By Jessica Rowe
A windswept West Coast beach has been transformed into a gallery of art, part of a competition now in its tenth year.
Almost all of the materials used in the entries are found strewn on the beach in Hokitika
They appear on the beach at Hokitika every January – mad, debris inspired sculptures made from little more than plain old driftwood washed up from Tasman Sea.
It is the tenth year of the driftwood and sand competition, and the Hokitika sculptor who started it says he can not believe it has lasted this long.
“It's been really popular with the locals, and also tourists coming through - they get right into it as well,” says Donald Buglass. “They are just blown away by how this can happen.”
Competitors have a week to create works from driftwood found on the beach, with a minimum of fastenings.
Hokitika electrician Jason Thompson has been entering the competition for the previous 10 years.
This year, he finally won first prize with his driftwood cow.
“I think it puts our town on the map, it encourages people to actually stick around and watch and other people feel compelled to make something on the beach and join the whole festival feel,” says Thompson.
As long as driftwood continues to be washed up on Hokitika beach, the locals will keep coming down to indulge their quirky talent.
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