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Olli B Untitled
wire plastic. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Tim Bird Weapon of the Future
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Maureen Hollow Charlotte (aka Charlie)
torn jeans and is decorated with off cut ribbons from breast cancer cushions and buttons from my mother’s old button box. The embroidery thread is left over from a cross-stitch project 39 cms x 20cms x 8 cms
NFS OPEN 18+ Goulburn Mulwaree
Jean Mills Fandangle
Waste materials 90×60
NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Isobella Brober Twisted Music
bottle tops and coat hanger wire
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribe
Quinn & Ella Aloha Doll Isabella
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Evie & JoJo Untitled
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Anabel Sanchez-Romeiro Jelly Fish
Wire, old plate, coke lids and a marker. 20 x 20 cms
I was inspired by Marine wildlife and squishy jelly fish is my favourite marine animal
$50 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
London Stone Sniper Crossbow
Assorted Recycled Materials and Objects 40cm x 30cm
POA 12 -17 YEARS Wingecaribee
Christina Richards My favourite Thing
$50 OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Alison Driver Untitled
waste plant , wire and textiles and Atlas.
NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Jackelyn Morris Francisco the Flamingo
Boots, canvas artwork, pipes, leftover benchtop, wooden lamp,, toy, various fabric, cardboard ribbon packaging, water bottle, plastic chocolate wrapper, wire 82cm (w) x 40cm (d) x 125cm (h)
I was inspired by my collection of pink treasures. It’s a salute to repurposed materials and the playful, quirky and whimsical potential of waste. Constructed from found objects: pipes from a fallen greenhouse, a discarded abstract artwork collaged onto old brown boots and the wooden frame of a lamp. Other elements include: various fabric, lace, pearls, beads and plastic chocolate wrappers. Francisco showcases elegance, quirkiness and a little bit of an edge. The decision to reveal rather than conceal selected parts invites viewers to engage with its past and present life. Graffiti looking boots contrast with vintage style creating a dynamic tension. The work celebrates imagination and the ability to transform everyday objects into unique and unexpected things. $150 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Jean Mills Spoon
travel spoons wire 90×60 NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Linda Jane Burgess Mounted horse
Fabric and yarn scraps (donated) over papier-mâché (plastic, cardboard scraps, school book paper), found glass beads. 200x300x150 mm
I make sculptures from natural and waste materials, keeping them out of the waste cycle as much as possible. I enjoy finding different types of waste and turning them into something beautiful or interesting that also makes a statement. $40 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Diane Mulley Test Pattern
Old TV shell (dismantled), polystyrene, pages from old Gregory’s street directory, plastic packaging including bar codes and cardboard, magazine scraps, wood scraps, corflute (from old cupboard), fabric, and a part of the electronic interior from the old TV. 40 x 30 x 15 centimetres
Take a trip down memory lane (for those that remember). The test pattern that appeared on screen when TV stations closed for the night has been reimagined, and is very much at home inside the shell of an old portable television set. Beyond repair, but certainly not beyond reuse, and combined with a variety of waste pieces, the old TV has a new life.
NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Natalie Will Glitter Bug
cardboard, recycled textiles – cotton and velvet (from broken chair), discarded jewellery/parts(broach, beads, leather), stuffing from a pillow, cotton thread and glue 70cm x 20cm
Our imaginations do not need to be limited by the constraints of finances or traditional art making. When making art from recycled sources it allows you to tap into a natural instinct to treasure hunt and be influenced by the shape or property of an object. It can lead you in very different directions and allow the space to experiment and play.
$300 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Kayley Rogers The Force
Metal and wood with textiles 30cm Jedi tomb
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
David Smith The first rider of the techno-apocalypse
technology and building waste. 50cm(W) x 25cm(D) x 40cm(H)
In a surreal fusion of man and machine, Elon Musk uploads his consciousness into the Cybertruck-2000, transcending mortality to become a capitalist automaton. This work explores post-human ambition, techno-supremacy, and the relentless pursuit of wealth—blurring lines between innovation and obsession in a future ruled by digital immortality
POA (one of a set) OPEN 18+ QPRC
Cecilia Kemp Time after time
Mixed reuse materials 40cm tall A reflection on the passing of time and timeless beauty
$150 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Kitty Bernardoff Mr McMonster
electric and textile waste
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS QPRC
Eleanor Jackson Untitled
metal wood. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Virginia Austin Untitled
Paper. NFS OPEN 18+ Yass Valley
Octavia Eagleton Your beauty
Scraps 35x 12×12 My NaNa made me do it
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Dinah Vandermeys & Al Phemister Bryds
Pierre paper wood $140
Mabel paper wood $140
Felix paper wood $220
Spike paper wood $180
Dinah paper wood NFS
Aphelia paper wood $250
Dinah and Al have collaborated, working with Paper in different forms they have combined tom create the birds. From newspaper to making paper clay, discarded paper gowns, clothing and plaster, they have experimented with different forms and techniques to create bird. The paper clay is great for adding different materials to. The finish is great for painting and adding features. OPEN 18+ Yass Valley
Ian Turner Daft Vader’s Gun
Plastic, metal 50cm x20cm
Ian is a member of the Rosnel Hostel Arts and Crafts Group. This piece reminded him of being young again! He enjoyed being able to recycle the materials at Rose’s class.
NFS OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Eliana Parutua The Rusty Flower
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Susan Ducksbury Vested Interest
Cardboard, glue, tape, wire, braid, coathanger 55 X 60 X 18
Susan usually works in 2D her chosen subjects wildlife and nature. She took this opportunity to highlight recycling and considers that she has a “vested interest” in maintaining our environment for current and future generations through waste reduction as do we all.
NFS OPEN 18+ Upper Lachlan
Sabrina Cylinder 3D shape
plastic wire waste material
NFS 8 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Jonny Donnelly Untitled
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Madeline Sammut Australian Pop Art Sculpture – Meat pie with Sauce
recycled materials including: recycled chicken wire, recycled wire coat hangers, recycled broken hula hoops, recycled cardboard boxes, brown paper and paper pulp. She also used expandable foam, acrylic paint and PVA glue. 100 x 100 x 100 cm
“Australian Pop Art Sculpture Meat Pie with Sauce” is an exploration of everyday Australian iconography through the lens of Pop Art. Inspired by the monumental scale of Claes Oldenburg’s soft sculptures and Peter Anton’s hyper realistic food art, I sought to elevate a humble meat pie into a celebratory, larger-than-life form. NFS 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Olivia Turner Australian Pop Art Sculpture Ice Cream Sundae
recycled materials—cardboard boxes, brown paper, paper mâché, rope, towels, and paper pulp, as well as expandable foam, markers, acrylic paint, hot glue, and pompoms 130 x 100 x 80 cm
Australian Pop Art Sculpture Ice Cream Sundae” reimagines a beloved dessert as a monumental, playful artwork. Drawing inspiration from Claes Oldenburg’s ability to transform everyday objects and Peter Anton’s delectable, oversized confections, this sculpture elevates a simple ice cream sundae into a vibrant, tactile experience. Constructed from a diverse array of recycled materials—cardboard boxes, brown paper, paper mâché, rope, towels, and paper pulp—the artwork champions sustainability, giving new purpose to discarded items. The integration of expandable foam, markers, acrylic paint, hot glue, and pompoms creates a rich tapestry of textures and colours, mimicking the lusciousness of a real sundae. This piece aims to evoke a sense of joyous indulgence and nostalgia, while simultaneously prompting reflection on consumer culture and the potential for artistic transformation through repurposed materials. NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Kaedyn Walters Walking robot
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Imogen Richards Just Married
upcycled canvas $1,000 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Ella Sora The Fairy Bunker
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Ann Cooper The Gold Effect
Metal, wood, ceramic 25 x 25cm
Ann is a valued member of the Rosnel Hostel Arts and Crafts Group. She really loved the way the gold chain she created contrasted with the rustic look of the base and tower and leads the eye around the artwork. Simplistic beauty at its finest! NFS OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Natalie Will Iboss
Recycled frame, images sources from books sourced from op shops and recovery centre, styrofoam and glue 30cm x 17.5cm Our imaginations do not need to be limited by the constraints of finances or traditional art making. When making art from recycled sources it allows you to tap into a natural instinct to treasure hunt and be influenced by the shape or property of an object. It can lead you in very different directions and allow the space to experiment and play.
$125 OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Mahli Marks Untitled
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Constance Ross Meg the horse
mannequin and lace, textiles 50cm x 50cm
My son believed I needed to stay busy in my retirement so he brought me home a rocking horse that I have decorated with items from around the house and Vinnies which I love.
POA OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Susie Spinksearl Bluebox
milk carton wire pegs and fake plants. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Vincent Moya Untitled
metal plastic. 10×15. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Emma Masson The Shiny Garden
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Emilija Lalic Bobolina (Robot)
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Alison and Aiden Untitled
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Coen Very Straight
kettle element wire light switch. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Maleah Stephen The Colourful Creation
Wire, metal, cardboard and plastic glued together on cardboard. 30cm x 10cm x 25cm New South Wales
POA 12 -17 YEARS Wingecaribee
Ivy Pygram The Colourful Garden
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Heath Whittaql Beast
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Max Cooper Secret Service Card
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Emersen Tredoux F1 home /bob
Two bottle caps. Laptop keys wire plastic box 5 4 2cm It is a robot that has wheels that turn and it name is f1 home and it has a buddy the letter spinner.
$10 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Sharon Hall House of Haiku
Cardboard, paper, glue, tape 80cm W x 43cm H x 30cm
Once I was a tree/ struck down, a life sapped, and now/ you recycle me’ Having moved house four times in two years, I am very familiar with cardboard boxes! I have also become rather passionate about minimising my possessions! Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated with dioramas. Here, I have used the minimal, contained structure of both dioramas and Haiku poetry to contrast with a modern tendency toward obsessive or thoughtless consumption, particularly in the domestic and home-decorating sphere. The ancient presence of trees also contrasts with temporary, flat-packed and boxed objects we consume. NFS OPEN 18+ Wollondilly
Steven James The Tray of Life
Metal, ceramic, lace, soap, plastic, 40 x25cm Steven attends the Rosnel Hostel Arts and Crafts Group every week. He loves collecting things and flowers are a particular favourite. Steven enjoyed being able to search for interesting items and arrange them on this beautiful silver tray.
NFS OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Arnold Behorde Shock
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Callum Bailey Savage Bot
waste materials. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Kito Godbee Button Scaled Snail
paper cups, buttons string. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS QPRC
Nick Taylor The helmet of Ceaser
Cardboard, plastic and paint 65cm x 35cm x 20cm
My name is Nick Taylor, I’m 13 and I like to repurpose materials to create something new.
NFS 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Bethany Keanelly & Matilda Hill Trash transport car
Waste plastic, milk cartons, bottle caps wire and hot glue 30 cm x 20cm
Had fun building this futuristic transport from waste
$5 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Al Phemister Boat
paper and wire.
NFS OPEN 18+ Yass Valley
Darcy Pathuis Untitled
metal plastic street sign toys ear plug
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Owen Taylor R2D2 cardboard and tape
$4 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Chenoa Williams Fairy Garden (cake stand)
card board, plastic flowers, felt, rhinestones, textile waste.
NFS 12 -17 YEARS QPRC
Eloan Godby Untitled
shower drain, plastic. NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wingecaribee
Tobias Taylor Imaginary Sea Creature – the beaded fish
Recycled cardboard, tape, hot glue, recycled Kmart donut holder that was cut up to make a stand for my sea creature. 30cm long I saw the amazing cardboard sculptures by Simon Greiner at Woollahra Gallery and was inspired to make my own sea creature out of cardboard.
$45 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Emerson Simmons Broadcast of the Past
Recycled cardboard and paper with marker. 40cm Height: 30cm Depth 8cm
Broadcast of the Past is a waste-to-art creation that reimagines the charm of an old-fashioned television through the lens of sustainability and childhood imagination. Made entirely from recycled cardboard, scrap paper, and bottle caps, this piece brings attention to the importance of reuse while celebrating the nostalgia of early screen time. At its core, this project is about transformation—turning discarded materials into a playful, hand-crafted representation of an analogue past in a digital world. The cardboard box becomes the TV casing, complete with dials, speakers, and a hand-drawn screen showing a whimsical character ready to entertain. A plastic bottle cap stands in as a volume knob, and the buttons are drawn in marker to mimic a vintage remote or control panel, merging art and function with simplicity. This work challenges the viewer to reflect on the objects we so quickly throw away, and the creativity that can emerge when we pause and reimagine their potential. Broadcast of the Past invites us to slow down, repurpose, and reconnect—with materials, memories, and each other.
NFS 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Emersen Tredoux Spinner
metal plastic. $10 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Anton Ho Snack Rocket
Cardboard, tape, plastic. 37cm tall x 14cm across x 12cm deep
I have made a rocketship out of the stuff I have found in our recycling bin. It shows all my favourite snacks. I started by sticking stuff onto a Pringle tube. Then I shaped a triangle to make the top of the rocket. Finally I got a box of Shapes to make the launch thing. $10 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Annie Duke Vessel
paper mâché tea bags and plant based materials woven elements
$120 OPEN 18+ QPRC
Catherine Bell Dragon
textile and metal. NFS OPEN 18+ QPRC
Eliora Taylor Fishy Kisses
Recycled cardboard, tape and a recycled Kmart donut holder that was cut into pieces to make a stand.
My fish is called ‘Stella’. I made my fish out of recycled cardboard and sticky tape. I called my artwork ‘Fishy Kisses’, because mum and me make our lips look like fishes and then give each other kisses.
$50 7 – 11 YEARS Wollondilly
Francie Cassilles J-69I
waste plastic with bead and pipe cleaner construction painted
POA OPEN 18+ QPRC
Venko Trpevski Iron Art
Metal Scraps and plastic 30 x 30cm
Every day bits and pieces become a thing of beauty! Venko loves the industrial nature of this piece and is proud to enter the competition for the first time.
NFS OPEN 18+ Wingecaribee
Jess Simmons Branches of Renewal
All items from recycling bin and side of road. Rocks, ice-cream container, paper, cardboard, broken tree, recycled ribbon, back of old notebook, plastic bags and bottle caps. 90cm 50cm 48cm Branches of Renewal is a transformative exploration of nature and waste, where discarded materials are reimagined into a living regeneration. This project connects the organic with the synthetic, using a real tree as the central structure, adorned with everyday waste, cardboard boxes, ice-cream containers, paper fragments and more to symbolize the interconnectedness of life and recycling waste back into our ecosystems.
NFS 12 -17 YEARS Wollondilly
Digby Mills Magnetic Satellite
waste mater4ial old record. NFS 12 -17 YEARS QPRC
MAKE ART NOT WASTE WORKSHOP SERIES
10.30am-2pm Thurs 15 May W2A Workshop at Creative Space Southern Highlands. Create work for an STA Box Gallery in Bowral Library over Winter. Drop in Building 1 Moss Vale TAFE
Mon 7 Jul 10am-1pm
W2A Workshop in Braidwood at the Glasshouse. Presented by STA and the Braidwood Academy of Creative Arts. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT
Tues 8 Jul 11am-1pm
W2A Workshop at the Upcycle Centre Moss Vale
Turn waste into art with at this creative workshop. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT
Wed 9 Jul 1pm-3pm
W2A Workshop at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
A fun creative workshop for kids 7+ at the fabulous Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Thurs 10 Jul 1pm – 3pm
W2A Workshop at Yass Libary
Turn waste into art with a free workshop. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Fri 11 Jul 10.30am-3pm
W2A Workshop with Tracy Luff at Connect@Gunning Station Turn paper & card based waste into art with a free workshop. Suitable for adults & young people 15+. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Tues 15 July 10-2pm W2A Workshop in Picton
Includeds a late entry opportunity. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. No bookings – SEE YOU THERE, 52 Menangle St, Picton
Textile Waste
The world is in a textile waste crisis and we need creative thinking to help solve the problem
The average Aussie purchases 27kg of new clothing and textiles every year, and discards 23kg into landfill. This contributes to the 6,000kg of clothing and textile waste being discarded into landfill every 10 minutes, putting Australia as the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the US.
We can fix this! We’ve gathered some scary facts and inspiring solutions…
Get Creative with your unwanted textiles
Don’t send it to landfill, your waste textiles can be so many things instead of going to landfill…
Art materials. Make creative works of art and craft from your unwanted clothes and textiles. A quick search online will show you lots of creative ideas to choose from.
Not ready to cut it up?
Pass It On. Donate your unwnated textiles to one of the many charities that operate Op Shops and social programs for people in need. There is sure to be one operating near you. And while the big charities are great, don’t forget your local community run Opportunity Shops.
OpShop.org is a free listing for stores selling goods for community and charitable organisations. The best site we know to find op shops, it’s better than a treasure map.
Fun fact – Rose the Exec Director at STA hasn’t bought a new garment in many years. All her clothes are second hand or made from recycled materials by creative people. True she is never seen in the latest fashions but her look is creative and eco-friendly.
Al Phemister Hope 2023
winner ot the WW2A Prize. Made from waste textiles with members of the community at a creative workshop.
The Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize is an annual Wollondilly Shire Council project delivered in partnership with STA.
Who is helping
- Clean Up Australia have a fab blog entry that’s full of easy tips and things to do. Top 10 ways to reduce fashion waste
- The Australian Government is acting on waste related to clothing textiles by funding the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme with The Australian Fashion Council. Find out more
- Charitable Recycling Australia is the national network of charitable purpose-driven reuse and recycling enterprises. Find out more.
- Thread Count, a data report intended to inform future waste initiatives in the state.
- ‘Recycle Mate’ app from the EPA – information about your council’s recycling collection system.
- Planet Ark have a great page where you can find local options to recycle your unwanted textiles. This page is an STA favourite, easy to read and packed with cool tips. Panet Ark reuse and recycling.
- Upparel – your unwanted items get a second life through reuse and recycling to help close the loop on textile waste. Check it out
Big Picture Thinking
Be a savvy consumer with the following tips.
- Reduce – Buy less clothes using the money you save to buy items that will last longer. Fast fashion is cheap and very, very nasty. Buy clothes that you like and feel good in rather than the fashion of the day.
- Reuse – In Australia, most clothes are worn an average of just seven times. If you buy clothes you really like you will want to wear them more.
- Recycle – Buy second hand and donate you unwanted textiles (in good condition) for someone else to use.
- Repair – Mend your clothes and wear them for longer. There are heaps of sewing groups and learn to sew options to show ou how. Ask around or serch online.
Get informed
- ABC News. Australia’s fashion waste is a growing problem, but these scientists say they have an answer
- CHOICE – Is Australia waking up to its textile waste problem? There’s no better place than Choice to visit before you buy anything.
- Yahoo News – How to avoid being duped by fast fashion: ‘Designed to fail’
- “Eight Storeys” is commenting on the supply and demand pressures of the fashion industry, drawing on the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh that occurred on April 24th 2013.
- The shirt on your back – The Guardian
- What can old clothes be made into right now? Puzzles, pillows and plastic pellets – The Guardian
Past Waste to Art Exhibitions
Waste to Art by Gunning Public School Sept-Oct 2023
Works of art created from waste materials by students at Gunning Public School
Steampunk Waste to Art 2022
At the Steampunk Victoriana Fair at Goulburn Waterworks.
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