Kids get creative in mask competition
Primary and intermediate school children in Hawke’s Bay have been getting very familiar with masks lately — and this time it’s nothing to do with Covid.
A creative mask-making competition has been under way for the past few weeks, with 220 of the highly decorated creations delivered to organiser Laurel Judd’s home for judging last Friday. The masks will be on display at an exhibition opening in Hastings next Monday.
“They were going to be part of the National Creative Fibre Festival but it was cancelled so I decided to run with the mask competition.”
Laurel says she has had some “fantastic helpers” including world-renowned artist, award-winner and manytime finalist at the World of Wearable Art Awards, Keryn Whitney. Keryn judged the competition, which was divided into three categories — Years 3-4, 5-6 and 7-9. Each category had three prizes. Fifteen schools and homeschoolers took part.
“It was incredibly hard. The standard of the entries was incredibly high. It was pleasing to see the development of the skill level of the kids from the year groups. We have some very talented kids and dedicated parents in Hawke’s Bay,” Keryn says.
The competition had an open theme and each mask had to be made mainly of recycled materials and also include fibres such as wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, flax and man-made fibres like yarn, thread, felt, fabric.
The exhibition opens on May 24 and runs until noon on June 5.
Laurel thanked sponsors The School Shop, Dougan Larkworthy Architecture, Gardiner Knobloch Accountants and Architecture DHT.