All that's irreverent at the Bald Archy

THE Bald Archy Prize, a cheeky take on the prestigious Archibald Prize for Australian portraiture artworks opened in Mansfield on Friday night Hosted by Arts Mansfield, it was the second year in a row the irreverent portrait exhibition came to town, with the event previously held at the Swanpool Cinema. The annual event now in its 29th year has a significant following, known for its humour, wit, and the often-unconventional interpretation of its subjects. Arts Mansfield describes the focus of the Bald Archy as being satirical and humorous representations of well-known Australians including politicians, celebrities and sports people. Alongside a strong turn-out of arts enthusiasts and local sponsors, the opening night celebrations welcomed Merrijig's own Cindy Mortyn. Cindy's piece titled Special Skills depicting polarising Olympian Rachael Gunn, was one of 38 finalists chosen to tour the country as part of the travelling exhibition. Known competitively as Raygun, Rachael is an Australian academic and former competitive breakdancer who gained notoriety for her performance at the Paris 20224 Summer Olympics; a performance which was globally lambasted. Cindy said she had always attended and enjoyed the Bald Archies and when she saw the call out for local artists on Arts Mansfield, she decided to give it a crack. Working part-time up at Timbertop in the kitchen, Cindy had been drawing caricatures as part of her daily work, spruiking the specials of the day. She had garnered quite a following amongst the kids with them all vying to secure a Cindy Mortyn, after the katsu chicken or the Asian curry was no longer on the menu "I think comedy in art is a great way for kids to get involved, with the Bald Archies a very accessible exhibition," she said. Cindy's painting Special Skills is acrylic on canvas, with the piece taking her three days to paint set up on the kitchen table. An organic process, Cindy admits there were lots of giggles during creation with partner Paul the one who suggested Raygun as potential subject matter. "I sketched her out and the underpants on the line just became part of the natural progression," Cindy said of the amusing depiction. Raygun proved a popular subject alongside former federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton, with his push to transition the country to nuclear power serving as inspiration to many of the artists. Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart also had a bit of showing in the exhibition. Her inclusion made all the more pertinent as Ms Rinehart notably requested the removal of a portrait of herself from the National Gallery of Australia that she deemed unflattering. Ms Rhinehart's request and the ensuing controversy sparked debate about artistic freedom and censorship. It is the controversial that artists look to depict in the Bald Archy, embracing the irreverent, larrikin Australian spirit in a way that appeals to people from all walks of life. Emma McPherson president of Arts Mansfield said the evening was also a celebration of community with volunteers and funding partners in attendance. One artist drove down from Holbrook especially for the event at the High Street location, with the shopfront transformed into a pop-up gallery for the month-long exhibition. "We had three of the finalist artists with us," Emma said. "Not only did they enjoy the exhibition but meeting other artists, which is not always possible with a touring exhibition."