Thinking outside the square is a good thing when it comes to art according to Bogan Shire Council as they place the call out for the 2024 Waste to Art competition asking local residents to get creative.

“Recycling isn’t ALL about placing the right stuff into your yellow lidded bins – it can be about making really cool art,” according to a shire spokesperson.

The Shire is again participating in the NetWaste – Waste to Art competition and are hoping that residents of all ages will look at their rubbish in a new light and create a piece for a chance to win prizemoney.

“It’s a fun competition with categories for school children, adults and professional artists who can make a two-or-three-dimensional artwork from what might otherwise be consigned to the rubbish bin,” says Bogan Shire.

“This year’s featured waste material is “packaging” – but don’t worry if you’d rather use other materials because when it comes to this type of art, just about anything is fair game.”

“One person’s trash is another’s treasure! Material scraps, old clothing, scrap metal, plastic containers, bottles, cardboard, string, glass.”

Recycling artist Abigail McLaughlin. PHOTO SUPPLIED

Nyngan local Abigail McLaughlin has entered the competition for many years and says she enjoys the creative process.

“I love the W2A exhibition and find myself looking at every bottle or piece of plastic which I am about to throw in the bin and wonder if I should keep it to make art,” laughs Mrs McLaughlin.

“I now have a recycling bin and an art bin. The art bin is getting so big that I am going to have to up my game making things, or it might take over the little space I call my studio.”

“I’m inspired by what’s around me. For the past two years I’ve used plastic containers and other bits and bobs to make little dogs. I’ve paper mached them and painted them and used plastic bags or material scraps to make them clothing (superhero capes) or fur.”

“This year I have started on a different idea which is getting completely out of control as my imagination takes off. I expect it will take a few all-nighters if I’m to finish it. I have to try fit it around my day job unfortunately,” said Mrs. Mclaughlin.

Abigail McLaughlin's 2023 entry had success.

Bill Tink from NetWaste visited Nyngan last week conducting workshops with school students and local community members with tips on how to create awesome projects and the importance of waste in and to the environment.

Waste 2 Art’s aim is to challenge people’s perceptions about ‘rubbish’ and to celebrate the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts.

Waste to Art provides an innovative approach to waste education, invites school and community groups to take up the challenge and create a new life for materials that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Bill Tink NetWaste Project Co-ordinator

“To enter the competition, grab a form from the Council offices or find one on the Bogan Shire Website. Take a look before you start so you are sure you keep to the rules and can decide which category to place your masterpiece.”

Entries will be judged and displayed at the Nyngan Show on 5-6 May. The finalists will proceed to regional judging.