IT’S the time of the year for Australia’s most irreverent, indeed vulgar, art prize to kick off, the only art prize in the world to be judged by a sulphur crested cockatoo, Maude, from Coolac NSW. 

Yes, it’s the 19th annual Bald Archy Prize, the satirical portrait prize founded by former theatre director and friend of Maude, Peter Batey,  as an antidote to the annual Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.  In his view, it will be a sad day if the Bald Archys are ever taken seriously

Batey, a noted raconteur, is gearing up to entertain the public with a floor talk at a cocktail party to be held in the Watson Arts Centre on February 9 with proceeds going to Autism Asperger ACT.

No doubt he’ll be commenting on the changing faces in the entries from leading artists and caricaturists all around the country. Mind you, in 2012, there’s been little change from 2011, with a  a deluge  of Gillard and Abbott paintings,  just a smattering of Murdochs and a very odd one where Melbourne columnist Andrew Bolt is paired with his namesake Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter.

The cocktail party will commence at 7pm on Thursday February 9 at the Watson Arts Centre, 1 Aspinal St Watson. An open invitation is extended to all to attend this fun event. Tickets may be acquired ($30 donation) by telephoning Hilary at 6247 0672.

The Bald Archy exhibition will be open to the  public from February 10 to March 12.