Final days of ‘The Land is Us’ at SAM
5 September 2024
Final days to experience National Gallery of Victoria’s touring exhibition The Land is Us at Shepparton Art Museum.
Shepparton Art Museum’s current major exhibition The Land is Us: Stories, Place & Connection will draw to a close on 1 September. Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the exhibition brings together notable artworks from the NGV Collection to offer an expanded consideration of landscape art.
Celebrating landscape through the eyes of significant artists including Sidney Nolan, John Olsen, Lin Onus, and Patricia Piccinini, The Land is Us explores our fascination with and our connection to land and place. Curated into a series of rooms, the artworks traverse a number of themes, from the role of the land in shaping personal and national identities, to mythmaking, to the displacement experienced by refugees. The exhibition marked the first time some artworks from the NGV Collection had ever been displayed together, creating new connections and inviting new dialogues through their perspectives.
The Land is Us: Stories, Place & Connection is showing at SAM until 1 September 2024 with free entry.
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Full list of exhibiting artists:
Hoda Afshar, Brook Andrew, Gordon Bennett, John Brack, Marylin Brown Petyarr, Louisa Bufardeci, Destiny Deacon, Rosalie Gascoigne, John Glover, Treahna Hamm, Taloi Havini and Stuart Miller, Hans Heysen, Beth Mbitjana Inkamala, Judith Pungkarta Inkamala, Rosemary Laing, Myoung Ho Lee, Frederick McCubbin, Trevor Nickolls, Grant Nimmo, Sidney Nolan, John Olsen, Lin Onus, Patricia Piccinini, John Pule, Ben Quilty, Cliff Reid, Reko Rennie, Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, Jane Sutherland, Rahel Kngwarria Ungwanaka, May Vale, HJ Wedge, Fred Williams, Walter Withers, Ah Xian, John Young
Featured image credit: The Land is Us, installation view featuring Sidney Nolan, Kelly with horse (1955), Shepparton Art Museum, 2024. Photo: Leon Schoots. ©The Sidney Nolan Trust. All rights reserved. DACS/Copyright Agency 2024.
Shepparton Art Museum shortlisted in two categories in 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards.
5 September 2024
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to announce two of its projects have been shortlisted for the 2024 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards.
Under the Small Project of the Year (Galleries) award category, major temporary exhibition The ARNDT Collection: From One World to Another has been successfully shortlisted after demonstrating its innovative exhibition design, connection to the rich cultural diversity of the Greater Shepparton region, and its presentation of significant contemporary and historical international artists in a regional public gallery. The exhibition, displayed from November 2023 to March 2024, presented a selection of key works from the significant private collection of Matthias Arndt and Tiffany Wood-Arndt, including artworks from Pablo Picasso, Gilbert & George, Alicja Kwade, and Sophie Calle. Th exhibition marked first major presentation of their collection in a public institution in Australia.
Under the First Nations Project of the Year award category, innovative new youth-focused workshop series Creative Arts Storytelling (CAS) has been successfully shortlisted. The program, presented for the first time in 2024, was delivered by SAM in partnership with the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project’s OLLY program. The CAS program engaged emerging First Nations artists, including Neil Morris, Ally Knight, and River Loizou, to present a series of after-school workshops for local youth that extended student’s skills in artmaking, including through filmmaking, visual art, poetry, to encourage peer connection and creative outcomes.
Danny Lacy, SAM Artistic Director, says of the announcement:
“The SAM team works hard to deliver high-quality and unique experiences for the Shepparton and Goulburn Valley community and beyond, and we are delighted to be recognised for our outstanding efforts by the leading Victorian peak bodies, Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Victoria) and Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV).
Across the two categories, SAM has been recognised for innovation, creativity and community engagement—all key elements that champion our strengths and the essence of our region.”
This year marks the 31st year of the prestigious Awards, and the second year of the collaboration between host organisations Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AmaGA Victoria) and Public Galleries Association of Victoria (PGAV). Since its inception, this annual event recognises outstanding achievements within the Victorian museum, gallery, and community collecting sector. The award winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Tuesday 1 October.
Last call for VCE students to exhibit work in the new SAM building.
1 December 2020
Applications for Shepparton Art Museum’s reopening exhibition, FRESH: GV Top Art & Design 2021, will close on Tuesday 8 December. FRESH is an exhibition that will celebrate the creativity and quality of artistic talent of young artists throughout the North Central Victorian region in the first half of 2021.
Applications are open to Year 11 and 12 students who have completed VCE Studio Arts, Art and Visual Communication Design. Mediums can include photography, drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics, film, printmaking and a variety of design presentations from industrial, environmental and visual design.
‘2020 has been particularly tough for our school kids, teachers and families. What better a way to offer hope, and have something to look forward to in 2021 than a new exhibition celebrating creativity from North Central Victoria’s youth,’ explains SAM Director, Dr Rebecca Coates.
‘FRESH will be the first show to open in our new SAM building. It will be an opportunity for us to share and own a new space, and through the creative ideas of a new generation, explore, share, and enjoy. We really encourage you to chat with your teachers, contact the SAM team, put in an application, and get involved and inspired,’ says Dr Coates.
In the past, SAM’s student shows have provided inspiration and at times career pathways into the arts and creative industries:
‘Exhibiting in SAM’s student show in 2016 was a big step in the start to my career and creative journey,’ said Abram Rasmussen (pictured), former Shepparton Christian College student. ‘It helped me realise that people enjoyed what I was making and that I am able to create things of value that people care about. This gave me the confidence to pursue a career as a “creative”.’
‘So fast forward to now – I run a successful photography/videography business, creating all sorts of content for different brands and businesses over the past few years. I am also about to start a full-time position at a local marketing agency as their creative director. So, SAM and particularly that 2016 VCE exhibition gave me the confidence to pursue what I was passionate about and now I am able to do what I love and provide for my family – which I may not have thought possible otherwise.’
FRESH: GV Top Art and Design will form part of SAM Squared, a new space that will launch the new building’s opening program. SAM Squared will host a range of exhibitions, programs and events designed to foster, engage and rejoice creativity from the vibrant arts and creative community of North Central Victoria.
Applications will be accepted from the following shires, Alpine, Benalla, Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Indigo, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Murrindindi, Strathbogie, Towong, Wangaratta and Wodonga.
Applications close on Tuesday 8 December at 4pm, and can be completed via SAM’s website www.sheppartonartmuseum.com.au.
For more information, or if you wish to discuss your application for FRESH, please contact SAM’s Visual Arts Educator, Linda Bryan on lbryan@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
Direct link: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/exhibit-at-sam/fresh-gv-top-art-design/
SAM presents new online project with artist Sarah crowEST
30 September 2020
In a first for Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), Sound Seen launches the art museum’s Artist Projects online platform. This is a newly commissioned artwork by Melbourne based artist, Sarah crowEST, available on SAM’s website from Thursday 1 October 2020.
Sound Seen will consist of a series of artworks conceived from visual scores for experimental musical responses but that can also function as dynamic visual artworks in their own right. CrowEST has produced five open-source, diagrammatic scores, developed and documented through a shifting, graphic process, which will be free to download and interpret on SAM’s website from 1 October.
“We’re delighted to be working with Sarah crowEST to present the first of SAM’s online, digital art projects.” SAM Artistic Director/CEO Rebecca Coates said. “This continues SAM’s commitment to presenting artist-led projects that connect with our community across platforms. Truly democratic and participatory, Sarah invites our audience to experience her work through sight, sound and musical responses.”
CrowEST explores connections between text, drawing, painting, noise and sound. Her works invite audience members to engage directly with the work. Her work spans discipline boundaries of contemporary art, publishing and performance. Her often collaborative projects involve sound artists and the production of diagrammatic scores, instructional works and word-events presented in the form of paintings and backdrops. With a focus on interpretation, she regularly engages in collaborations where experimental translations produce performative outcomes.
“This new commission by Sarah crowEST explores the dynamic, multi-form possibilities of language.” SAM Curator Lara Merrington said. “Her symbolic visual scores are informed by and in turn provide; infinite possibilities of interpretation. In the current context of a screen saturated world, the work is a refreshing plunge into experimental and cross-art form practice involving aural experience, collaborative work and performative outcomes. We are looking forward to seeing the public interact with this project in their own diverse ways.”
Score #1 has been co-developed with sound artist AHI (aka Luke Whitten) and Rara Zulu, who have produced a recording to be heard online in conjunction with the visual scores. Another of the scores will be co-developed with local musicians from Shepparton, to be made available from late-October.
Sound Seen: Sarah crowEST
From 1 October 2020 and ongoing online
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SAM temporary closure.
6 August 2020
In line with state and federal government advice, the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) will be closed to the public from Wednesday 5 August until current restrictions ease.
“Whilst this closure is disappointing, our priority remains the safety of our community, artists and staff” said SAM Director Rebecca Coates. “We have built up a strong collection of workshops, exhibition tours and educational resources online and will continue to share our work and collections through our virtual channels.”
Current exhibition
SAM currently has three exhibitions on display: A Finer Grain: Selected Works from the SAM Collection; Showcase #26: Irene Grishin Selzer, a partnership with Pepite; and SAM Drawing Wall #38, with Jahnne Pasco White. Details of these projects and exhibitions can be found on the SAM website. A series of activations for these projects will continue to be rolled out over the next few months. Check the #SAM Hub for updates and information.
These exhibitions will remain in the museum during this period and we hope that we can share this with you again once this period has ended.
Digital and online
The SAM team have worked with a series of artists and our creative community to create a wide variety of online content to engage all ages and audiences. From workshops on clay building to art inspiration for kid’s projects, there is plenty to keep hands and minds active on the SAM Hub. We have plenty of new artist contributions planned over the next few months.
Collection
All artworks are safe, and will continue to be carefully monitored, as they are when we are open.
SAM Transition
Work will continue on SAM’s transition to the new building. While there may be disruptions, we are keen to continue to work towards what will be one of the most exciting, and certainly highest, buildings in our region.
Visit SAM online at www.sheppartonartmusum.com.au or on Instagram or Facebook.
SAM partners with pépite to bring emerging artists to the Showcase space.
6 August 2020
Shepparton Art Museum is thrilled to be partnering with Melbourne based gallery pépite, to bring emerging contemporary art and design artists to the popular SAM Showcase exhibition space.
The Showcase series at SAM is designed to support object artists in the development of their work, the opportunity to hold an exhibition in a gallery setting, and to enable the public to purchase works from a diverse range of exciting creators.
This is the third in a series of partnerships we have developed with other leading contemporary organisations focusing on supporting and showcasing artists and creatives – first with Mr Kitley, second with Craft, and now pépite. Each is designed to grow SAM’s links with like-minded organisations, their audiences and stable of artists. For our partner, it is a unique opportunity for their artists to show and present in regional Victoria, and for SAM, to bring new and emerging talent to Shepparton’s doorstep.
“SAM Showcase is such an important space at SAM, as it enables us to support creativity through our makers and designers. It provides an opportunity for collectors and design enthusiasts to admire and purchase unique pieces from Australian artists,” says SAM Director Dr Rebecca Coates. “We are so pleased to partner with pépite, as we share a similar vision when it comes to lifting up and sharing the sensational work that is produced by our artistic community,” Dr Coates explains.
Representing more than 40 emerging contemporary artists from their Melbourne based showroom, pépite features a collection of one-of-a kind and limited edition works, predominantly ceramics, alongside sculpture, glass pieces, illustration, jewellery and accessories.
Every object and happening at pépite has been curated by founder Irina Rybakov. Irina is committed to supporting local talent and has been involved in Melbourne’s creative scene since she moved to Melbourne 10 years ago (from Lyon, France). After having spent a few years working with frankie magazine, Craft Victoria and The Big Design Market, Irina founded pépite in 2017 to follow her passion for contemporary art and design.
“I’m looking forward to be working with such a respected institution on creating three outstanding showcases of local talent, and present fresh and interesting new works to SAM’s visitors and supporters,” says pépite founder Irina Rybakov. “This partnership with SAM will be an opportunity to provide an additional platform to our emerging artists to experiment and create new work, present their practice to a wider audience and have their pieces exhibited alongside SAM’s exceptional collection of ceramic works by leading artists. It is also an exciting opportunity for SAM’s visitors to discover new talent through pépite’s wider community of emerging ceramic artists,” Irina explains.
The pépite partnership will consist of three showcase exhibitions. The first is Irene Grishin Selzeris, an Australian artist, based in Melbourne, who works predominantly with ceramics. Her art practice engages with the notion of transience in nature, the shape of time and the sense of place.
Her practice takes two separate, but interconnected forms. The first is the clay paintings and clay drawings, the second is object-based pieces. The clay paintings can be regarded as a form of abstracted cartography-sprawling maps where scale is difficult to fathom, but we encounter pockets of energy, the movement of tides, electromagnetic waves and the build-up of deeply encrusted topographical layers. The object-based pieces may be thought of as individual points of focus, tiny areas of exploration, sandwiched cross-sections that pierce the surface or enigmatic relics and artefacts that carry the traces of ancient forms of spiritual energy.
SAM Showcase #26: Irene Grishin Selzeris.
25 June – 1 September 2020
at SAM.
Celebrate the return of SAM with Drawing Wall #38.
6 August 2020
Shepparton Art Museum is delighted to be reopening to the public, after closing due to COVID-19 recommendations.
Now on to its 38th iteration, the SAM Drawing Wall has become synonymous with celebrating creative talent and connecting artists and the Greater Shepparton Community. This series of large scale commissioned artworks enliven the foyer space at the entrance to the museum.
‘We are thrilled to be back at SAM, safely connecting our artistic community, and providing some out-of-home engagement for our visitors,” says SAM Director Dr Rebecca Coates. “Jahnne’s work presents ideas that are so embedded within Shepparton and surrounds, and encourages reflection on issues that are important to us as a regional city,” Dr Coates explains.
Jahnne Pasco-White is an artist currently living and working on Dja Dja Wurrung land and waters, or Chewton, Victoria. She often works with the re-purposing of previous works, and incorporating organic materials and pigments drawn from natural matter alongside the traditional medium of acrylic paint.
Pasco-White’s Drawing Wall Becoming-other, responds to the environment of Greater Shepparton and the agricultural and aqua industries. She has sourced waste-product fruit from local suburban areas and independent fruit and vegetable farmers to extract natural dyes and pigments for use in the artwork. Using organic materials against those traditionally identified with art making, such as acrylic paint, results in swathes of rich colour and texture.
Pasco-White completed a Bachelor of Fine Art, Honours (First Class) Victorian College of the Arts in 2015. Her work is held in the Bendigo Art Gallery collection, as the recipient of the 2019 Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize. She was the recipient of a 2018 Art Gallery of New South Wales’ Moya Dyring Memorial Studio scholarship at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and was awarded a Martin Bequest Travelling Scholarship for Painting (2018-20).
Jahnne Pasco-White is represented by Station Gallery.
SAM Drawing Wall #38: Jahnne Pasco-White.
Exhibition Dates: 12 June – 7 January 2021
Location: at the SAM Entrance from Riverlinks Eastbank.
Image: Jahnne Pasco-White, Messmates (detail), 2019.Image by Christo Crocker.
SAM, it’s like you are virtually there!
6 August 2020
SAM invites you to experience current exhibition A Finer Grain: Selected Works from the SAM Collection from home with an interactive, self-guided virtual tour.
The virtual tour allows viewers to ‘walk’ through each of the galleries in the museum, zoom in on works, listen to artists talk about their work in the exhibition, and provides extensive opportunities to learn more about the artworks featured.
A Finer Grain: Selected Works from the SAM Collection presents key and lesser-known works by Australian women artists across several decades. This exhibition spans the full breadth of SAM’s 83 year collection history, features a range of mediums and subjects, and showcases the breadth of SAM’s material focus in works on paper, painting, and Australian ceramics.
‘Even those that have visited the exhibition in the museum will find new delights in this tour’, explains SAM Director, Dr Rebecca Coates. ‘It is a pleasure to work with our artists to provide additional benefits to our online visitors, and we are committed to continuing to provide these opportunities to professional artists during such a challenging time for the arts sector,’ says Dr Coates.
The A Finer Grain: Selected Works from the SAM Collection virtual tour joins a growing list of tours, workshops and activities that are available for free on SAM’s online content portal SAM Hub.
SAM continues to engage students and artists.
6 August 2020
SAM is working hard to develop a range of activities and resources to engage, inform and inspire kids and families during this time of increased social isolation.
After a well-attended opening night, and successful first school group session, the interactive SAM eduLAB sessions with talented artist Nadia Hernández sadly had to close due to advice regarding COVID-19.
Rochester Secondary College teacher Meg Doller brought her students into the exhibition prior to closure and commented, “I had my year 7’s in and was truly astounded by how much they retained and all the specific things they could write and talk about. An enriching experience for so many of them.”
SAM had the pleasure of working with Nadia Hernández to create alternatives for all students to share in this opportunity, even if the physical exhibition is not available. SAM are pleased to present two virtual workshops inspired by the work and themes that informed the eduLAB sessions planned for the students in the museum.
These workshops are designed to walk students through activities with purpose, using materials they are likely to have around the house, and would be suited to both primary and secondary aged students.
“It is so important that SAM stands by our artists and community during these challenging times, and the result is that we are able to continue to bring these deep thinking creative opportunities to our students and teachers, at a time when they are likely most needed.” explains SAM Director Dr Rebecca Coates.
“We are very keen to work with our talented educators to support them and their students with any resources they might need, and I encourage them to get in touch with SAM to see how we can help.” Dr Coates says.
Workshop 1, Out Loud! Express Yourself. This workshop encourages students to think about what they are passionate about, and consider how they would like to present their ideas and views. Nadia then walks them through some creative techniques she uses in her own practice, and touches on the symbolism of how to display your message.
Workshop 2, Sculpt It. Nadia shares the idea of ‘Querencia’ (an inner sense of strength), and how it influences her work. She then leads participants in the process of considering and expressing their own Querencia with a three dimensional object, and includes techniques they can apply with limited tools and supplies.
La Trobe University Shepparton has once again sponsored the SAM eduLAB for 2020. “It was very sad to have to close the exhibition soon after opening, so we are even more delighted that Nadia has worked with SAM staff to create some wonderful virtual workshops for students of all ages.” says La Trobe University Shepparton’s Head of Campus, Elizabeth Capp.
“The joy of creative expression is able to be shared even more widely through these activities and resource. We love that eduLAB successfully connects to formal school curriculum, and also makes these opportunities available to students who might otherwise miss out.” Ms Capp says.
Nadia Hernández’s workshops for SAM eduLAB are available to view on SAM’s online content portal SAM Hub.
https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/samhub
Educators or community groups that would like to use the workshops in their learning plans are encouraged to contact SAM for additional support and resources.
SAM facilitates connections between young and old.
6 August 2020
SAM is delighted to team up with local project I Wish I’d Asked to connect young and old in an exciting new initiative. Children are invited to participate in SAM‘s Wednesday morning virtual art lessons, and then send their finished creations along with a letter to a pen pal at a local retirement home.
Tackling issues of loneliness in our community is now more important than ever, with both children and seniors experiencing reduced social interaction in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. SAM and I Wish I’d Asked both run vibrant programs that strive to connect our communities, now with the added fun factor of snail mail!
“No matter your experience, everyone can get involved in this project. Whether it’s with a letter, a drawing, a wish, a message, a painting, a photo, every thought will be appreciated. All ages are encouraged to participate, there will be a pen pal for everyone!” says SAM’s Public Programs Officer Lisa Linton.
SAM Director Dr Rebecca Coates says “The idea of everyday kindnesses and little gestures that connect us with others is something that artists have often explored. SAM’s new project acknowledges a seminal work by the great Fluxux artist, Yoko Ono. Ono’s Wish Tree, 1996, invited people to write their personal messages of peace and hope and tie them to the branches of a tree. The work became a symbol for home in the face of natural and social trauma and disaster.”
“Given that our community can’t visit the gallery at present, instead, we are taking part of the gallery out to the community. Wishes and messages are being delivered direct to people’s own homes. This is about little gifts and everyday kindnesses.” Dr Coates explains.
So, how do you get involved?
Each Wednesday morning SAM will post a tutorial video on our website, Facebook, and Instagram account to inspire your creation, or you are free to come up with your own artwork. Send an email with a picture of your artwork with your name and postal address to lisa.linton@shepparton.vic.gov.au to receive your stamp and standard sized envelope in the mail. Whilst we would love to send oversized works of art, it needs to fit in a standard letter envelope.
Once you receive your stamp and envelope from SAM, fill it with your artwork and a personal message to your new pen pal. Drop your letter into your local mailbox and wait for a reply!
Along with anticipation, one of the benefits of traditional post is that it adheres to health advice relating to person to person contact, due to the time frame it takes to be delivered.
Stuck on what to ask your new pen pal? I Wish I’d Asked have created a list of questions to ask your new friend here: https://www.iwishidasked.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SampleQuestions.pdf
SAM is working hard to bring engaging content online. The SAM Hub is our online collection of content for all ages and includes workshop videos, virtual exhibition tours and more. Visit https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/samhub or @SAM_Shepparton on Instagram or Facebook.