Artists split on open

The reopening of the South West border and a lid on new COVID-19 cases could see the Margaret River Region Open Studios program fire back into life this year. MRROS chairman Jim Davies said the group’s committee met this week and decided to canvass artists about the event’s future. “The advice we’re getting is we’ll be able to hold the event after Phase 3 restrictions,” Mr Davies said. Artists would be asked for their preferences about opening after the school holidays in July or later in September. Mr Davies said no new artists would be added to Open Studios. “There’s a feeling among the board we should go earlier in July because we’d really like to get the event up and running sooner,” he said. “People are looking for things to do down here.” Also making the argument for a July opening was the widely held view finances would tighten for most West Australians in September, when Federal Government support schemes end. But Mr Davies said artists were split on the two options. “Some want to go earlier and some want to go later, so we’ll see in a week’s time,” he said. Participating artist Elizabeth Whiteman told the Times plans to revive the festival were inspiring. “As an artist, I already live much life of my life working alone in ‘lockdown’ mode and effectively socially distancing, so having deadlines, commissions and events to work towards is always helpful,” she said. “Thankfully, I had already taken photos of people for painting before the restrictions were put in place, so I could keep working on my Margaret River Faces project without having to meet people in person for sittings.” Whiteman said she was looking forward to taking part in the festival later this year and engaging with visitors responding to her art.