Cockburn’s very own annual art exhibition Show Off – turns sweet 16 this year, with 68 Cockburn artists set to showcase their art 28 March to 5 April.
City of Cockburn Art & Culture Coordinator Cassandra Cooper has curated all 16 Show Off exhibitions, with the first held at the City’s Civic Centre (now Cockburn Seniors Centre) 17 years ago.
“Show Off started in 2003 and was to be held every two years, but after the second year it was so popular with artists, the City decided it should become an annual event,” Ms Cooper said.
Ms Cooper said Show Off was a unique exhibition because it did not charge artists to exhibit, nor did the City take a commission on sold works.
“In the 17 years since Show Off began, the City has purchased about 70 artworks valued at around $60,000 to add to its art collection,” she said.
“The City of Cockburn values the contribution of the thriving local arts community and how artists and their work add value to Cockburn’s cultural life and history.”
After the first Show Off exhibition, it moved from the Civic Centre to the upstairs function room at the City’s Administration Centre before relocating to its current home at Memorial Hall in Hamilton Hill in 2008.
Ms Cooper said since Show Off began it had exhibited works collectively valued at more than $2.2m, featuring 775 exhibitors, starting with 19 in the inaugural show to nearly 70 at 2020’s much-anticipated Show Off 16 event.
Six artists have exhibited in every show since the exhibition began: Larry Mitchell, George Haynes, Jane Martin, Sharyn Egan, Trevor Vickers and Neda Starac.
Show Off 16 will be open to the public 10am-3pm daily from Saturday 28 March until 5 April at the Memorial Hall, on the corner of Rockingham Road and Carrington Street. Entry is free.