STUDENT ARTWORK CHOSEN TO COVER RHINO STATUES
Three Dubbo students will have their designs depicted on Rhino statues around the city after being chosen as the winners of a competition to find the new artworks that will replace old Rhinos with wear and tear damage.
Students Madison Roche of Dubbo Senior Campus, Montanna McNair of Dubbo Christian School and Alayna Haque of St John’s College created the artworks that were chosen by a panel of judges.
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) asked students taking Visual Arts and Designs from the four high schools in Dubbo to participate in the competition.
Students had to design the artwork based on four criteria which included clarity and suitability of the design; relevance and strength of the story behind the design; relevance and connection of design to Dubbo; and whether it was a creative and engaging design.
The competition ran over two months in 2022 and two months in 2023 with 16 students submitting designs over the two years.
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson, SPARC Chairperson Councillor Matthew Wright, Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President Errin Williamson, Marketing Services Partner Katrina Nicholson and Regional Experiences Curator Officer Mariam Abboud met to decide on the winning entries.
“The quality of the artworks and the thought that had gone into each of the designs made it a very tough and close competition,” Clr Dickerson said.
“The three winners fulfilled the brief exactly, highlighting the connection to Dubbo through the story their works conveyed.”
Ms Roche said she was shocked when she found out her design was the winner.
“I am really excited to get my art out there and it’s awesome to be able to tell people that I have designed a Rhino.
“The design I went with looked at giving people a preview or map of where you go when you come to Dubbo,” Ms Roche said.
The new Rhino statues are currently stored by Rod Pilon Transport and will be moved to the Dubbo Showground where they will be painted with the students’ designs over the next two months.
It is expected the Rhinos will be installed in early November and replace the Rhinos that were damaged on the Newell Highway, Narromine Road and Mitchell Highway at Blueridge Business Park.
Last Edited: 20 Sep 2023