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Exhibition guide
Waste to Art 2020 |
Wednesday 28 October - Sunday 13 December 2020
SEEN@Swansea exhibition space First floor mezzanine, The Swansea Centre, 228 Pacific Highway, Swansea. Open 7 days, 10am-2pm |
We are thrilled to showcase these works highlighting issues of waste, litter and overconsumption, and exploring how we can rethink, repurpose, reuse and repair.
Artworks are the creation of community members, artists, community groups, preschool groups, and school students from across the Lake Macquarie region. We are thankful to the artists for donating their considered and thought-provoking works for the exhibition.
Explore the artworks for yourself, and consider how we can change what we do to create a better world.
Visit the exhibition before 13 December.
Artworks are the creation of community members, artists, community groups, preschool groups, and school students from across the Lake Macquarie region. We are thankful to the artists for donating their considered and thought-provoking works for the exhibition.
Explore the artworks for yourself, and consider how we can change what we do to create a better world.
Visit the exhibition before 13 December.
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Stephen Allen
Healing Robots In late 2019 I sustained a broken wrist on my master hand as a result of a bicycle accident in Norway. I had to abandon my holiday and fly back to Australia for immediate surgery. Post Surgery I now have a metal plate and 9 screws in my wrist which will remain in place permanently. My family likes to joke that I’m now part robotic like Steve Austins’ Six Million Dollar Man. During my 6 months recovery I had numerous physio exercises I had to perform to regain mobility, but I was restless and needed more to do. I set myself a project to build several robots out of metallic waste items which would not only reduce waste but would provide additional exercise for my injury. On completion I dubbed them my “Healing Robots” as they did in fact help me regain mobility in my now part metallic left hand. They now live in my loungeroom and make great conversation pieces as nobody has seen anything quite like them. All the parts were found at the Salamander Bay Recycle Centre over numerous visits. |
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Parts that I can identify include; a shower head, bathroom plumbing, camping lantern, wheel bearings, car oil filter, petrol cap, scaffolding turnbuckles, pressure gauges, clamps, spanners, springs and kitchen doorknobs. I have no idea what the cast iron grey metal boxes are that form their torso, but I was glad to find 3 of these as they give a consistency to all 3 robots. I was inspired by not only my new titanium wrist but by science fiction comics and movies I read and watched as a child growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s like “Lost In Space”. To me art is letting your imagination run free and creating works that tell the story of who you are from a visual perspective.
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Tracie Axton
Cellules en Plastique Wearable Assemblage using found plastics, aluminium wire. Price: Contact artist Pop art and the notion of consumerism and wearable art have played a major role in my own art practice. As an artist and teacher, I take responsibility for our environmental footprint and support environmentally sustainable initiatives. I collected all the plastic for my wearable assemblages along the shoreline and waterways. My goal with my artwork is to use beauty as a call to action. Each little piece of detritus has a story to tell in its connection to human life and a culture obsessed by convenience. |
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Belmont North Preschool
The Dingle Dangle Rubbish Scarecrow Our scarecrow was a collaborative group project during Term 3 2020. We asked for donations from families and looked at creative ways we could re-use and re-purpose those items that would have otherwise ended up in landfill. We spend a lot of time in our front garden at preschool, tending to and caring for our many fruit, vegetable and herb plants. We believe that it is important for children to have meaningful and hands on connections to the natural environment. We had noticed earlier this year that something (possibly our resident possum!) had been helping itself to some of our delicious fruits and it was decided that our current scarecrow wasn't doing a very good job of protecting our gardens.
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This triggered the idea to build our own scarecrow - a big one - to stand tall and protective in our front yard warding off those day and night time critters and creatures. In our daily Acknowledgment of Country recited with the children, we make a commitment to take care of the Awabakal land. This has led us to more vigorously and intentionally embed and weave sustainable practices into our program. We decided that our Build a Scarecrow project would be centred around the REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE principles. So rather than buying anything new, we would use what we could find, what families donated and what we had lying around that would otherwise end up in landfill. Then together we worked over a 10 week period to creatively incorporate these items into our sculpture.
Diana Boyd
I love her jewel sea
Artwork series depicting Lake Macquarie and our beautiful beaches. Inspired by the poem 'My Country' by Dorothea MacKellar, and in particular the line; I love her jewel-sea.
Given our location to beaches and the lake it was easy to find subject matter for my piece. I walk the foreshore daily but get very disheartened and overwhelmed by the waste that washes up, in particular the plastic, balloons and styrofoam.
Materials include aluminium can, fire extinguisher tag, wineglass, Venetian blinds, soldering Wire, copper wire, plastic pen lids, zipper, timber building material, Paper bag handles.
$145 for each artwork in the series
I love her jewel sea
Artwork series depicting Lake Macquarie and our beautiful beaches. Inspired by the poem 'My Country' by Dorothea MacKellar, and in particular the line; I love her jewel-sea.
Given our location to beaches and the lake it was easy to find subject matter for my piece. I walk the foreshore daily but get very disheartened and overwhelmed by the waste that washes up, in particular the plastic, balloons and styrofoam.
Materials include aluminium can, fire extinguisher tag, wineglass, Venetian blinds, soldering Wire, copper wire, plastic pen lids, zipper, timber building material, Paper bag handles.
$145 for each artwork in the series
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Diana Boyd
Moonlit Sea Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, fly spray can, milk bottle, discarded fishing braid. Sold 
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Diana Boyd
Let's take the boat out Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, zipper, hardwood flooring, pen lid, timber venetian blinds, aluminium welding wire. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Shimmering Sea Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, aluminium can, steel tacks $145 
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Diana Boyd
Sunshiny day Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, wine glass, discarded string. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Low tide Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, cedar venetian blinds, copper wire. $145 
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Diana Boyd
View to the other side Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, paper bag handle, discarded string. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Micro plastic - a message in a bottle Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, milk bottle, copper wire, oil bottle, champagne cork, plastic lid. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Room with a view Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, copper wire, red gum, sheoak. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Tide marks Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, discarded fishing line, timber venetian blinds. $145 
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Diana Boyd
The mooring Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, timber venetian blinds, hardwood flooring, aluminium welding wire, copper wire. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Sail Me Away Hoop pine floor board, denim jeans, fire extinguisher tag, venetian blind, Hardwood floor board, copper wire. $145 
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Diana Boyd
Barnacles Hoop pine flooring, denim jeans, leather handbag, polyester string. $145 
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Tammy Briggs
Blue light chromatics Sculpture from found objects reclaimed from curb side throw out and dumped in bushland. It is an exploration of how the ‘Hand of Creativity’ is inspired by repurposing the obsoleted use of an object to create a work of art that will persevere through the human need of discarding something just because they have had it a ‘long time’, and perhaps reinstate the value of the individual elements by placing them under the gaze of ‘high Art'. |
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Caves Beach Crop Swap
Rubbish Reef A disturbing mosaic showcasing the price of high convenience - disposable, limited-use plastics that are used once before being thrown “away.” But there is no “away.” Only here. This small blue planet we call home. Can you see...? Take a close look at the artwork and see what you can find:
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What you see in this artwork is a tiny portion of that plastic waste.
My friend, Helen, diligently collected this rubbish (and a lot more besides) from her winter walks along the beach. She delivered these to my front porch by the bucket load, where I proceeded to dry and sort it by colour.
If you stay and look long enough you will see the same patterns that I began to see: most of this material is small, broken bits of single or limited use plastic. The lollipop sticks are prolific. As are bottle caps, chunks of polystyrene, bean bag filler, fluorescent glow sticks for night fishing, tile spacers and silicon tube caps. We found straws and soy sauce packets, fragments of balloons with their ribbons still attached, clothing and bread tags, empty coffee pods and lids of every description. Helen’s deliveries included pieces of netting, clothes pegs, lost sandals, lolly packaging and even a used syringe. Much of it though, has been broken down beyond recognition, small brittle fragments termed “micro-plastic.” When it came time to construct the artwork it was clear that a majority of the material was white. I thought of the Great Barrier Reef - facing the peril of increasingly frequent bleaching events that scour the coral to shades of ivory. The result is the artwork you see before you now: a disturbing mosaic showcasing the price of high convenience.
My friend, Helen, diligently collected this rubbish (and a lot more besides) from her winter walks along the beach. She delivered these to my front porch by the bucket load, where I proceeded to dry and sort it by colour.
If you stay and look long enough you will see the same patterns that I began to see: most of this material is small, broken bits of single or limited use plastic. The lollipop sticks are prolific. As are bottle caps, chunks of polystyrene, bean bag filler, fluorescent glow sticks for night fishing, tile spacers and silicon tube caps. We found straws and soy sauce packets, fragments of balloons with their ribbons still attached, clothing and bread tags, empty coffee pods and lids of every description. Helen’s deliveries included pieces of netting, clothes pegs, lost sandals, lolly packaging and even a used syringe. Much of it though, has been broken down beyond recognition, small brittle fragments termed “micro-plastic.” When it came time to construct the artwork it was clear that a majority of the material was white. I thought of the Great Barrier Reef - facing the peril of increasingly frequent bleaching events that scour the coral to shades of ivory. The result is the artwork you see before you now: a disturbing mosaic showcasing the price of high convenience.
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Caves Beach Uniting Preschool
Rubbish Collector Jellyfish Our artwork is about the ocean and rubbish at the beach. We chose an ocean animal because they live in the sea. We used rubbish found on the beach and items for recycling. We also used paint, rope, plastic tubes and cuttlefish. We made it to save the animals, to help the animals from getting sick, and help them from dying of rubbish. The animals might get strangled from the rubbish in the ocean. |
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Jeff Carr
POLLY Hand made from curb side furniture throw outs, with a dress made from chair backs, rope for hair, some chunky table legs, and a big smile, Polly is the best company for a cuppa. 
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Jeff Carr
SQUID Hand made from curb side furniture throw outs. This piece is made from different shape chairs. 
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Jeff Carr
TICKA Hand made from curb side furniture throw outs. This piece came together with some nice curved timber furniture. Attitude with a cuppa in hand. 
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Jeff Carr
Elephant Hand made from curb side furniture throw outs. This one is a favourite piece, holds a plant in its back. Ears are chair backs and table legs have been used a lot. 
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Read more about Jeff and his upcycling story in this Newcastle Weekly article.
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Clear Sky Australia
Coral Sculpture from packaging, broken plastic clothes pegs, takeaway coffee cups and lids, plastic mesh bags, plastic, rope, sea sponges, flora, acrylic paint. Materials were gathered from home waste, apartment garden, Carrington mangroves and Merewether beach. Artwork created by Clear Sky Australia, Clear Creations, Tegan Kacev, Daniel Burgess, Jonathan Palmer, Kate Fairbairn, Chris Berends, Keely Bowe and Jessica Cousins. “Why should we go on poisoning life on Earth” ~Sir David Attenborough The idea of the coral reef sprung from a separate artwork where we used sea sponges for printing, we thought they looked like coral and decided to mimic a small piece of a great reef, using Waste. The colourful materials depict living coral and the white materials represent bleached, dying coral. The cause of coral bleaching can be connected to climate change which can also be linked to mass production leading to mass waste. We hoped this sculpture would bring hope and awareness and life back into the reef. 
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Alexandra Cottle
The artworks highlight the theme of ‘waste to art’ by focusing on the issue of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem. The artwork illustrates the many plastic waste items which are commonly used and disposed of in our daily lives. These include plastic bags, fresh fruit stickers, bread clips, and plastic packaging. These items all pose serious negative impacts on marine organisms via toxic chemicals leaching from the materials as well as potential physical harm caused by the hazardous nature of the materials as foreign objects in the environment. Such impacts can not only cause harm on an individual and species level, but also lead to potential disruptions of the natural cycles of the marine ecosystems as a result of alterations of food webs and population distributions. Through the creation of my artwork I hope to emphasise the urgency to address these issues; it’s time to become aware of alternatives and take action to preserve our amazing marine environment.
Learn more about Alexandra and her work at enamouredsea.yolasite.com.
The artworks highlight the theme of ‘waste to art’ by focusing on the issue of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem. The artwork illustrates the many plastic waste items which are commonly used and disposed of in our daily lives. These include plastic bags, fresh fruit stickers, bread clips, and plastic packaging. These items all pose serious negative impacts on marine organisms via toxic chemicals leaching from the materials as well as potential physical harm caused by the hazardous nature of the materials as foreign objects in the environment. Such impacts can not only cause harm on an individual and species level, but also lead to potential disruptions of the natural cycles of the marine ecosystems as a result of alterations of food webs and population distributions. Through the creation of my artwork I hope to emphasise the urgency to address these issues; it’s time to become aware of alternatives and take action to preserve our amazing marine environment.
Learn more about Alexandra and her work at enamouredsea.yolasite.com.
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Alexandra Cottle
Hermit crab Made with a plastic bag spiral shell with fresh fruit sticker legs and bread clip claws. $15 
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Alexandra Cottle
Seagull Made of plastic bags with bread clip features $20 
Alexandra Cottle
Fishing trawler Made with fresh fruit plastic containers, plastic bag waves crashing along its sides, and an onion bag trawling net filled with sushi soy sauce fish shaped plastic containers. $20 
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Alexandra Cottle
Water paintings
A4 watercolour paintings expressing the issues of plastic pollution on marine organisms. A hermit crab trapped in a plastic bottle. A seahorse trapped in a plastic bottle. An octopus collecting various plastic beverage items.
$90 each
Water paintings
A4 watercolour paintings expressing the issues of plastic pollution on marine organisms. A hermit crab trapped in a plastic bottle. A seahorse trapped in a plastic bottle. An octopus collecting various plastic beverage items.
$90 each
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Christine Douglass
Inquisitive Acrylic over newspaper on pre-used stretch canvas |
Christine Douglass
Firestorm Acrylic pour and resin over curb side pick up print frame |
Dudley Public School
The theme of our work is protecting the local marine life, drawing inspiration from the ocean next to the school. Created using recycled bottle tops on wood panels.
The theme of our work is protecting the local marine life, drawing inspiration from the ocean next to the school. Created using recycled bottle tops on wood panels.
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Squirt
Squirt was created by Sarah H, Holly W, Olivia S, Shevy C, Anna G, Arlo B, and Rex W. 
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Deep Sea Giant
Created by Mia L, Hannah L, Bridie R, Elle P, Sophia R, Sofia B and Shamphu. 
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Gurtle the Turtle
Created by Evie T, Archie A, Freya K, Finn M, Bailey N, Evan B and Lilly C. 
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Rainbow Waters
Created by Noa M, Jessica H, Max M, Hamish I, Aleena S, Daisy L, Samantha P, and Taj H. 
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Margrete Erling
Wheelie Waste My sculpture utilises bicycle wheels that were removed off our old bikes before they were collected by bulk waste collection in August 2020. The wheels form a sphere, representing the waste recycling - reuse - repurpose cycle. |
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Ben Gibson
Recycled Skate Wood
The bulk of my material is sourced from a handful of local pro and amateur skateboarders from the Lake Macquarie/Newcastle area. However, it was my son and his collection of old skate decks that inspired me to create something useful from them.
Price: Contact artist
Recycled Skate Wood
The bulk of my material is sourced from a handful of local pro and amateur skateboarders from the Lake Macquarie/Newcastle area. However, it was my son and his collection of old skate decks that inspired me to create something useful from them.
Price: Contact artist
I turn old and broken skateboard decks that were destined for landfill into beautiful pieces of usable art. The skate decks are stripped of their grip tape and roughly ground both sides with a grinder to remove any glue residue and skatepark crud. The various sections of the deck are cut out and glued depending on the item being made. Once glued, the timber is roughly shaped before being turned on a lathe into the finished piece. It is sanded and sealed with a food grade polish.
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Leanda and Eva Guy (Two Guys Fishing)
The Flotsam and Jetsom Throne
My granddaughter Eva and I collected and reused fishing related litter and items and made it into a sculpture that heightens the awareness of the damage it can cause in the Lake Macquarie area and beyond.
Eva is 9 years old and Leanda is 60 but we just love working together and we often laugh at what we two girls with the last name Guy can achieve.
Eva is also trying to make the problem of fishing related litter a priority after she found a bundle of line with hook and bait still attached at our local boat ramp. To say she was upset would be an understatement as she loves to feed the pelicans and values her fishing experience so much that she wants to ensure Lake Macquarie remains a pristine environment for everyone to share for ever.
The Flotsam and Jetsom Throne
My granddaughter Eva and I collected and reused fishing related litter and items and made it into a sculpture that heightens the awareness of the damage it can cause in the Lake Macquarie area and beyond.
Eva is 9 years old and Leanda is 60 but we just love working together and we often laugh at what we two girls with the last name Guy can achieve.
Eva is also trying to make the problem of fishing related litter a priority after she found a bundle of line with hook and bait still attached at our local boat ramp. To say she was upset would be an understatement as she loves to feed the pelicans and values her fishing experience so much that she wants to ensure Lake Macquarie remains a pristine environment for everyone to share for ever.
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Melinda Hicks
I have been sewing costumes from whatever I can source at the op shops. Turning sheets and curtains into something very different. Melinda Hicks
Chanel Jacket Chanel Jacket. Sustainably sourced from local op-shop. $4 ugly winter jacket. $5 yellow stain sheet set. $1 ball of knitting wool. Pearl beads from wedding dress found on kerb side. 9hrs reading and watching videos on Chanel Jacket crafting. 26 hrs of cutting, machine sewing and hand sewing. 
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Melinda Hicks
French Court Dress Costume a la polonaise (French walking dress). The most fun costume I made and all sustainably sourced.$7 double bed quilt set from local op shop X 2. $3 single bed skirt. $2 lace curtain. 16hr of cutting and sewing. |
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Creating couture from waste
Check out this great story created by French for Tuesday, talking with Melinda Hicks about her journey to create couture dresses from a variety of waste materials. |
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Zoe Humphrey
Wall hanging This hanging represents the ocean, lake, wave and beach we are lucky enough to be surrounded by. With our current world situation and damage to our coastline we all take for granted! $600 |
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Sandra Irwin
Terracotta Fruit Bowl
Items found in an old shed at a deceased estate. Terracotta pots have been repurposed into a delightful fruit bowl. Acrylic paint.
Terracotta Fruit Bowl
Items found in an old shed at a deceased estate. Terracotta pots have been repurposed into a delightful fruit bowl. Acrylic paint.
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Mardi Lee
DarNET
Created from marine waste collected arounds Swansea-Caves Beach and the Central Coast; elastic bands; bread tag; produce netting and handmade paper.
Price: Contact artist
DarNET
Created from marine waste collected arounds Swansea-Caves Beach and the Central Coast; elastic bands; bread tag; produce netting and handmade paper.
Price: Contact artist
Waste conjures up a motley mess of blacks, greys, and browns - a disarray of worthless, useless or defective stuff. When foraging and sourcing waste for this project, I naturally wanted to classify my waste collection into their respective colour hues. It made waste feel more palatable and useful.
I found the less-loved colours, but there was also an extraordinary amount of coloured waste. Curating the waste into ROYGBIV (colours of the rainbow) felt natural for me to sequentially order things and stuff.
Rainbow coloured food produce & toy netting bags are the foundation of the piece. Pieces of weathered marine debris and elastic bands are hand-sewn into the netting. They represent the ongoing loss of creatures and animals in our water and land from human consumption and control.
The hanging branch shows how the extraordinary amount of waste we produce has outweighed and overtaken our natural environment.
The solo bread tag is in recognition of the unique work of my creative friend Shani from The Breadtag Project. Shani’s artistic bread tag showcase, made from this ubiquitous piece of everyday plastic, has been my inspiration to my first ever creative project.
I found the less-loved colours, but there was also an extraordinary amount of coloured waste. Curating the waste into ROYGBIV (colours of the rainbow) felt natural for me to sequentially order things and stuff.
Rainbow coloured food produce & toy netting bags are the foundation of the piece. Pieces of weathered marine debris and elastic bands are hand-sewn into the netting. They represent the ongoing loss of creatures and animals in our water and land from human consumption and control.
The hanging branch shows how the extraordinary amount of waste we produce has outweighed and overtaken our natural environment.
The solo bread tag is in recognition of the unique work of my creative friend Shani from The Breadtag Project. Shani’s artistic bread tag showcase, made from this ubiquitous piece of everyday plastic, has been my inspiration to my first ever creative project.
I collected materials from a variety of sources.
- Marine Waste - The plastic marine waste was either sourced between Caves Beach-Swansea North and my walks between Forresters Beach-Bateau Bay on the Central Coast. The beach litter filled my backpack, especially after a number of containers fell overboard in the May 2020 rough seas.
- Elastic bands - it’s amazing how many we accumulate from surplus business supplies and produce. My aim was to find elastic bands of every colour. There are two elastic band colours missing from my artwork.
- Breadtag - I have a growing collection of these little rainbow-coloured pieces of plastic ready for The Breadtag Project
- Textile Waste - From my embroidery collection, stored in Grace Bros paper bags.
- Netting Produce - from friends and family who have supported my creative project from the beginning and have become more mindful about waste
- Handmade paper - making coloured paper from used and discarded paper products is a skill my friend Fleur has perfected.
I hope my artwork will be the impetus for personal and community change in how we value and think about waste. Waste has become entrenched in our current way of living. We need to change our norms and place a greater value on waste. By valuing rubbish, we are more inclined to look after it, making it easier to see we are on a better path to sustainability.
Let’s start being the change we want to see. How will you start reducing waste?
Mardi is a Lake Mac local eco living advocate & educator. As the founder of frenchfortuesday.com.au, Mardi shares stories of our local changemakers who genuinely help us tread more lightly & live more resourcefully for the wellbeing of people and planet.
Let’s start being the change we want to see. How will you start reducing waste?
Mardi is a Lake Mac local eco living advocate & educator. As the founder of frenchfortuesday.com.au, Mardi shares stories of our local changemakers who genuinely help us tread more lightly & live more resourcefully for the wellbeing of people and planet.
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Julie Moakes La Belle Hand Made Mannequin. Made with 80% vintage broken jewellery, and adorned with left over and broken pearls, faux pearls, brooches, earrings, necklaces, lace and feathers. $2,900 Made with 80% vintage broken jewellery, some removable and wearable, some signed from the 20s to the 90s. It is adorned with left over and broken pearls, faux pearls, brooches, earrings and necklaces also vintage lace and some feathers. With crystal beads and parts of signed earrings and brooches all layered on to the piece with hanging vintage necklaces and pins. A fairy tale look which was inspired by Art Deco, 20s style. Pink brooches and necklaces are placed discretely for breast cancer for which I went through twice. The Mannequin took more than 150 hours to make. It is a statement piece to style your shop or your walk in robe or where you would like it. This art work was created when depressed and quite ill going through the cancer and a serious arthritis journey. I started an online business when bored and ill, and started to sell my vintage collections. It kept me busy when all I could move was my arms. The information on vintage costume jewellery consumed me, and got me away from all my problems. I just couldn't breath with the amount of facts I was learning. It was brilliant but I collected a whole room full of broken and left over pieces. I then got into mannequins and along with my site 'crytoleave' on etsy this is the result.
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Pam Morton
Just in time Clock picked up from an op shop. The mosaic is made from recycled metal, old cracked plates and broken tiles left over from tiling jobs and given to me by people who know what I do with them. $300 (Proceeds to the Children's Education Foundation, Vietnam.) |
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New Lambton South Public School
The Sea Visual Art classes Stage One (year 1 and 2) were following a unit based on "The Sea". Art making involved drawing, painting and mixed media. Alison Lester's book "Magic Beach" provided inspiration in creating an underwater world where jellyfish could swim and float with their friends. The mobiles became blooms: filled with each child's jellyfish created from all things found in a recycling bin. The collected waste was transformed to create a sensory of work of art!
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Vicki O'Kane
Treasures found in books I love the discoveries in old books, whether it is a heartfelt dedication from a loved one, or the way the page has discoloured over time. There are always surprises. I value the binding textile, its like an ancient artifact. The embossing on old hardcovers. Each book can be appreciated for so much more than just the literary content. Price: Contact artist |
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Jill Overton
Look and See Created from an old drawer, milk bottle cap inserts, broken mirror, cotton string, glue. Behind the curtain is a mirror with “ME” written. In 1993 I began with a volunteer group organised by Canterbury Council and EPA teaching how to live with less waste. It is sad that simple ideas that were around so long ago are still not being implemented. |
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Kay Pittelkow
I am a local artist from Wangi Wangi on Lake Macquarie, I handmake jewellery, homewares, and accessories for sale at markets under the banner of StudioKY. I handcraft most of the elements of the jewellery including my own beads. My work is characterized by colour and unusual design. My love of sculpture has led me to make jewellery that is more sculptural than anything else. My sculpture is mainly residential scale and is often figurative and often unusual.
I am a local artist from Wangi Wangi on Lake Macquarie, I handmake jewellery, homewares, and accessories for sale at markets under the banner of StudioKY. I handcraft most of the elements of the jewellery including my own beads. My work is characterized by colour and unusual design. My love of sculpture has led me to make jewellery that is more sculptural than anything else. My sculpture is mainly residential scale and is often figurative and often unusual.
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Soft drink bottle art
I am fascinated by the transformation that takes place when a discarded soft drink bottle takes on a new purpose. It is greater than most other material because it is the FUNCTION of the soft drink bottle we identify with. When that function is no more we not only look at the new function but we also see the material (polyester) for the first time. To take advantage of that “WOW – It’s a soft drink bottle” reaction I leave evidence of the original shape in the new piece. These are the vessels. These vessels, often with the petal connected by a thin filament make use of the incredible strength of the polyester – the same material used to make a lot of the clothes you wear everyday. During manufacture of soft drink bottles different parts of the shape are subject to different forces. This means that when you heat a piece of soft drink bottle the twists and deformation that takes place changes depending on its original position on the bottle. |
Soft drink flower coloured vessel. Decorated using a soldering iron and alcohol inks. $20
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To make jewellery I take advantage of polyester’s lightness, transparency, and strength but, most importantly I make use of the knowledge of the original manufacturing process. When you design pieces you must choose if you are going to make use of the “organic” shape-shifting or its strength.
Soft drink bottle disc necklace.
To make this cut discs from soft drink bottles, hold over a tea candle to gently deform shape. Colour edges and then pierce a hole before threading on to beading wire or cord.
$60
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Soft drink bottle "snail" necklace.
Made from strips of soft drink bottles. $80
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Soft drink bottle vessel.
Decorated by soldering iron.
Soft drink vase. Clear plastic bottle decorated with soldering iron. $20
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Soft drink bottle earring - blue and clear. Decorated using a soldering iron and alcohol inks. $20
Soft drink bottle earring - green and yellow.
Cut from a mineral water bottle and coloured with alcohol inks.
$15
Soft drink bottle cuff with blue flower. Decorated using a soldering iron and alcohol inks. $20
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Kay Pittelkow
Bike Tube Jewellery Jewellery is not going to rid the world of the disposal problem with the millions of discarded non degradable bike tubes each year BUT we can take one step at a time. I took on the challenge of using bike tubes to make jewellery for the 2019 exhibition, but I wanted to make it without laser cutters or other expensive tools. I have always had an interest in empowering children to make their own clothes, shoes or accessories and in the back of my mind is that bike tubes are an excellent material for children: cutting is easy and they can sew to join or glue if they are older. Inspiration for my designs has come from diverse sources but primarily paper jewellery. Bike tubes are a matt black so I usually incorporate some colourful beads (from discarded jewellery) but paints may be used. |
Bike inner tube "snail" necklace. Strips of inner tube painted with alcohol ink and strung into snail beads. $80
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Bike inner tube disc necklace. Punched discs strung together. $60
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Bike inner tube floral necklace. Strips of inner tube braided using an ancient Roman technique. Punched discs are pinched to form flower petals and wired to braid. $60
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Cherie Platen
Reflections of the past
My slumped glass mirror is made from 100% landfill items from a street clean up.
$250
As a glass artist I am constantly on the hunt to repurpose this item. A broken window was kiln fired into a frame, an old mirror from a plastic frame repurposed, and the hanging mechanism was made from metal draw runners.
I recycle in my studio glass that would normally go to landfill eg, shattered toughened glass from doors and walls, glass panels turned into garden art, broken coffee and dining tables, windows - all made into useable and fun home decor.
Reflections of the past
My slumped glass mirror is made from 100% landfill items from a street clean up.
$250
As a glass artist I am constantly on the hunt to repurpose this item. A broken window was kiln fired into a frame, an old mirror from a plastic frame repurposed, and the hanging mechanism was made from metal draw runners.
I recycle in my studio glass that would normally go to landfill eg, shattered toughened glass from doors and walls, glass panels turned into garden art, broken coffee and dining tables, windows - all made into useable and fun home decor.
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Cherie Platen
Smashed This piece is kiln fired and slumped from a shattered sliding screen door. $120 
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Maya Podsosonnaya
I like to work with denim, its unique texture and character. But these works are not only about material. They were inspired by bird’s eye view images: patchwork of towns, fields, forests and meandering creeks. Imagine you flying above the beautiful land of your fantasy. Maya Podsosonnaya
Bed cover 
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Maya Podsosonnaya
Denim Skirt 
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Brendon Ussher
Scorpion A scorpion sculpture made from recycled jewellery, sterling silver and 9 CT gold. Price: Contact artist Brendon is a Newcastle based silversmith who works with recycled and repurposed jewellery to create sculptures based on the shapes and anatomy of nature The Scorpion is formed from sterling silver and 9K yellow gold, and is constructed in an unplanned and haphazard nature to reflect the chaos of the natural world, and to contrast the precise, highly meticulous planning that is a requirement for most other silver and goldsmiths. The scorpion is the first completed sculpture by this emerging Novacastrian artist. |
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Natasha Wilson
A drop of ocean water My project has been made out of the everyday item - A milk bottle. The creatures are microscopic organisms found within a singular ocean drop- showing how many creatures are killed in just a single ocean drop when plastic is carelessly tossed. Price: Contact artist Natasha first exhibited this work at the MAC First Class 19 exhibition.
Download a fun colouring activity based on Natasha's work. |
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Keep in touch and become a Sustainable Neighbour
Join our friendly team of more than 270 volunteers. Meet new people who share your passion, gain some work experience or share your knowledge.
We offer a range of roles to suit your availability and interests. You can help irregularly, for example, helping to set up at a workshop; participating in working bees; letterbox drops; fundraising barbecues; clean up events; providing morning tea and more!
Specialist roles include media and marketing; bookkeeping; project management; event management; group leadership; advocacy; fundraising; volunteer recruitment and support.
We offer a range of roles to suit your availability and interests. You can help irregularly, for example, helping to set up at a workshop; participating in working bees; letterbox drops; fundraising barbecues; clean up events; providing morning tea and more!
Specialist roles include media and marketing; bookkeeping; project management; event management; group leadership; advocacy; fundraising; volunteer recruitment and support.
Check out other Sustainable Neighbourhood projects.
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Find a group near you
Contact the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance for more information.
You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Find a group near you
Contact the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance for more information.
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This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy.
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