The anniversary of Neddy’s hanging day is nigh (11th November), ergo preparation is underway for our annual open studio day. This year we’re joining the Festival of the Face program, celebrating artists and communities in towns and villages across the shire.

Those of you who have already attended previous open days will know that there’s a facet of the visit that fits in particularly well with the Festival of the Face thematic; our Mugshot Files, which feature art loving perps from across the shire and beyond.

Here’s a glimpse of past parades (by way of example!)…

This year, to up the ante, we’re introducing the Mugshot Prize (our version of a lucky door prize); kicking off with one of Megsie’s lost wax cast Australian lead crystal oyster shells…

What could be more appropriately representative of our gloriously pristine champion oyster farming environment!

And there’s a further nod to our beautiful region on show this year; Megsie’s newest body of work, the Surf and Turf series. We think of these cast glass pieces as a metaphoric face of the Shire – ostensibly Surf and Turf is an ode to the Far South Coast of NSW, a visual aggregate of our agrarian coastal culture (not least being the local bloke’s fave pub meal!)

Megan Bottari, from the Surf and Turf series, lost wax cast Australian lead crystal.

At Prisoners of the Crown we’ve long had an enduring interest in portraiture (particularly those of our fave bushrangers)…

Ginger Bottari, Bushranger Cameos (Ned, Dan, Captain Midnight, Ben), saw pierced brushed titanium

…with Ned, of course, being our magnificent (and principle) obsession.

Our Annual Open Studio day (Sunday 11th November 2018) includes a viewing of the studio workshops (in the old stables) and our gallery (in the old Courtroom) and runs from 10.30am to 3.30pm. We are at the Old Police Station and Courthouse in the Village of Wyndham – just keep an eye out for Maurice de Ute…

Hope to see you then.