Arts / Bald Archies back with a bite

THIS year’s star subject of the annual Bald Archies is undoubtedly Tasmanian parliamentarian Jacqui Lambie.

“CityNews” has been given a sneak preview of Canberra artist Valda Johnson’s entry in the exhibition that pokes fun at the pretensions of the art world and Australia’s best-known arts competition, the Archibald Prize. “The Adventures of Jacqui Lambie” shows the senator, flanked by Tasmanian devils and well-hung young men, against a background of burqa-clad women and Clive Palmer, uselessly wielding a lasso.

It’s the exhibition’s 22nd year, but there’s no sign of its founder, former theatrical entrepreneur Peter Batey, giving up. Nor, he tells “CityNews”, is the chief arbiter of the Archies, his sulphur-crested cockatoo Maude, losing any of her judgmental acuity.

Batey assures us that Maude doesn’t take alcohol, is a vegetarian and is acutely aware of what is happening in the world. “She will outlast me,” he predicts.

“There are always one or two shockers, just as with the Archibald,” says Batey, noting that the next in popularity is Molly Meldrum, seen in Max Gerreyn’s adoring portrait of Molly during a moment of success.

As in recent years, the Bald Archy Exhibition will launch at Watson Arts Centre in Canberra, with a grand tour planned around country towns such as Swanpool, Gundagai, Deniliquin, Coffs Harbour, Brewarrina, Corowa and Temora.

Opening in Canberra has always given the Archy fabulous national coverage, but he worries that by the time it gets to the Italian Forum in Sydney’s Leichardt, the news value may have waned, so he’ll be delaying the announcements until July 25, after the Archibald prize winner is known.

While Batey has always hated the idea that the Bald Archies could be subjected to serious art criticism, it irks him that national institutions like the National Portrait Gallery and at least one major regional art gallery continue to ignore the award.

It is an acquisitive prize, so he has a collection of winning portraits going right back to the first year, 1994, when the Bald Archy award was launched as part of the Coolac Festival of Fun.

Like it or loathe it, 81-year-old Batey says the exhibition and award have served as a social barometer for a long time and deserve a resting place in one of the cultural institutions. After this year’s grand tour of the Archies is finished, he intends devoting time to ensuring that.

The Bald Archy Exhibition, Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, Watson, every day, February 6-March 8, entry $5.

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