Media Release
April 4 2006
SA’s newest gallery honours the Samstag legacy
The philanthropy of a former art lecturer at the South Australian School
of Art, Gordon Samstag and
his wife Anne, is being acknowledged by the University of South
Australia in the naming of its new art museum gallery.
UniSA Vice Chancellor, Professor Denise Bradley has announced that the major new gallery, now under construction as part of the University’s landmark building on North Terrace, will be named The Anne and Gordon Samstag Museum of Art – University of South Australia.
“The Samstag story is one of extraordinary generosity and a passion for nurturing Australian artistic talent through education and opportunity,” Professor Bradley said.
The Samstag Fine Art bequest, now valued in excess of $10 million, is the largest and most prestigious of its kind in the Australian context, supporting opportunities for Australian artists to undertake visual arts research internationally, for extended periods.
“Today the Samstag name is associated with the development of some of Australia’s leading creative talents, through the unique opportunities made available by ‘Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Arts Scholarships’, awarded annually by the University of South Australia”, Professor Bradley said.
“In the 14 years since the scholarships were established, 105 artists have been supported to travel and study overseas."
Designed by John Wardle Architects in association with Hassell and scheduled to open late in 2007, the new Samstag Museum of Art will be a world-class facility of architectural distinction with the most contemporary of display features, including museum-standard climate control, specialised lighting systems and reinforced capacities for hanging large and heavy works. The gallery will feature display walls almost five metres in height. Stretching over two levels, the 500 square metre gallery complex will be the second largest in the State.
“The Samstags lived in South Australia for a decade, but their legacy will continue to influence generations of Australian artists long into the future,” Professor Bradley said.
“It is fitting that UniSA’s ambitious new gallery should carry the names of ‘Anne and Gordon Samstag’, honouring them as distinguished benefactors to Australian culture, and celebrating their relationship with the University of South Australia.”
From 1961 to 1970 American artist Gordon Samstag was the senior
lecturer in painting at the SA School of Art, now a part of UniSA. He
and his wife Anne returned to the USA in 1976, living in Naples,
Florida, for the remainder of their lives. Gordon Samstag’s will
provided for the awarding of a number of scholarships annually to assist
Australian visual artists to study and develop their artistic
capacities, skills and talents outside of Australia.
Contacts for interviews
- Erica Green office (08) 8302 0870 email erica.green@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673 email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au