Fun holiday ride with a bird theme
WITH bikes colourfully decorated, they were ready for takeoff.
That was more or less the sight at Weston yesterday at Art on Bikes, one of several events held in the Waitaki district as part of the Waitaki Arts Festival’s opening weekend.
Most of the children taking part in the fun ride on a section of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle trail had created birdthemed masks for their helmets and wings out of material they pinned on themselves with safety pins, at the Forrester Gallery’s school holiday programme.
One of those was Oamaru’s Marlow Kruskopf, who specifically stated he was an albatross and not one of those pesky seagulls spotted in certain areas of Oamaru.
He was not the only one that got in on the act.
Twins Sophia and Grace Gaukrodger (12), of Sydney, are holidaying in the district and have been helping tail lambs at their grandparents farm in Awamoko, inland from Oamaru.
They both made masks and attached streamers to their bikes.
Grace said the concept was enjoyable.
‘‘It’s cool. It’s fun. It’s decorative and it’s fun to make stuff.’’
Forrester Gallery education curator Liz King said the bird theme, which focused on the yelloweyed penguin, black stilt, kea and North Otago shag, proved a hit with those at the programme.
There was also a focus on sustainability.
Streamers were made out of old scarves, flowers were used as decorations instead of balloons and recycled material was use to make wings.
‘‘They don’t have to buy lots of material. They can be innovative and creative with recycling.’’
Those who took part cycled from Weston to the Waitaki Community Gardens, then Takaro Park and finally the Oamaru Farmers’ Market.