Cigar Boxes Become Art for Doodad Sculpture Competition

This time last year, a surplus of what could have been junk was turned into artistic treasure.

About three dozen plastic street globes were ordered for Horizon Bay at Hyde Park, an assisted living retirement community. But the globes were too bright, so new ones were ordered.

Instead of tossing the old globes, an idea sprouted: Re-purpose the globes by asking Hillsborough County middle and high school students to make sculptures out of them and compete for prizes.

"They made the most amazing things with these globes," said Jack Wyatt, who helped organize the event. "(Things like) sushi bowls, airplanes, gumball machines."

This year's second annual Repurposed Doodad Fine Sculpture Competition used cigar boxes instead of globes. Students in grades one through 12 were allowed to compete. According to guidelines, each sculpture could use between one and 10 cigar boxes, must have a stable base and be well-crafted.

Sixty-six elementary, middle and high schools participated, using 3,000 cigar boxes. Among participating schools were Durant and Newsome High School and Alafia, Lithia Springs, Boyette Springs and Summerfield elementary schools.

Judging took place Dec. 11 and an awards reception will be held Jan. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Horizon Bay where prizes and a summer art scholarship will be awarded. The cigar boxes will be displayed at the Tampa Firefighters Museum at 720 Zack Street next year.

Wyatt said the project, which is designed to build bridges between the artistic community of Tampa Bay, students and the community, allows students to express themselves using items that would normally be discarded.

"This is like a football game for an artist," he said.