Hundreds of large-sized spiders, ladybirds, bees, weta and other insects are lurking in a back room at the East Gore Art Centre.
Fortunately, they are not alive and are models made by Gore and Pukerau school pupils.
The insects will be assembled into a display for the Gore Garden Club’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly annual harvest show in February.
Ruud Kleinpaste (the Bugman) is the guest speaker at the show.
East Gore Art Centre art projects officer Jacqui Byars, Dunedin artist Janet de Wagt and Gore Garden Club members have spent the past three weeks on Thursdays and Fridays helping the pupils make the models.
Project co-ordinator Marg McCornick said making the insects was another way to involve the children in the garden show.
‘‘It’s been wonderful.’’
Ms de Wagt said there was more to the project than just creating art work.
‘‘The exciting thing about the bugs is that we are looking at the structure of the bugs, so we are making three-dimensional bugs.’’
It was also a way of teaching children about the insect life in a garden, she said.
The bugs were made of recycled materials.
‘‘We like to share with children the fact you can make anything out of anything.’’
The harvest show will be held on February 17 and 18 at the Gore Town and Country Club. A schedule of sections to enter can be picked up from Gore Mitre 10, Campbell’s Garden Centre and the libraries. A fee of $5 allows people to enter as many items as they choose and includes free admission to the show and Devonshire tea.
