Wodonga Primary School year 6 students Anthony Dugdell, Ryan Hooper, Emilia Tomljanovic and Naidy Lee have been creating street decor for Carnivale. Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK
OLD umbrellas, used cardboard, pre-loved toys and even plastic garbage bags are being recycled into costumes and props ahead of Saturday’s Wodonga Carnivale.
The green space between the city’s library and performing arts centre has been transformed into an artistic commune with children, refugees and the disabled creating a riot of colour for the festival’s street parade.
Wodonga Primary School students Emilia Tomljanovic and Ryan Hooper yesterday put the finishing touches to their pieces — Emilia a pom-pom from plastic bags and Ryan a hat of sorts.
“You would probably call it a hat, costume sort of thing,” he said.
“I used something from the tip store, a lot of glue and all the colours I could. I’m into art.”
Janine Hilder, from Public Mischief which organises festival art workshops, said the creative process consumed all and sundry.
“We have recent refugee arrivals who are still learning our language but the moment you place materials in front of people they begin to express themselves,” she said.