Talk held: Thursday 8th December 2022.   

Present:

SAM CEO Melinda Martin (MM)

SAM Engagement Manager Gabriella Calandro (GC)

SAM Collections Officer Sophie Varapodio (SV)

SAM Public Programs Coordinator Olivia Trenorden (OT)

SAM Ambassador Amber Stephens (AS)

Transcript

AS: What exhibitions should we expect to see at SAM in 2023?  

MM: We will be showing Ceremony over the Summer period here at SAM. Until late February, SAM will be the only Victorian venue for this very important Indigenous exhibition, touring from the National Gallery of Australia. Exhibiting Ceremony across our two main galleries on level 1 and level 2 will be interesting for SAM – to see how our visitors respond.  

In March, we then move to Dance Me To The End Of Love, which is next year’s major Collection exhibition. It explores the cycle of life, from birth to death. That’s where we’re going to see Sam Jink’s, Mother and Child, which is the epitome of both those moments – a grandmother holding a small bub. This is a much-loved work, but we are also looking at some interesting ephemeral works as well as works that have been part of our ceramics and painting collections. 

We are also working to deliver a collection show for our Children’s Gallery, which will be diving into our collection and creating opportunities for kids to engage with the SAM Collection, which we have never done in this space before. 

AS: By engaging with the Goulburn Valley region, what can SAM offer to local creatives and why are the initiatives being offered so important to this area?  

GC: The idea behind all our programming and events is to develop different ways for the community to come in, experience the space, the ideas and themes that are expressed via the exhibitions, and connect with the SAM Collection. It’s valuable in allowing people to gather, to express culture and experiences together, but also the opportunity to show well-known artists in their hometown, expressing the idea that art isn’t just in certain metropolitan areas. A museum is just a venue to facilitate those conversations and, give people the information and ideas to continue those conversations when they leave SAM. 

OT: What can we expect to see from the SAM Collection in the new year?  

SV: Our largest Collection engagement in 2023 will be exhibition, Dance Me To The End Of Love. There will be around 40 significant works from the SAM Collection, including audience favourites such as Sam Jink’s Woman and Child (2010). Other significant artists in the show include Ramesh Nithiyendran, Penny Byrne, Janet Fieldhouse, and Nell. The show also includes some of our Indigenous ceramic award finalists, as well as works that have never been shown at SAM before – such as works by Katthy Cavaliere.  

MM: Katthy’s work will be especially interesting! The artist was at Carnivale, in Venice, and she collected a whole bunch of ephemera from the celebration, such as confetti, streamers and the like. So, part of the work is this suggestion of sweeping up what is left behind and the conversation that comes about when someone dies. 

OT: SAM recently celebrated its first birthday. Can you share some key learnings that we will be taking with us from our first twelve months?  

MM:  It’s important that we, in our next phase, increase our local engagement. We can’t build on our achievements without the support of our community. We want to be in line at Tinto’s picking up bread and hear people say to friends visiting, “oh, you should go to SAM!” We know that people are coming to Shepparton to visit SAM – so we need to be able to share the love and bring people a sense of community pride when they visit SAM.  

OT: Just to sum all this up, what are you most looking forward to seeing at SAM in the new year?  

MM: I am really looking forward to sharing more of our collection and sharing the stories contained within it, and our collection being a real starting point to spark meaningful conversations, so that we can provide those amazing experiences that, in two years, people remember, reflect on, and inspire people.  

SV: I am looking forward to people coming back to SAM and seeing new things, how the spaces have changed and observing their reactions. As a team in a new space, we have learnt a lot about how people interact with the artworks and move through the space.  

GC: Seeing visitors return is a major one for me. It’s why we’re here – connecting with locals and developing programs that help them see themselves reflected in what we do at SAM. It’s an ongoing journey, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we grow the community experience.

Image: The Unveiling of Sam Jinks’ Woman and Child, 2010, Shepparton Art Museum, 2020.