From humble beginnings at the height of 2020's COVID lockdown, the Snowy Monaro Regional Council Community Connections' group entry has won the Lake Light Sculpture Encouragement Award.
Seasons of Change was an ambitious yarn-bombing installation representing the four seasons, installed amongst a grove of gumtrees by the water's edge. Judges commended the work's reimagining of old-world craft in "a new and interesting way."
Council's Community Connections program brought in yarn-bombing to help the community keep occupied and connected through successive periods of lockdown, stay-at-home orders and isolation. First debuting across the native environment at the Werri-Nina Centre and Bombala Community Centre in June 2020, its popularity and positive feedback saw the project expanded to include entry into Lake Light Sculpture.
"Engaging our seniors in positive communal activities is a key part of Council's strategy to make the Snowy Monaro a great place to live, no matter your age," said Mayor Peter Beer, Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
Many months in the making, Community Connections group members, their family, friends, and Council staff spent countless hours knitting and crocheting. Squares, flowers, toadstools, autumn leaves, animals, insects and pom-poms were all painstakingly made by hand to produce the display. Finally taking staff five hours to install and stitch the designs in place on-site.
"The community spirit shown by our Community Connections group in turning a period of great turmoil and sadness into a wonderful work of art for other to enjoy, is a testament to their character and to the character of the people that make the Snowy Monaro great," said Mayor Beer.
