WITH the recent arrival of Spring, the inaugural Comboyne Scarecrow Festival is fast approaching, kicking off on 12 September and running through to 11 October.
Scarecrow creation and registration ends on 7 September, in time for the festival commencement.
Leah Doeland, a local interdisciplinary artist, has traded her usual contemporary-styled landscape painting for scarecrow crafting for the upcoming festival.
Her entry, named Betsy and the Blueberry Burglar, is a human sized cat creature alongside a feathered friend.
“The construction of this hilarious scarecrow has been an upcycling adventure,” Ms Doeland said.
Betsy the cat is crafted from an old painted pair of jeans and a jumper from a local op-shop. The scarecrow’s head is an old knitting and crochet art project of Doeland’s – the ‘itchy cat hat’.
Ms Doeland told News Of The Area that the scarecrows will stand in their respective fields for the duration of the festival, meaning artists must balance creativity and stability.
The burglar bird is created with a sauce bottle, bubble wrap and feathers cut from frozen blueberry packets.
“Together, they make quite the statement!” Ms Doeland said.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite scarecrow creation.
The winners will be determined by a public ballot and the announcement will take place on 16 October at the Comboyne Ex-Servicemen’s and Citizens Club.
The Comboyne Scarecrow Festival encourages the community to make the drive out to experience what the area has to offer.
“Festivals like this are a brilliant way to shine a light on the local community and showcase the beauty of small town living,” Ms Doeland said.
By Shalise LEESFIELD
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