New ceramics showcase exhibition and Art Wall mural to open at SAM.

The second instalments of the Level 1 showcase and the Furphy Art wall will open at Shepparton Art Museum over the next 7 days.
Drawing from SAM’s expansive ceramics collection, Social Ceramics is an exhibition that celebrates objects that stand at the centre of our shared experiences, with the humble tea set placed firmly in the spotlight. This exhibition offers a playful exploration of functional ceramics, with colourful commercial wares by Bendigo Pottery and bold tea and liquor sets by Guy Boyd and Allan Lowe.

Jessica O’Farrell, SAM Exhibitions Curator, says of the exhibition:
“This ceramics showcase continues the sentiment posed by the previous exhibition, Everyday Australian Design, of celebrating the objects that we use in our daily lives. This show inhabits the space between SAM and its adjoining café. Our hope is that visitors sitting and chatting over a coffee will see pieces from our collection we’ve chosen to highlight and be excited to reflect on the ways these types of ceramic vessels are central to our social interactions and shared conversations.”

On Friday 3 June, the newest artwork to grace the Furphy Family Art Wall on Level 4 at SAM will be unveiled. Artists Trent Walter and Lizzie Boon will collaborate on a joint wall work titled LOVE YOUR MOTHER, inspired by Boon’s observation of the phrase on a placard at a climate rally. With connotations to themes of environment and respect for people and place, the work resides in a fitting location amongst the river red gum treetops that line the Victoria Park Lake.

The community is encouraged to experience both exhibitions this Friday 3 June from 4pm during SAM Sounds, a SAM event presenting an immersive museum music experience. All exhibitions, and SAM Sounds, are free and open to the public. More details can be found on the SAM website: sheppartonartmuseum.com.au.

About Trent Walter:
Trent Walter is a Melbourne based printmaker and writer. In 2009, he established Negative Press, a fine art custom printmaking workshop focusing on etching and silkscreen techniques. Recent projects include a multiple panel silkscreen portrait of Professor Marcia Langton by Brook Andrew, commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, and two interdisciplinary works involving etching, silkscreen, and collage elements by Sally Smart, published by Port Jackson Press Australia.

About Lizzie Boon:
Lizzie Boon is an emerging artist, writer and archivist based in Melbourne. Her practice often engages with experimental writing and alternate publishing as a space for expanded perceptual translation, explication, and distribution. Lizzie received a Bachelor of Art History and Curating in 2018. She is currently the registrar and curatorial assistant at Negative Press. Here, she has been archiving the prints of Australian artist John Nixon.

ENDS

About SAM:
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), located on Yorta Yorta Country, is one of Australia's outstanding regional art museums, showcasing our exhibitions and collections in new and exciting ways and creating a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging space for all audiences. Artists are central to our work. Our programming is designed to be locally relevant and engage with global contemporary ideas. SAM is recognised for its significant Australian ceramics collection, and our nationally significant collection of Indigenous art. As the only public art museum in Greater Shepparton and north central Victoria, our mission is to present great art in Shepparton, and to contribute to the cultural enrichment, community engagement and economic prosperity of the region.

Media enquiries, please contact: Mikela Guseli, Marketing Officer, SAM
p: (03) 4804 5009 e: mguseli@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au