MadQueen The

Regina Dudek’s story is like a whimsical fairytale where a queen, raised on a goldfish farm, grows up to become the successful creator of highly sought after, enchanting, magical art.

Regina, who now lives and creates in the charming South Gippsland village of Loch, was raised on a goldfish farm in Boolarra. The farm was established by her immigrant grandparents and then carried on by her parents who grew the enterprise into a thriving and successful business.

From her early years, she was a maker using her hands to fashion things. At the age of nine, when she had her ears pierced, she made her own dangly earrings out of fuse wire from the meter box and a broken necklace. In many ways after that there was no looking back for Regina.

After high school, she attended the Melbourne College of Advanced Education to study to become an art teacher. She attained a Bachelor of Education, Arts and Crafts, majoring in Metalwork and Sculpture. She then taught for a few years but found that the art rooms in schools were usually under resourced and underappreciated.

She travelled overseas backpacking for a while and then moved to Perth where she had friends. She continued making earrings and one weekend, she set up a stall at a popular market and started selling them. They sold well so she continued to attend the markets, while slowly experimenting with different types of art works. Such was her growing popularity that one piece, a wire chandelier, was noticed and then featured in Australian Vogue Living. In the late 90’s, she was invited to exhibit her work at Fremantle Arts Centre and then asked to teach adult classes there. Without any plan, she eventually became a full-time artist and was able to make a living from it.

After 10 years in Perth, she returned home to Boolarra with a husband and two young boys. They lived an idyllic life in a mudbrick house on two hectares until the 2009 bushfires destroyed their lovely home including all the artworks she had collected during her travels and all the supplies she had gathered for her work. It was devastating. Regina though, rose from the ashes and after more of life’s ups and downs and moves, she eventually landed in the place she felt she was meant to be – her gloriously eclectic and charming cottage in the delightful village of Loch. It was the ideal place to have an exhibition and it was a tourist town that attracted many visitors to its cafes, vintage shops, providores and art galleries including of course The Mad Queen in her cottage — castle. metal, and came up with her own dress art. Each dress is unique and has its own story. She gives some names like Mable or Edith, others are ethereal creations with wings and then there are warrior pieces with antlers, all are totally individual and exceptional artworks.

Her business name comes from her name Regina, which translates to queen in Latin and as she herself says, what she makes is slightly mad so Mad Queen is the perfect name.

She gathers the materials she uses from numerous sources. It includes trawling through online sites such as Ebay and Facebook marketplace to find quirky and interesting bits and pieces that then direct what she creates. The main material used is soft wire that she can work with easily by hand with limited equipment. It’s interesting watching her hands unconsciously coil and twirl wire into shapes as she talks.

She is delighted when she returns home sometimes to find gifts of assorted items for her artwork left by some unknown person because they thought she may be able to use them. The shed at the rear of her property also holds an array of collected bits that she will use for her artwork.

Regina’s art defies categorisation. It’s unusual and wonderfully exotic. It’s a unique experience to be enchanted by such everyday ephemerals formed into exquisite works of art.

Her artworks have become collectable by fans, particularly her ‘dresses’, which are extremely popular. These came about because a dressmaker friend was putting together dresses made from vintage clothing and Regina loved them but she wasn’t skilled in sewing. She decided to use the skills she did have, that of working with wire and

There is no limit to what Regina can create, from tiny delicate works that can be held in the palm of your hand to a larger chandelier titled ‘Everything but The Kitchen Sink’, made from items such as a colander, rice cooker, cutlery, keys, pastry molds, beads and wire. Definitely an eye-catching work!

Regina has built up her name through exhibitions and displays. A recent exhibition at Meeniyan Art Gallery titled ‘Fit for a Queen’ was extremely popular with many of her works going off to new homes.

She also runs occasional workshops supplying all the materials so a student can leave with a fully completed piece such as a decorative wreath. With Regina’s guidance any novice can learn how to make a beautiful artwork for their home.

Regina has an indefinable skill for conjuring up ideas to transform everyday items into objects that will make your heart sing. She really is just as much of a treasure as the extraordinary works she brings to life. gl