2021 ‘Celebrating Packsaddle’ - an exhibition of 36 years of acquired works
Opening night 2020 with NERAM Director Rachael Parsons
This year, due to COVID challenges our Packsaddlers will be hosting a special exhibition featuring works that they have acquired over the 36 years the exhibition has run. This will be a unique opportunity to explore works from Australian artists far and wide, and a taste of how contemporary art has evolved in Australia.
Join us for the special opening at NERAM on Friday 15 October from 6-8pm at NERAM (contact for bookings).
In 2021 Packsaddle celebrated 36 years of exhibiting artworks to our community. We have received wonderful tributes in recognition of our work from Barry Pearce and Philip Bacon, Euan Macleod and Melissa Smith.
Barry Pearce FUniSA, Emeritus Curator, Art Gallery of NSW writes:
“About fifteen years ago a profound collective anxiety arose amongst New England citizens when the local council intimated that a debt burden might lead to the closure of NERAM. This was a relatively young regional art museum; then housing the Hinton and Coventry collections, as it still does and much more.
However hovering in the background was the growing Packsaddle group, whose enthusiasm and belief somehow reassured one that the survival of NERAM would eventually break through, and the museum could proceed once more to build upon its rich core collections.”
Philip Bacon AM, Philip Bacon Gallery, Brisbane writes:
“Armidale generally and NERAM specifically were amongst Margaret Olley’s favourite places in Australia. She loved coming to visit her relations, the Wright family, at their property “Wallamumbi”, and of course she adored the gallery in town, housing as it did the collection of her friend and mentor, Howard Hinton. It was Olley who introduced me to the delights of NERAM, and I was always interested in what was going on there. And there seemed to be a lot going on, both good and, occasionally, not so good. Amongst the very good were the activities of that amazing group of avid supporters, the Packsaddle group. The model they employed, an annual selling exhibition of works sourced from around Australia, was astonishingly successful, with the profits raised being channeled into various projects that the gallery needed support for.”
Euan Macleod, Fine Arts, University of Christchurch, NZ writes:
“I’m sending a huge congratulations to Packsaddlers for what they’ve achieved over 35 years! Amazing work for a dedicated bunch of volunteers who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over some of their more recent years. NERAM are blessed to have them raising funds for their Gallery but their passion for the visual arts and encouragement for others to become involved is truly inspiring. Good luck with this year’s event under such difficult circumstances. Hopefully it’ll be a huge success and a huge thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of all the artists you’ve supported over the years. ”
Melissa Smith, Masters of Cultural Heritage, Deakin University, Melbourne, Printmaker writes:
“Through my involvement with the Packsaddle exhibition over the last five years I have felt embraced more as a family member than simply a contributing artist. Such is the ‘community' that surrounds this exhibition from the volunteers that are passionate about its creation each year to its supporting public. Both recognise and value what NERAM represents as a gallery and collection. The history behind this exhibition is to be admired and I feel privileged to have been part of the valuable contribution it makes. Hats off to all!”