Festival brings community together
TREE jumper-dressing artist Michael Craig was bursting with pride as he showcased Warwick Blue Care's entry in this year's streetscape contest.
“Do you think we'll win?” he asks with flamboyant gusto that rivals a Palmerin Street breeze.
This is the third year Blue Care's Cooinda group have entered the tree dressing competition under the guidance of Warwick artist Kim Webster Reeves.
And what Cooinda team leader Suzi Brazier and Mrs Reeves both know is that regardless of whether the group claims an official prize this week, their entry is already a winner.
“We are very pleased with our entry; it is a colourful combination of recycled plastic we've called ‘Plastic Fantastic Recycladelic Rainbow Tree',” Mrs Reeves said.
“And we certainly think we are in with a chance.
“But on a very real note, we've already won in so many ways: we've developed our clients' art skills and techniques and encouraged their creativity.”
For Ms Brazier, the most obvious results of the Cooinda group's artistic efforts are possibly less tangible and more important.
“Entering the Jumpers and Jazz festivals helps our clients feel like they belong to the community,” she said.
“The focus might be artistic, but what we get from it is a strong sense of inclusion.”
But she added that after three years of competing in the tree-design contest, her clients were also keenly aware of the potential glory of a win.
“We are definitely in it to win it. There is absolutely no doubt about that,” she laughed.
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