Hope says she has been thinking about reusing tea bags for the challenge for quite a while, and the idea of using the heron for her design came after she watched a heron at her family's bach.
"I was thinking about using tea bags last year as I always saw people throwing them away and I wanted to use them in a way that was completely different. Then I saw that there was always a heron at our bach and I noticed how it moved and I knew it would fit into my concept," she said.
Hope is a student at Mount Maunganui Intermediate and like her, other sustainable art entrants coming from the school have all had to work on their projects in their own time.
Art teacher Sally Wylie has helped them with initial concepts and ideas, but says the passion and enthusiasm for the challenge has all come from the students. She says the challenge has raised awareness about the environment as well as inspiring students to "think outside the box".
Over 140 entries have been received for the Sustainable Art Challenge, with four categories and three age groups, involving students from eight different schools and many local artistic adults taking part. Categories are: Trash to Fash, Photography, Short movies and Up-Cycled Junk.
The winners will have their artwork displayed at Creative Tauranga Gallery from July 5-25.
the fine print
What: Awards Ceremony Sustainable Art Challenge
Where: Baycourt
When: 3 July, 3pm-6pm
