It’s been 30 years since the establishment of the Campbelltown Bicentennial Art Gallery in 1988.
It has in recent years been renamed Campbelltown Arts Centre, but as far as most people are concerned it’s still just “the art gallery’’.
The man who played the biggest role in establishing the gallery in those heady bicentennial days believed a decent city deserved a public gallery.
The late John Marsden, who also served as the art gallery board chairman for many years, loved quoting figures showing thousands of people had visited the art gallery.
“More people have come to the gallery this month then went to watch the Western Suburbs Magpies play at Orana Park,’’ he would thunder.
Having served on the board myself for a few years, it was hard to argue with Marsden’s view that a public art gallery was a democratic institution.
One of the galleries is named after John Marsden, a fitting tribute to a man who contributed so much to Campbelltown.
The other great contributor and supporter of the art gallery was the group known as Friends – friends of the art gallery or arts centre now.
John Marsden is gone now but the Friends are still there, doing their bit.
No doubt they will have a strong presence when We are all connected to Campbelltown (one way or another), an exhibition that celebrates this 30 year milestone, is launched on Saturday, August 11.
The exhibition will present both new commissions and existing works that consider Campbelltown through its history, place and people.
Artists include Suzanne Archer, Candy Bowers, Joan Brassil, what, Joel Beers, Blak Douglas, Heath Franco, Freya Jobbins, Anna McMahon, Danie Mellor, Claudia Nicholson, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and Shireen Taweel.
Emerging Western Sydney artists from the Little Orange Supported Studio will launch the exhibition with The Little Orange Big Party including a mammoth birthday cake, tarot card readings, a cocktail bar and animated projections on the building.
And the Bearded Bakers will be serving delicious, sweet Knafeh dessert.
We are all connected to Campbelltown (one way or another) exhibition will be open until Sunday, October 14.
It is just one of the many the many things that John Marsden’s drive and commitment achieved in the life of Campbelltown. I doubt if anyone other than the late Harley Daley was more committed to the city of Campbelltown. John’s famous saying was “the two great cities of the world were Rome and Campbelltown “