A boar pig made out of tire blowouts collected along the highway took out first prize in the Mixed Media category at the Junk Festival last weekend.
Spending a lot of time on the road, working in fire management, Katherine local Ben Lewis said using the left over material to create a sculpture was a good way to reduce the environmental impact.
“It is not going to be a game changer, but I was able to get some of it off the road,” he said.
“There are a surprising amount of blowouts on the road.
“They are heavy looking and I thought the material would work perfectly to make the stocky body of a boar pig.
“I have seen a lot of blowouts in my life time. I have also seen a lot of boar pigs, so I guess that is where the idea came from,” he said.
Mr Lewis spent a good couple of weeks gathering the materials and assembling the sculpture.
With a clear plan in his head, little experience in sculpture making or construction, he persevered.
“I had a few full tires and built the sculpture around that, but I wouldn’t use those materials again. They are pretty hostile,” Mr Lewis said.
Additional prizes were awarded to Tree Rollinson, who won first prize in the Metal Masterpiece category with an intricate welded water fountain.
And winner of the People’s Choice Award went to Sam Crowder, who created a moving bird out of a weight lifting machine, which crushed cans.
Ty Miller, a student with the flexible learning and re-engagement centre won the youth category with a red back spider sculpture, which was auctioned off for $400.
The re-engagement centre also won the class group prize with their Kubota Monster.
The sculptures will be on display at the Lindsay St Complex for viewing over the next week.
