Artist rapt as blanket contests prize

TEXTILE artist Debbie Weston has been named a finalist in the National Capital Art Prize’s sustainability category for her work Soft Plastic Blanket.

The artwork has been crafted out of found, reclaimed, and recycled soft plastics including cereal and other food packets, and hay bale twine, inspired by historic Wagga blankets, which were made with hessian and flower sacks, and fabric scraps.

“I was a very big advocate of REDcycle where you collect all your soft plastics and deliver them, so throwing them in the bin has been a real struggle for me,” she said.

“Soft Plastic Blanket is a way for me to say, I’m not happy about that, and it’s trying to encourage people not to rely on big companies; you can do something in your own home.”

Initially, Weston was thinking about making a soft plastics awning for her family caravan, but when she saw the art prize was open for entries, she set her mind to crafting the piece especially for the competition.

Weston was shocked to discover she was one of 33 finalists in her category, but said she is keen to be part of some broader national conversations about sustainability.

“My work is completely different to anything else that’s in the prize,” she said. “My perception of sustainability is using everything that you’ve got and what you can find.

“With my background in craft, I like to make one-off things, so this is validation that craft can be seen as a piece of art, not something you have to make several of to be recognised.

“It’s an acceptance that I was right not to follow the trend of craft practitioners of having to produce and produce and produce. There can be a relationship between art and craft.”

The $15,000 sustainability prize will be given in Canberra in September. Visit bit.ly/3DC0hT1 to vote in the people’s choice award.