7 March 2019

Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) will go local from 1 March to 7 April, spotlighting the practice of regional artists with three exhibitions – SAM Local: Spotlight, SAM Local: Best of Friends and SAM: Education Lab, supported by La Trobe University.

Spotlight is an exciting, profile-raising exhibition for a regional artist. This year the spotlight will be on Maree Santilla. 

Maree is an Echuca-based artist who works across drawing, painting and sculptural ceramics. Working in a variety of mediums, Maree’s work looks at the relationship of animal, human and landscape.

Every year the Friends of SAM are invited to showcase their artwork in an exhibition that brings together the works of community artists practising in painting, drawing, textiles, sculpture, photography and design.

Best of Friends highlights this diversity and skills. The opening event provides an opportunity to meet the artists, celebrate their artistic talent and their contributions to our creative community. Friends are invited to showcase their work at SAM. For information on becoming a Friend of SAM, click here.

Education Lab will be an evolving exhibition process that will see a range of schools and educational groups work with artist Heather Hesterman to transform the gallery space on a weekly basis.

The students’ work will remain in the gallery space for six weeks, providing them with the opportunity to see their work displayed in the galleries in an open lab-style mode. 

Heather’s art practice investigates the intersection of place, ecology, education and science via practices of installation and collaboration. She will take up residency in the Education Lab from 1 March to 7 April.

SAM Director, Dr Rebecca Coates, said each exhibition provides a great insight into the talent in the Goulburn Valley.

“These are great projects that engage artists and communities across our region, telling unique stories, inviting people of all ages to get involved with SAM’s programs and activities and be inspired by the diverse range of creativity and imagination on our own doorstep,” she said.

 More information on SAM Local here.