Susanna Freymark
The Caroline Fisher People’s Choice Award has a winner.
The award is part of the Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival Arts & Crafts Exhibition and this is the first year it has run.
The award is named after Caroline Fisher who helped organise the Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival for years. Caroline died in May last year.
Mario Sanchez Huertas from The Leather Shop impressed visitors to the Roxy Gallery in Kyogle with his leather pumpkin sculpture and got the most votes.
“We grow pumpkins at home and this one particular pumpkin stood out in shape and size,” Mario said. 
“It was the perfect model for me to go by. I really wanted to be involved in the pumpkin festival as I think it’s a great asset to the region.”
The beauty of the pumpkin in Mario’s garden kept him awake.
“One night I couldn’t sleep and all I could think about was making this pumpkin out of leather for the show.
“I got to the studio at 5am and began working on it.”
A student he was helping turned up at the leather studio in Kyogle at 9am. The student asked Mario what he was doing.
“I’m making a pumpkin! A leather pumpkin,” he told her.
“I’m not sure why, but it must be done.”
By the end of the day, there was a leather pumpkin and the students had almost finished the belt she was making.
“It was a challenge to make the pumpkin,” Mario said.
“But well worth it and lots was learned from making it. From little things, big things do grow.”
Second place – by only one vote – was David Tham’s brush turkey sculpture.
Artists Ladi Witowski, Jennifer Densely and Luke Oliver tied for third place.
The last chance to take a look at the exhibition at the Roxy Gallery is tomorrow, Sunday, February 9 at 10am–2pm.