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After its successful debut last year, Waipu Art in Motion organisers are once again inviting crafters, performers and designers from across Northland to unleash their creativity.
The event, which showcases imaginative handmade costumes and curious creations combined with movement and performance, returns in October with a few new additions to the programme.
Brought to Life celebrates movement through the ancient storytelling art of puppetry, while Accessory Alchemy invites creators to revamp the humble accessory. From hats to headpieces, wigs to scarves, handbags to shoes and anything else they can imagine.
Other categories include Upcycled and Unruly, From the Workshop, and Wear the Wonder.
Waipu Art in Motion artistic director, Debi Walters Brown, says that after the three-night sell-out success of last year, the team is looking forward to bringing more creativity to Waipū’s iconic Coronation Hall.
“We have extended the categories this year to include puppetry. You can make some amazing puppets out of cardboard and simple materials like sticks that allow the puppets to move,” Debi says.
Culture and mythology will also take centre stage once again, with participants invited to draw inspiration from myths and legends, real or imagined.
“We’ve got such diverse cultures in New Zealand,” Debi says. “We would love to see creations from a range of cultural communities that want to tell the story of a myth or legend that means something to them.”
With the From the Workshop category, Debi is also keen to see more men take part in the show.
“We want people to know it’s not women-exclusive. We want the blokes involved,” Debi says. “Last year, one of the most fabulous items was mechanically operated. It was a wonderful piece of work. We want to encourage people to make things out of anything, even what’s in the shed.”
Last year, the Best of the Bunch award went to teenager Kyla Mansell, who designed and made her own costume out of ties, while 12-year-old Charlie Brown won the Young Designer accolade with a costume created from rubbish collected on the beach.
The event raised $15,000 for the Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST), and proceeds from this year’s event will once again be donated to the lifesaving organisation.
Entries for Waipu Art in Motion are open until July 31. For more information, visit waipuartinmotion.org.
