The Cairns Ukulele Festival will officially wrap up tomorrow night (Friday, July 12) with the Final Bids event for the Uke Art Exhibition and Auction at the festival’s exhibition space in the Pier Shopping Centre.

The Uke Art Exhibition and Auction, featuring the works of dozens of artists who have all decorated a ukulele to help raise money for charity, will come to an exciting finale, allowing punters to place their final bids until 6.30pm sharp.

As part of the Uke Art Exhibition, each artist is given a ukulele and free rein to turn the instrument in a personal masterpiece. Artists never cease to amaze the audiences with their creativity and approach to this diminutive instrument, and this year’s exhibition is no exception.

Local artist Cassim Akkerman has absolutely blown people away with his exhibition entry, Digger in the Rain”. He’s created a line drawing depicting a soldier in the rain, holding a Salvation Army Shield.

“Digger in the Rain” – Cassim Akkerman

This image is not only on the ukulele he has entered into the exhibition, it is also on a gigantic poster. He collaborated with Brisbane-based US artist Zel Stoltzfus who then coloured the line drawing resulting in a spectacular second piece of poster art, which is also up for auction.

Cassim was inspired to create the drawing by historical data and Ridley Scott’s movie, “Kingdom of Heaven”, and is thrilled to be contributing to the exhibition which raises funds for the local chapter of the Salvation Army.

“I chose to depict a Digger, although the Salvos back then were more Missionaries as opposed to being soldiers,” he said. “If you carefully consider the elements and traits of the Salvos you’d notice they were closely similar to the Hospitaller Knights of the 12^th century! You know, “Kingdom of Heaven – the movie”, directed by Ridley Scott. Then later King Richard tried to reclaim the Holy lands back after its initial surrender,” Cassim said. “Salvos to me resemble these knights defending and protecting the poor. Their Red Shield and the feather, symbolising Faith and the soldier to Serve. The cathedral like building in my drawing represents their Order. Lastly, the conditions were harsh, hence the mud and the rain – the tears of heaven.”

Cassim’s piece and dozens of other works, including those by Greg Dwyer, Roland Nancarrow, will be auctioned tomorrow night. Final bids can be placed until 6.30pm.