Offcuts 2018

Pet peeves, petro chemicals, or just ya pooch – Don Whyte’s annual Offcuts exhibition will have hundreds of works on show around the theme ‘pets’.

When asked to describe the event – which is one of the hottest dates on the arts calendar each year – Whyte described it as “a cross between Mindil Beach Markets and the Myers end of year sales, with a bit of art involved.”

It’s a bit of a stretch, but there’s almost as much food as Mindil Market, and maybe as many people as the Myer end of year sales, and lots of art involved.

For the last 12 years artists have collected small canvases to transform and sell, with the proceeds going to charity.

Artist Chayni Henry has entered a piece of work almost every year and thinks the theme will speak to a lot of people.

“I think he’s going for a really safe option that anyone can identify with, and frankly I’m pretty disgusted how he’s taking the easy road,” she says, poking cheek at her good mate.

Henry will paint a work inspired by her new dog, despite her fraught history as a pet owner.

As a seven-year-old, Henry had an unfortunate incident that saw her parent’s brand new pedigree breeding Boston Terrier meet an untimely end, but she has turned a new leaf and recently adopted her new female pooch, Gary.

“A new dog, a new Chayni,” she says.

“I reckon Gary will definitely be my theme – being the new doggy love of my life, my muse.

“I’ll have to manage my expectations about her survival rate though.”

Henry says she’s normally cooking up a storm for the event’s cooking competition, but might sit this year out to give other’s a chance at bragging rights.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase your cooking skills and get some one-upmanship on everyone else in the arts community,” she says.

SAT 17 NOV | 6-9PM | DON WHYTE FRAMING, COCONUT GROVE | FREE | donwhyteframing.com