Women encouraged to enter awards
TWO Queenstown women who have their sights set on beautifying a scruffy lane in the Queenstown CBD, one mural at a time, are being encouraged to enter this year’s ‘‘Beautiful Awards’’.
Creative Cows Raylene McQueen and Sarah Dagg for med the Cow Lane Street Art Project late last year, planning to commission artists to paint pieces down one side of the tired CBD lane.
A total of 19 artists lodged expressions of interest for the first wall, which measures 18m by 7m.
About 12 of those were local artists but there was also some international interest, including applications from artists in San Francisco and Melbourne.
A judging panel comprising Steve Wilde, of Downtown QT, Jan Maxwell, of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Andie King, from Queenstown Art Centre, would convene in the next week to shortlist three or four pieces. The final decision will be made by tenants Bungalow and Betty’s Liquor.
Despite the first piece not yet being selected, the women have been encouraged to enter the 2018 Beautiful Awards by leading New Zealand street artist Flox, one of this year’s judges.
The awards recognise the steps taken by New Zealand communities to enhance the environment through initiatives such as waste minimisation, community beautification, recy cling and sustainable tourism attractions.
The town or city that receives the highest score for community beautification and art will also win a Flox mural, designed and painted in its community.
‘‘I hope Queenstown enters this year. The town has done some amazing work through the Creative Cows project, creating some beautiful street art in the CBD,’’ Flox said.
Entries for the awards close on July 13 and winners will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on October 26.