The turnout to Art in the Park in Bruxner Park on Tuesday, April 17 was so big that canvas art creation became a group effort, and the results were possibly better for it.

Organisers wisely delegated judging of the creations to out-of-towners Mitch and Chloe Williams from Youth With A Mission. The couple judged the entry submitted by Kerry Thomson, Amelia Wishart and Olivia Ware as the winner, and the artists were rewarded with Coles shopping vouchers for their efforts.

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The team was led by committed artist Kerry who said the work depicted the bushfires currently raging around Sydney, and demonstrated that the girls were thinking of those affected.

The colour palette also resembled a sunset, contrasting with the fire-affected trees in the foreground and distant mountains.

The three said they worked well together as a team on the project, surprising themselves.

Kerry will be investing her winnings in more art supplies. She’s a voracious reader of artbooks and works in charcoal, watercolours and stencils and doesn’t want to hem herself in to any genre. Her teammates are a little less dedicated and will spend some on their vouchers on treats as well as supplies.

The second-placed entry of Ryan Sutcliffe, Julian Dickson and Ollie Spinazza also depicted fire-damaged trees but showed some of the green regrowth in the canopy.

Ryan said there wasn’t much colour coordination between the artists but the result is very pleasing. He’s had some experience with the medium, spraypainting scooter parts at home.

Lollies seemed to be the reward of choice for the boys’ Coles vouchers.

Mrs Williams said she chose the girls’ work as it seemed very symbolic, open to interpretation by the viewer. Mr Williams liked the way the boys had blended the colour into the sunset, contrasting with the black trees.

“It was really well done,” he said.

Activity coordinator Karen Mooney of Tenterfield Social Development Committee (TSDC) said the successful day was a team effort between her organisation and Armajun Medical Service who provided the barbecue, Moonbahlene Local Aboriginal Land Council, Centacare, the Benevolent Society which oversaw the drumming workshop, and a lot of volunteers.

Tenterfield Shire Council provided the art canvases and t-shirts (for tie dying) courtesy of its Youth Week funding.

Mrs Mooney said she was very happy with the turnout, with the 75 items for tie dying going quickly and the interest in the spraypainting meaning groups of 3-5 per canvas, with some worthy results.

“Some of the mothers wanted to take them home to hang,” she said.

She feels the exercise unearthed some hidden artistic talent, with the older children really enjoying the activities.

“And the weather was perfect,” she said, “a beautiful day.”

She hopes the interest demonstrated by the turnout this year can lead to bigger things next Youth Week, possibly with more resources so that more children can be hands-on.

Youth Week 2018 continues at Tenterfield Cinema on Wednesday with $5 movies and with a free hip hop workshop at BFIT Gym on Friday.