Welcome to the 12th Annual Repurposed DooDad Sculpture Competition!

The Repurposed Doodad Sculpture Competition challenges students to repurpose specific items or “doodads” to create an artistic expression of a theme. In so doing, students research and immerse themselves in some aspect of the theme. The doodads are common items that are typically discarded. Students learn about these items in the context of their impact on the environment – both as utilization of scarce resources and as contributors to waste.

THEME

Florida, Flying into the Future!

This year’s DooDad theme invites students to explore flight in all its forms—both literal and metaphorical. From soaring birds and butterfly wings to rockets and futuristic dreams, “Florida – Flying into the Future” asks: what does it mean to rise, to grow, to imagine something better?

Sculptures might take inspiration from Florida’s natural habitats, historic sites, or local communities. Others might dream up tomorrow’s technology or imagine how our state could evolve to become more sustainable, more inclusive, or more connected to nature. Whether you’re inspired by pelicans, planets, or progress, your sculpture is your launchpad.

This theme also invites you to think beyond what is—and into what could be. What happens when we combine creativity with innovation, pride in our home state with a desire to protect and improve it? Where is Florida heading, and how can your sculpture help it take flight?

Florida as a Launchpad

- Space flight and the Space Coast (Kennedy Space Center)
- Florida as a site of innovation (space, weather, agriculture, energy)
- Metaphor: Technology, dreams taking flight

Futures We Imagine

- What might cities, communities, or coastlines look like in 100 years?
- How can Florida “fly” into a more sustainable, inclusive, or creative future?
- Metaphor: Growth, change, vision, and responsibility

Florida's Natural Flyers

- Native birds (e.g., herons, ibises, flamingos, osprey, pelicans)
- Bats, butterflies, flying fish
- Metaphor: Environmental preservation and harmony with nature

Flight as Metaphor

- Personal or community uplift
- Overcoming adversity (hurricanes, environmental issues)
- Students’ own futures taking off

DOODAD

Obsolete Objects!

Think It’s Trash? Think Again! This year, we’re asking you to give forgotten objects new wings! Whether it once lived in a classroom, office, kitchen drawer, or garage shelf, your sculpture can transform overlooked items into bold works of art.

This may be the most inclusive competition we’ve ever held—welcoming a vast variety of DooDad materials so that every student can participate, no matter what they have access to. By reimagining the things we usually throw away, you’re not only creating something beautiful—you’re also helping the planet by keeping waste out of landfills.

From tangled cords to worn-out rulers, broken bike parts to old file folders, your creative vision can breathe new life into materials that might otherwise be forgotten. There’s no limit to what you can create when you see the world not as trash, but as possibility.

Inspiration!!

From the Classroom

- Old or damaged textbooks
- Broken rulers or protractors
- Dried-out markers or pens
- Worn-out notebooks or folders
- Flashcards and index cards
- Outdated calculators
- Looseleaf paper or binders
- Broken pencil sharpeners
- School maps or wall charts

From Home

- - VHS tapes or cassette tapes
  - Floppy disks, CDs, and cases
  - Broken remote controls or clocks
  - Outdated kitchen tools
  - Plastic containers or mismatched lids
  - Empty spice jars or tins
  - Wire hangers or laundry items
  - Lamp parts or curtain rings
  - Old eyeglasses or cases
  - Analog phones

From the Office

- - Tangled cords or old chargers
  - Discarded keyboards or computer mice
  - Rolodexes, label makers, or tape dispensers
  - Outdated business cards or reports
  - Typewriter parts
  - Dead batteries (sealed in artwork, if used)
  - Office trays or organizers
  - Fax or printer components
  - Empty file folders or dividers
  - old phones

From the Garage

Old Tools & Hardware

Rusty wrenches, pliers, or screwdrivers
Broken hammers or measuring tapes
Stripped screws, bolts, and nails
Bent saw blades or hacksaws
Old toolboxes or trays
Random brackets, hooks, or hinges
Empty or dried-out caulk tubes

Outdated Electronics & Auto Supplies

Defunct car chargers or adapters
Broken tail lights or side mirrors
Obsolete GPS units
Empty oil or fluid containers (cleaned!)
Cracked funnels or old jacks
Dead batteries (use under supervision or sealed safely)

Random Storage + Forgotten Items

Buckets with cracks or holes
Old gardening pots or plant trays
Broken brooms, mops, or handles
Empty spray paint cans or WD-40 (non-functional, cleaned)
Garage door opener parts
Discarded sports equipment (helmets, skates, mitts)
Pool noodles, cracked floaties

Outdoor & Recreational Gear

Broken bike parts (gears, handlebars, spokes)
Punctured tires or tubes
Snapped fishing rods
Worn-out rollerblades
Bent tent poles
Rusted folding chairs or umbrella frames

Old Packaging + Containers

Empty hardware packaging
Plastic bins with missing lids
Unused wire spools or cable wraps
Cardboard from tool boxes or paint kits
Cracked storage containers

Days until Entry Deadline!!

Day(s)

Hour(s)

Minute(s)

Second(s)

How to Enter:

1- Read our 2025 - 2026 Guidelines

DOWNLOAD the Full 2025-2026 Guidelines HERE!

WHO IS ELIGIBLE:

Sculptures are created by K-12 student(s) attending a public, charter, private or home school within Hillsborough County.

MATERIALS for the DooDad:

One or more obsolete objects

2- Research the theme + DooDad!

DooDad Sculpture Competition 2025–2026

Theme: Florida – Flying into the Future

What does it mean to ‘fly into the future’? This year’s theme invites students to explore flight in all its forms—literal and metaphorical. From soaring birds to space exploration, from floating dreams to Florida’s forward-thinking innovation, sculptures may take inspiration from anything that represents uplift, transformation, or what’s to come. Students might explore how Florida’s environment, communities, or technologies can evolve, protect, or inspire in the years ahead. Think like artists, scientists, and dreamers—where is Florida heading, and what might help it take flight?

How does our country’s past inspire what we create in the future? 2026 is the United States 250th Birthday! Here’s some inspiration to help us look back so we can look forward!

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5437962/america-250-declaration-of-independence-anniversary-trump-celebration

DooDad Material: Obsolete School, Household, or Office Materials

This year’s required material includes used or obsolete school, household, or office objects. Below are some ideas to spark creativity—everyday items that might otherwise be thrown away.

■ School Materials:

– Broken rulers and protractors
– Worn-out notebooks or folders
– Old calculators and chalk
– Used flashcards, binders, and index cards
– Outdated textbooks

■ Household Materials:

– VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or floppy disks
– Remote controls, alarm clocks, or phone parts
– Wire hangers, empty containers, or kitchen tools
– Old eyeglasses or curtain rings
– Mismatched lids or analog tech

■ Office Materials:

– Old cords, chargers, or keyboards
– Obsolete business cards or Rolodexes
– Label makers, dead batteries (if safely sealed), and fax machine trays
– File folders, dividers, and office organizers

■ Pro Tip: Ask teachers, neighbors, or family members to help you gather these

items—safe-to-handle objects with surprising creative potential!

3- Make Your DooDad!

ACCEPTED	NOT ACCEPTED
One or more pieces of obsolete or used school, household or office materials.	No used or obsolete school, household or office material was used to create the sculpture.
Some part of the used or obsolete school, household or office material must remain visible, and sculpture must be sturdy and stable.	No used or obsolete school, household or office material remains visible, and/or the sculpture falls apart or repeatedly falls over.
Other materials may be used, but MOST of sculpture must be constructed with used or obsolete school, household or office material	Only a small part of sculpture is created with used or obsolete school, household or office material
The sculpture must be freestanding or be able to be hung from the ceiling. Footprint of freestanding sculptures must be no more than 30” deep by 36” wide by 36” tall. Freestanding sculptures may be placed on a table or the floor. Freestanding sculptures must be no more than 50 lbs. Hanging sculptures must have an armature that can connect to framing wire to be hung from the ceiling and must be no more than 25 lbs.	Sculptures that fail to meet accepted size and weight guidelines, and/or if designed to hang, provides no suitable armature devise from which to connect framing wire to suspend from ceiling.
Individual or group work may be submitted, and MAJORITY of design and construction must be completed by student(s).	Majority of design and construction of sculpture completed by teacher or other adult(s).
Sculpture must relate to the theme and respects the adopted Copyright & Plagiarism guidelines*.	Sculpture NOT relate to theme and/or disrespects adopted Copyright & Plagiarism guidelines*.
Artist statement must answer 1) How does your sculpture represent your research about the theme? and/or 2) How has your thinking changed about the connection between creating with unconventional art materials and the environment?	Artist statement doesn’t address either question, and/or only explains the process and procedures used to create the sculpture.
Entries and video artist statements must be uploaded using Doodad’s online competition platform.	Online entry form was NOT completed for a submitted sculpture.

4- Photograph your DooDad:

Watch the video below or click this link to read more about photographing your DooDad! We are excitied to see what you’ve made!

5- Write & Record an Artists statement-

https://youtu.be/kQN8K6FcxGc

The DooDad Competition went online for judging in 2022. Because of this, it is important to showcase your work with quality photos and a video! Take a peek at last years winning videos for a good idea of what’s needed: 2023 -2024 Videos!

For this years competition you will need to provide 4 photos, a written Artists Statement and a video Artists Statement. Read the directions below and then watch previous winners videos for inspiration in creating your Artist’s Statement video.

Let’s write your Artist Statement:

For the DooDad competition your written Artist Statement MUST answer:

1) How your sculpture represents your research about the theme? and/or ⁠
⁠
2) How has your thinking changed about the connection between creating with unconventional art materials and the environment?

Let’s record your Artist Statement:

Create a short video, no more than 1 minute long, discussing your DooDad. Tell us about your process, about how you depicted WATER, and about the materials you used when creating you DooDad.

The video should be no longer than 1 minute.

MUST BE Shot in a HORIZONTAL format.

Files must be in one of the following formats, and must include the filename extension : .mov .mp4 .mpg .mpeg .avi .wmv

6- Have your Students + Parents sign Release Forms

All student participants in the Annual Repurposed Doodad Sculpture Competition must have a signed release form from their parents or guardians before their sculptures can be officially entered. This ensures we have the necessary permissions to showcase their creative work. Thank you for your cooperation in making this event a success!

Click HERE to download the form.

DooDad 2024 -2025 Release form

And Finally: Enter your DooDad by Friday January 9th!

You’ve created a beautiful DooDad and are ready to enter the competition. Click the ENTER YOUR DOODAD link to share your artistic vision with us! You can revisit the tabs above for additional suggestions on how to photograph your DooDad, create your Video Artist Statement, sign up for a Gmail account, and finally enter your DooDad in the competition!

ENTRY OPENS NOV. 1, 2025

Getting Involved:

Are you a Student Artist?

We know how exciting, but also how daunting, starting a new project can be! Visit our theme page for information on this years theme : Florida Flying into the Future!, and this years DooDads: Obsolete Objects!. We discuss the impact of these resources on our enviorment, and offer suggestions for different sculpting methods!

Are you a Teacher or Student Group Organizer?

We know fitting a new project into your planning can be tough, so we’ve compiled resources to help make the job a little easier on you! Please visit our teaching resources page for more information about how the DooDad competition can help you enhance your Art Program and excite your students!

Would you like to Sponsor DooDads?

We invite you or your company to become a sponsor of the Annual Repurposed DooDad Sculpture Competition and help support art activities for students within Hillsborough County. Sponsorships and donations to the DooDad competition are made through Tampa Realistic Artists which is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charity #CH36880.

Please visit our SPONSORS page for more information or to get in touch with Kathy Durdin directly at 813-220-5800 .

Would you like to Volunteer?

The DooDad Competition could not exisist without the help of a great numebr of volunteers who offer up their time and energy each year. If you are interested in donating time please get in touch here. We’d love to have you as a part of our DooDad team!

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!