Kim O’Keeffe
Mayor, Greater Shepparton

Greater Shepparton City Council is delighted to present Raquel Ormella’s first major survey exhibition, I hope you get this: Raquel Ormella, at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM).

This exhibition brings together a selection of new and recent works by one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. It includes a wide variety of media and draws in particular on Ormella’s experimental textile works, exploring key themes that the artist has consistently developed in her work: social and environmental activism, human and animal relationships, nationalism and national identity.

Arts and culture play a vital role in our community. They bring people together, forging strong community connections, and offer different ways to view the world in which we live. In this exhibition, key works invite
our audiences to get involved, become inspired and engage through an exhibition and related education and public program activities that are developed around art that is topical and timely.

The exhibition is accompanied by this richly illustrated publication with newly commissioned essays, and we particularly thank writers Reuben Keehan, Kyla McFarlane and Rebecca Coates for their insightful contributions. Thanks also to the Gordon Darling Foundation for their support of the exhibition publication.

We are delighted to present I hope you get this: Raquel Ormella as a NETS Victoria and Shepparton Art Museum touring exhibition. The impressive program for the travelling exhibition has been made possible through the work of NETS Victoria, specifically through the support of its Exhibition Development Fund. Our regional partners include Horsham Regional Art Gallery (Vic), Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery (Tas), Drill Hall Gallery, Australian National University (ACT) Noosa Regional Gallery (Qld) and Penrith Regional Gallery & The Lewers Bequest (NSW). I hope you get this has been further assisted by the Australian Government’s Visions of Australia program.

We acknowledge the support and work of former Director of NETS Victoria Georgia Cribb and former Curator Melissa Keys. In particular we thank current Director Mardi Nowak, who has been key to securing funding for this project, and Exhibitions Coordinator Ellen Wignell, who has been a pleasure to work with and a diligent collaborator.

This exhibition continues the work that SAM is known for through a particular collection strength: work by leading Australian female artists since the 1970s. The exhibition has been curated by Rebecca Coates and Anna Briers, SAM Director and Curator respectively, and offers a timely appraisal of one of Australia’s major female artists. Thanks to all the SAM staff who have worked on this exhibition.

And finally, we thank Raquel Ormella for her enthusiasm and generosity in the development and presentation of this major exhibition and tour.

We look forward to sharing this exhibition with our audiences.