Discarded MP can still WOW them

A recently discarded Member of Parliament will begin his personal recycling process this week with an entry in The Wonderful World of Wearable Arts (WOW) in its first Wellington season.

Green Party Arts and Culture and Waste-free Spokesperson Mike Ward, who "was an artist in his previous life", has entered four earlier WOW events in Nelson and won an award in 2001 for his 'Sir Edmonds' design. (Image available from The Nelson Mail - File info field). His latest work is entered in this year's open section.

"My piece this year, 'The Emperors Entourage', consists of two large wearable canvases and is a play on the Hans Christian Anderson tale 'The Emperors New Clothes'," the former MP says.

"A painted outfit is a departure from my previous entries which have all been constructed and very multi-media.

"I went to art school in the sixties intending to paint and instead came out a sculptor and maker of frivolous finery. So painting people without the benefit of models, with painting skills that are a tad past-their-use-by-date, during a very full-time, if temporary, parliamentary career, presented a unique set of challenges," Mike says.

The Greens would require only a paltry 18 percent of the special votes to lift their overall total to 6.2 percent and allow Mr Ward to grace Parliament with his presence for a further three years.

© Scoop Media