The Good Op Shop’s new community award, ‘The Better Shape Up Upcycling Award’, is encouraging people to make new things out of items that were destined for landfill.
A panel of three judges recently decided the winner of the inaugural award’s three different award categories, but the People’s Choice vote is still open to the public until November 30.
To vote, head over to The Good Op Shop’s Facebook page to ‘like’ the photo of the entry that you think should win the $100 award. The image with the most likes will win.
The three categories were created to help Mount Alexander Shire people think: ‘what is the benefit of upcycling?’
The Emerald prize was for the item that resulted in the most waste reduction; the Silver prize was for the most interesting new idea or use of a waste item, and the Ruby prize was for the most artistic. The winner of each category won $300.
“We wanted to encourage people to see waste as something valuable. To see it as a way to make something new, rather than as an item of rubbish,” said Tiffany Inglis, co-founder of The Good Op Shop. “And we’ve had some fantastic entries!”
The judging panel, Izzy Harrod (Castlemaine Secondary College representative), Sam Deal (local sculptor) and Ella Hughes (a local ceramicist), chose the winners from 18 entries.
“We had a lot of fun talking about each entry and how it related to the criteria,” Ella said. “They were so interesting and inspiring.”
The Emerald Award went to Samantha Wittenberg who made a rag rug entitled ‘Pink Sea Dream’ made from sheets, old clothes too worn to be used, cotton, acrylic and silk.
The Silver Award was given to Anj Neal who entered a doorstop called ‘Byrdjil’. It is made from the base of a 20-year-old broken blender, discarded clothing, an old head massager, piece of old irrigation, broken ball, offcuts of ribbon, old buttons, and bits of metal.
“I love the way everyone interpreted their entries so differently,” Izzy said, “And really thought about the impact that we are having on the environment.”
The Ruby Award was jointly won by Bev Lewis and Rhyll Plant.
Bev’s underwear entitled ‘I’m Watching You’ is made from recycled clothing and old pillowcases; while Rhyll’s ‘Plane Sailing’ sculpture is made from an old wood plane, wooden op shop items, tent struts for masts, op shop cloth and string.
“The variety of entries was so impressive,” Sam said, “As was the creativity and detail that people went to.”
