The Thousands

Melbourne art dude from way back Danny Lacy has been scarcer in these parts for a while, because he became the curator at Shepparton Art Gallery. And he’s been even scarcer for the past eight months because the Shepparton Art Gallery (SAG) has been transforming into the less droopy-sounding SAM (Shepparton Art Museum) via a sneaky $1.98 million renovation.

They’re launching SAM on Saturday, which is a good excuse for a road trip for the face painting and show bags alone. But there will also be new exhibitions including Sir John Longstaff: Portrait of a Lady, The 2011 Indigenous Ceramic Art Award and a new drawing wall project by Gosia Wlodarczak. We asked Danny for some behind the scenes info:

What’s your favourite thing about the SAM renovations? If you had to pick one thing?

The best thing about the renovations are the new permanent collection spaces, six in total. These allow us to showcase the collection like never before, thematically curating the collection strengths. This includes a contemporary room and a huge new ceramics cabinet.

We said ONE THING. JK, sorry. Do you have any Shepp tips for visitors?

Country op shops are good. Teller Collective hotspot for dinner, the re-developed lake is great place to relax. Don’t mind the brightly coloured fibreglass cows, they don’t bite! 

Can you reveal any upcoming exhibition plans for 2012?

Massive Sam Jinks solo show May-June. Raafat Ishak and Tom Nicholson collaboration Proposition for a banner march and a black cube hot air balloon in July-September. New drawing wall projects by Caroline Rothwell and Justin Andrews.

What time should we get there on Saturday? (Keep in mind we want a showbag)

It’s a 10am start on Saturday, curatorial floor talks on the hour, SAM Art Passport tours for kids on the half hour. Face painting and show bags all day (until they run out).

Thanks Danny see you there.