The Bald Archies

Today a group from Goulburn Valley U3A travelled by bus to the tiny hamlet of Swanpool (pop.512).  The main feature of this town is the Swanpool District Memorial Hall, built in the 1950s.  This is the longest continuously operating theatre in Australia and hosts some very important films and art exhibitions.  Such an exhibition is the 2016 Bald Archy Prize entries. Created in 1994 as a spoof of the more serious portrait prize, The Archibald, the entries range from hilarious to the bizarrely vulgar, creating portrait paintings of humour, dark satire, light comedy or caricature. Subjects are always high profile people, particularly our politicians (including our PM), who are sent up mercilessly. Now known internationally as the only art exhibition in the world to be judged by a sulphur-crested cockatoo, it is very irreverent.
On entering the lobby of the theatre today I was taken by this painting of the cinema as it would have been in its heyday.  I loved the nostalgic air about it and found it far more desirable than a shot of the actual theatre in broad daylight when it exhibited far less glamour. It is beautifully restored and run by the community, all proceeds being invested in future events and upkeep.