9 December 2019

SAM is delighted to announce Shepparton born and Arcadia raised Madeline Wright as the selected artist for SAM Local: Spotlight 2020.

Following on from the success of previous years, SAM will again go local in March 2020, with five exhibition spaces dedicated to showcasing creative talent from across our region. The SAM Local: Spotlight exhibition is an opportunity for an artist with local connections to hold a solo exhibition at SAM.  

After an overwhelming response to the artist callout in November, Madeline was selected to present a solo exhibition at SAM.

Director of SAM, Dr Rebecca Coates says, “The SAM Local exhibition is a highlight on the museum’s calendar as it provides incredible insight into the creative practices of artists that have a strong connection to our area. It is a joy to work with our local community in supporting, inspiring and engaging talent in a regional context.”

When it came to selecting the SAM Local: Spotlight artist, SAM Curator Lara Merrington says the decision is always challenging. “The calibre of applications received this year was high and extremely diverse from emerging to established artists, and artists working in a range of mediums and concepts. We were looking particularly for artists and works which connect to the local and will form an engaging and stimulating part of SAM’s annual program. We look forward to working closely with Madeline, enabling her to gain professional experience working in a museum context.”

Madeline Wright’s application was selected because of her clear vision for her body of work, which had a strong connection to belonging and place. The work will extend on a series of previous works looking at mapping, through intuitive methods.

The exhibition for SAM Local: Spotlight will see Madeline make multiple trips back to her home town of Arcadia to make the work, which she describes as ‘assemblages of Arcadia’ and will include object based works in metal, ceramics, glass and the materials of Arcadia and the Goulburn River in its found objects, dusts and colours. The resulting still life composition of objects, memories and moments will be titled A Field Guide to Utopia.

Artist Madeline Wright is excited by the opportunity of creating a solo exhibition. “It’s really special to be chosen for SAM Local: Spotlight and to be given the opportunity to share what I see, and love, about Arcadia and its surrounds, and hopefully inspire SAM visitors to slow down in reverie and notice all of the special and unique details that connects them to this region,” Madeline says.

SAM Local: Spotlight will be presented as a part of the SAM Local exhibitions in March 2020.

Image: SAM Local Spotlight 2020 artist, Madeline Wright. Photo Amina Barolli.