Scarecrows and Artists Take Over Kumeu Vineyards

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MEDIA RELEASE
10 October 2006

The Kumeu Arts Centre presents

The Kumeu Scarecrow Festival

Over 100 scarecrows are expected to take up residence in Kumeu this April, when the three week celebration of art, wine and entertainment returns for the second Kumeu Scarecrow Festival.

Kicking off the festival season on the 17th of March 2007 is the outstanding exhibition series - ART IN THE VINEYARDS, featuring a large collection of new works from some of NZ’s leading artists including Fatu Feu'u, Barry Lett, Jeff Thomson, Patz McGahey and Helen Pollock. Created especially for The Kumeu Scarecrow Festival these stunning outdoor sculptures will be exhibited free to the public at Soljans, Kumeu River, Coopers Creek, West Brook, Nobilo and Matua Valley vineyards. Fine art will also be exhibited inside the cellar door. Artists exhibiting paintings include Brent Wong, Felicity West, Catherine Noton and Virginia Leonard.

In the fortnight to follow the mayhem builds as a score of scarecrows take their place on the festival trail, running along state highway 16 and through the participating vineyards. This spectacle will bring the landscape to life in a lively competition that draws over 1000 visitors into the Kumeu district for 3 weeks until winners are announced on the 19th of April 2007.

Scarecrows from all over the region enter into the Traditional, Open or Recycled categories to compete for the top award in each category, in addition to a schools prize and people’s choice award.

Designed to get everyone involved in the creation process, the Kumeu Arts Centre will hold a scarecrow making workshop early 2007(dates TBA). The festival also encourages the wider community to increase their knowledge and appreciation of professional NZ art by attending the free exhibitions, from which 10% of sales go towards funding the not for profit Kumeu Arts Centre at the conclusion of the festival season.

THE SCARECROW FESTIVAL RUNS 17 March – 21 April 2007
Art in the Vineyards runs: 17 March to 21 April 2007
The Scarecrow competition and display runs: 1 - 21 April 2007

Trail maps and entry forms will be available mid Nov 2006 from the Kumeu Visitor Information Centre, participating vineyards, Auckland i - site Visitor information centres, Rodney district council offices and libraries.
Entries for the Scarecrow Competition close 16 March 2007.

ENDS

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