Now in its 18th year, Castaways has become the City's signature arts and sustainability event, showcasing creativity, innovation and environmental awareness through sculptures created from repurposed materials.
This year's event will feature 55 artworks across three exhibitions: the Main Exhibition on Rockingham Foreshore, the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition at Rockingham Arts Centre, and the Castaways Schools Exhibition in Churchill Park.
City of Rockingham Mayor Lorna Buchan said Castaways continued to attract artists and visitors from across Western Australia while reinforcing the City's reputation as a creative and environmentally conscious community.
"Castaways is a unique event that brings together art, sustainability and our spectacular coastal environment," Mayor Buchan said.
"Each year the exhibition invites visitors to see familiar materials in a completely different light, while highlighting the importance of reuse, recycling and environmental stewardship."
"Whether you're a local resident or visiting Rockingham for the day, I encourage everyone to explore the exhibition, support our artists and experience one of the most distinctive arts events in Western Australia."
Among this year's featured works are Nano-Plasti-City by Warnbro artists Loren and Alan Brinck, which explores the issue of microplastics in waterways through a sculpture incorporating salvaged household and marine materials, and Mermaid Cave by emerging artist Tia Monument, an immersive work created from reclaimed timber and recycled beads.
The popular Castaways Curator Mentor Program has again provided emerging artists with professional guidance and support, helping participants develop and exhibit large-scale public artworks for the first time.
Castaways Curator Lyn Di Ciero said the exhibition continues to demonstrate the creativity that can emerge from discarded materials.
"Every artwork tells a story of reuse and creativity, turning everyday objects into thought-provoking works that inspire visitors to think differently about waste, sustainability and our relationship with the environment," Ms Di Ciero said.
In addition to the exhibitions, visitors can enjoy a program of artist talks, tactile tours and other activities throughout the event.
To ensure accessibility, beach matting will be installed throughout the Foreshore exhibition area, with beach walkers and wheelchairs available free of charge.
Artwork: Richard Aitken, Jetty Swim (detail), TV antennae, timber offcuts, copper.
