The challenge for Salvage is this – keen artists are given the task of creating a piece of contemporary art from second-hand shop treasures and reused everyday materials. The only limit to what form it can take is the contestant’s imagination, which is clear to see when you take a look at the finalist entries. As well as the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing they are promoting sustainability and recycling, there’s an extra benefit to taking part in the show – the public (that’s you and me, folks) get to choose a favourite piece, with the top three artists winning a share of $5000 prize money. See, recycling really is the baller thing to do!
The actual exhibition isn’t the only thing going down at Salvage – there are a whole host of accompanying events and activations surrounding it that are designed to teach us a thing or two about sustainable living. Salvage Saturdays will be running to teach punters how to create magic from tragic (rag rugs and jeanbags, anyone?), you can hunt for second-hand finds on a Valley op-shop trail and even swing by The Pod in Brunswick Street Mall for a series of pop-ups and demos. This is just the tip of the iceberg – you can take a look at the whole jam-packed exhibition program over at the Brisbane City Council website.
In the words of a famous recycling maverick renegade, the power is yours – to vote for your favourite Salvage piece, swing by the Judith Wright Centre or jump online before Saturday August 19.
