December 8, 2010

Young talented Magnetic Island artists have used a sustainability ethos to create Christmas trees from recycled products.

Forty-eight artists from Magnetic Island Tropical Talent will exhibit their nine creations at the Solar City Smart Lifestyle Centre for one week from December 11.

Sponsored by the Townsville Queensland Solar City project, the artists, aged five to 16, have been working on the project for over six weeks and all trees incorporate a ‘green’ theme.

The project is the initiative of local professional artist Vonnie van Bemmel who said the ideas for the trees came from the students.

“The brief was very simple.  We wanted to create beautiful Christmas Trees that could symbolise how we can better use the resources of our planet.

“I provided a range of recycled materials that included everything from electrical wire, broken pencils, drift wood, used light bulbs that had been replaced with energy efficient ones by the Townsville Solar City project, old Bulletin newspapers, dried palm fronds and plastic bags - pretty much anything that was headed for landfill.  

“Following on from our very successful Re-Creation body of work last year, the kids were really determined to re-use items in their Christmas tree designs that would have normally been destined for the scrap heap.”

“The kids have put in a huge amount of work and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Of course, the whole thing has been made possible by the support of Solar City - and thanks to parents reading lots of Townsville Bulletins!” Vonnie said.

Solar City Community Engagement Manager Julie Heath said the project was a practical way for the students to integrate recycling into their everyday lives.

“When children learn why a particular behaviour is important, they often take it home to their families and encourage those behaviours within their own households.

“If we can promote energy efficient and more sustainable behaviours early, we hope these behaviours will be practised throughout their lives to create a positive generational change.” Julie said.

All nine trees will be auctioned with proceeds going back to the Tropical Talent artists to help with their next project. 

Ergon Energy’s award winning Magnetic Island Solar Suburb is the focal point of the Townsville Queensland Solar City project, an initiative of the Australian Government under the national Solar Cities program.

Ergon Energy’s award winning Magnetic Island Solar Suburb is the focal point of the Townsville Queensland Solar City project, an initiative of the Australian Government under the national Solar Cities program.