Wearable arts extravaganza
A wondrous creation captured the top prize at the Evento extravaganza as the wearable arts showcase reflected on 20 years of ingenuity, colour and flair for design.
In its milestone year, Feilding High School’s major fundraiser had 48 students from 12 schools take to the Manfeild Park stage, competing in four categories.
Kaitlyn Johnston from Feilding High School was the supreme winner with her creation Dionaea Iridaaceae from the Nightmare before Evento category. The year 11 student said as a first-time entrant she was shocked at her win.
‘‘My costume took me a good solid eight weeks, I had no social life during that time.‘‘
Judge, previous Evento winner and Toi Whakaari graduate Jasmine Shadbolt said this year’s final decision was a unanimous one.
‘‘We actually decided really fast, the fastest we have ever decided, which was amazing. She definitely had an eye for detail, it was beautiful and it stood out from quite far away as well.‘‘
Director of Evento Amanda Street said the intention to think back about the show’s humble beginnings had been captured.
The wearable arts showcase started out as a small event in the school hall, moving on to the Civic Centre and then growing large enough to move to Manfeild Park six years ago.
‘‘It went amazingly well. I always get slightly concerned at the dress rehearsal because I start to second-guess myself and think ‘is it good enough?’,’’ Street said.
‘‘But then you get all these people and the kids just come alive and tonight they just lit up. And it was about our students that have always been at the centre of this.’’
The winners of the other three categories were: Danielle Fredrickson (Feilding High School) with Automaton from the Time category. Rene Williamson (Feilding High School) with When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade from the Yellow section, and Millie Law (Taihape Area School) with Blue Girl on a Wire from the No 8 category.
Rene Williamson also won the Westpac Design Scholarship worth $15,000.
All of the entries will be on display at the Feilding and District Art Centre.