The tasselled, the bejewelled, the chastely covered and the bare - breasts abound at Element Cafe.
The Fordell Mangamahu Rural Women's groups' Get Plastered for Breast Cancer exhibition opened last night, showcasing 170 chest casts of local women, and some men.
The casts varied widely in decoration, some followed the "pink" breast
cancer theme with messages including "check for them, check for him, check for my life", while others were more outside the square - one painted black with big cat's eyes, others decorated with flowers, paint or glitter.
Plaster packs for the exhibition were sold to raise money for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (BCRF) for $10 each.
About 200 people, mostly the exhibitors themselves, attended the opening to see their chests on display.
They were entertained by musicians Winifred Livesay, Ingrid Culliford and guitarist Noah Buckley, and educated by local general practitioner Sandy Moore on the medical aspects of breast cancer, including warning signs and what to look out for in self-checks.
Event organiser and Fordell-Mangamahu branch member Chrissy Collins said each cast was "as individual as the person that created it" and the night was a "wonderful celebration of women and men supporting breast cancer research".
"You can see the craftsmanship that has gone into it. It's wonderful that people have taken the time to make them special."
Chronicle Glass Studio and Gallery co-director Katie Brown's glass breast ornament was also on display, and will be auctioned on Trade Me with all proceeds to go to the BCRF.
The auction will remain open until October 31.
Mrs Collins said the event was a "celebration of women's courage, and hope for those going though breast cancer," and "fabulous", because everyday-people had put it together.
Members of the public are able to vote for their favourite cast and can also make a donation at Element Cafe.
