Fairytale win for artist

It was the spirit within the sculpture of The Owl and the Pussycat which captured the hearts of the judges at this year’s Castaways Sculpture Awards.

Once again, the Rockingham foreshore was littered with genius works made from recycled materials for the City of Rockingham’s annual environmentally friendly art show.

There were a range of pieces made from metal poles, old towels, seaweed, shoes, milk bottles and even CDs, but a recycled old kayak by Susie Marwick and Tony Connor won the $5000 Alcoa Major Prize for their piece.

Marwick said it was a great surprise to win the award.

“It is an old-fashioned thing but always with my little sculptures I go for the heart in them — I always go for something that is emotive,” she said.

The North Fremantle artist said she came up with the idea when she found an old kayak lying in a skip bin and, with the help of her partner Tony, a sailor and architect, designed a miniature boat in which to place the characters from the classic poem.

Marwick, who was a shoe maker for 35 years, said she moved into painting and sculpting later in life and loved the competition.

“It is so funky and innovative and I love the mixture of art you get here and the idea of recycling.”

Second prize, of $3000, went to Location, Location, Location by Carmel Warner.

Tim Leaversuch received the City of Rockingham prize, also $3000, for Ambitions.

Other winners included Gail Marie Farquhar for Sea Change, Cameron Power and Jeff Cork for their floating piece Fantastic and the PROSPECT Multicultural Youth Group Voting for the People’s Choice Award continues at a kiosk on the foreshore until Sunday, May 19.