Condoblin’s Terryll Cassidy has won the Regional Community 2021 Sims Waste to Art Competition ‘Functional Category’, where the winners were announced at the official opening at the Outback Arts Centre in Coonamble on Saturday, 17 July.

Terryll’s winning entry included her ‘Nespresso Coffee Pod Dress’, matching earrings and necklace, headband, one dozen roses, pair of shoes and a handbag.

Terryll was also awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the Community 2D section for Designer Tote Bag and Highly Commended in the Community 3D section for her ‘Windchime’.

“Firstly, I had to source the Nespresso aluminium coffee pods from a Nescafe Recycling Station. Each one had to be cleaned of the used coffee, washed, dried, then shaped and drilled, and sewn into place,” Terryll stated.

“I used nearly 1,000 pods altogether with the whole project.

“The dress outfit can actually be worn quite comfortably, highlighting the use of transforming waste and unwanted products.

“It is very possible to use waste items like Nespresso coffee pods and transform them into a wearable and practical creation.”

The dress and accessories took about three months to make and were all made by hand.

“Using a little imagination, reverse rubbish can be transformed into fashionable, wearable creations,” Terryll explained.

Both the ‘Windchime’ and the ‘Designer Tote Bag’ were made using Nespresso coffee pods. The same process of cleaning, shaping and sewing by hand was repeated for these projects.

“Using these unconventional materials to resculpt, redefine and repurpose instead of going to landfill, you can create interesting, eclectic pieces and enjoy the time making them,” Terryll said.
Both the ‘Windchime’ and the ‘Designer Tote Bag’ took one week each to make.

Condobolin High School students Jalanah Read, Gemma O’Bryan, Suzanna Wright and Shauri-Lee Taylor received a Highly Commended in the High School 2D section for their creation, ‘Fossil Fuel’.

Waste to Art is a community art exhibition and competition open to all local residents who reside in the NetWaste region. It engages the community and showcases creative works made from reused and recyclable waste materials.

The overall winner of the 2021 Sims Waste 2 Art regional competition was Garry Cooper with his creation – ‘Beatnik Band’.

The Regional Exhibition will be on display in Coonamble at the Outback Arts Creative Centre from 19 July to 3 September.