New children’s exhibition Little big, Big little now open at Shepparton Art Museum.

Shepparton Art Museum’s (SAM) latest exhibition Little big, Big little is now open in the SAM Children’s Gallery. Utilising artworks from SAM’s own collection, this vibrant show has been designed for young audiences, and provides parents and carers with the opportunity to engage with children in creative play while introducing them to elements and principles of art, such as colour, scale, rhythm, and texture.

The works on display demonstrate a range of artistic movements, forms, and concepts and are presented in a colourful, dynamic space that encourages exploration and curiosity. Artists whose works are featured in the show include Renee So, Naomi Hobson and Barrie Goddard.

Caroline Esbenshade, SAM Curator – Community, says of the exhibition:

“With this exhibition we’ve created a space that is full of colour and have selected artworks from a range of eras with engaging textures and shapes to create a fun and inviting space for kids. We hope a trip to SAM, particularly the Children’s Gallery, will inspire kids to engage in the arts and get creative themselves - we have a drawing activity in the gallery should inspiration strike! We haven't yet had a SAM Collection show in the Children’s Gallery; hopefully, visitors both big and small enjoy the show and come away with a better understanding of how different artists use different approaches in artworks they see inside and outside of SAM.”

Each work has a wall label designed for kids or the young at heart and can be used as prompts to consider and understand specific elements of the artworks. Extended labels are also available to equip adults with additional information to encourage further conversation between children and parents. Artworks have been displayed at a lower height to help smaller children interact with the works and take in their full detail.

In addition to the exhibition, visitors can let their imagination loose with a number of activities available within the space. The activities, inspired by the artworks, are designed to help audiences of all ages engage more deeply with the exhibition and exercise their own creativity within the vibrant space. Visitors are invited to leave their creations in the box provided for SAM to display each week in celebration of the creativity of our community.

Little big, Big little is now showing at Shepparton Art Museum until 3 September 2023. Entry is free – SAM is open six days, 10am-4pm from Wednesday to Monday and 10am-5pm on weekends. SAM is closed on Tuesdays.

Featured image: Little big, Big little, installation view, Shepparton Art Museum, 2023. Photo: Leon Schoots