Two new exhibitions to open at Shepparton Art Museum on Saturday 13 August 2022.

SAM is honoured to present its upcoming temporary exhibition, the 2022 Indigenous Ceramic Award (ICA), where the selected submissions to its prestigious Indigenous Ceramic Award will be unveiled.

Now in its seventh iteration, the 2022 ICA embarked on a nation-wide callout, inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and collectives from all over Australia to submit their entries to the prize. From within the strong contention, 19 finalists were shortlisted by the judging panel, which this year consisted of Museums Victoria Senior Curator Kimberley Moulton (Yorta Yorta), leading contemporary artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, and artist and 2018 ICA finalist Penny Evans (Gamilaraay/Gomeroi).

Melinda Martin, SAM CEO, says of the exhibition:

“The works featured in 2022 ICA tell stories of First People’s culture and history through ceramics that span from the traditional to the experimental and are a beautiful celebration of Indigenous ceramic artmaking. Ceramics displays are so embedded within the SAM building, carefully curated to chronicle the diversity of the medium through form and technique – the ICA, with its centring of Indigenous artists currently practising in Australia, brings the practice of Indigenous artists to the fore. Visitors will be awed by the talent and innovation of the artists featured.”

Presented on Yorta Yorta Country, the award provides a national platform to share personal, historical and deep cultural learnings from artists and Country. It celebrates and supports the rich and diverse use of the ceramic medium by Indigenous artists and acknowledges the special industry of ceramic art. There are three major prizes for finalists to secure: The Major Acquisitive Prize of $20,000, South-East Australian Aboriginal Artist Prize of $5,000 and the People’s Choice Award of $1,500.

Belinda Briggs, SAM Indigenous Curator, says:

“We’re really excited to welcome artists, our community, and all visitors here for the ICA in its inaugural showing in our new building. It presents a unique opportunity to engage with new and emerging ceramicists, as well as both nationally and internationally acclaimed ceramicists, in a regional context. There are some really interesting themes and ideas coming through with how artists are using clay to tell stories that are important to all of us.”

Also opening on Saturday 13 August is the SAM Window, which will feature a new vinyl artwork installation created in collaboration with Kaiela Arts and their artists Jack Anselmi (Yorta Yorta), Suzanne Atkinson (Yorta Yorta), Tammy-Lee Atkinson (Yorta Yorta), Frances Nicholson (Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba), Eva Ponting (Gunditjmara), and Lyn Thorpe (Yorta Yorta, Wamba Wamba, Woi-wurrung). Kaiela deya, manu nyananan (River here, is home to all of us) highlights the collection of hand-drawn symbols inlaid into the floor in granite and brass, flowing throughout Kaiela Arts into SAM, and explores the individual meanings behind each symbol and the way in which they intersect together to create a strong collective cultural story. The installation can be viewed in the window until 12 March 2023.

A media preview of 2022 ICA will take place on Thursday 11 August at 12.00pm. The formal opening and award ceremony for ICA will be held at SAM on Saturday 8 October 2022, accompanied by a cultural program on 8 and 9 October celebrating the artists and the rich history of ceramics within Aboriginal and First Nations culture.

Announcing the 2022 ICA finalists 

Alfred Lowe, Arrernte (NT)

Alison Milyika Carroll, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Anne Thompson, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Bankstown Koori Elders Group (NSW)

• Lorna Morgan Waka-Waka, Darumbal (QLD), Lillian Johnson Waka-Waka, Gubbi Gubbi (QLD), Gloria Peronchik Waka-Waka, Gangulu (QLD), Beverley Gilmartin Wiradjuri (NSW), Victoria Woods Wiradjuri (NSW), Margaret Foat, Buandik (SA), Lola Simmons Wailwan (NSW), John Simmons

Beth Inkamala Mbitjana, Western Aranda (NT)

Billy Bain, Darug (NSW)

Carlene Thompson, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Debbie Taylor – Worley, Gamilaraay/Gomeroi (NSW)

Elisa Jane Carmichael, Ngugi (QLD)

Elizabeth Dunn, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Hayley Coulthard Panangka, Western Aranda (NT)

Jock Puautjimi, Tiwi (NT)

Megan Croydon, Kuku Yalanji (QLD)

Philip Denham, Girramay (QLD)

Philomena Yeatman, Gunggandji (QLD)

Rupert Jack, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Sean Miller, Gamilaroi (NSW)

Tjunkaya Tapaya OAM, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Vivian Pingkayi Thompson, Pitjantjatjara (SA)

Highlights of the 2022 ICA

• 26 artists will exhibit as finalists, plus one feature artist
• 27 language groups represented
• Prizes
  • Major Acquisitive Prize $20,000
  • South-East Australian Aboriginal Artist Prize $5,000
  • People’s Choice Award $1,500

Judging panel: Kimberley Moulton (Yorta Yorta), Museums Victoria Senior Curator; Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, leading contemporary artist; Penny Evans (Gamilaraay/Gomeroi), 2018 ICA finalist

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: Louise Tremper, Marketing Coordinator, SAM

p: (03) 4804 5026 e: ltremper@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au