We gathered at the bar outside Adelaide Central Gallery with bubbles, local wines and platters. Native birds called overhead, a light breeze moved across the campus and the sun set as we kicked off the evening with networking and nibbles. Our MCs, Mimi Sia and Brittany Duregon, opened formalities with an Acknowledgement of Country and a warm welcome to the many first-time guests.
We were proud to hear from Bec Millard, Strategic Relationship Specialist at our Charity Partner, Catherine House, which supports women experiencing homelessness in South Australia. Seventy per cent of the Club’s proceeds go to Catherine House each year. In FY25–26 our donation reached $2,500, an 85 per cent increase on the previous year. That growth was made possible by every member, sponsor and volunteer who came to our events, and we sincerely thank our community for their support.
Penny Griggs, CEO of ACSA, then told us about the School. Under Penny’s leadership since 2018, ACSA has been named Australia’s best art school in the QILT national Student Experience Survey. She has also recently secured almost $7 million in Federal Government funding to restore A heritage building behind the Gallery into more teaching and studio spaces for the School.
Our Chair, Beth Shimmin, then thanked our sponsors and celebrated the Board. We welcomed our new Board members, Tracy Frankenfeld, Kelly Tagalan and Katie Toop, and presented outgoing Director Emma Dignon with a thank-you gift. Rosemary Simper and Paula Jacques couldn’t join us on the night, but they were warmly acknowledged. Katie Jansen dropped in before the event to collect her farewell gift and she gave the Club a gift herself - a trolley for our events! It was generous, practical and a bit of fun too!
A highlight of the night was hearing from Andrew Purvis, Gallery Director and curator, who gave up his day off to show us around My Head as a House. The exhibition is Anna Platten’s first solo show of new work in 14 years, and it was a real treat to see recent paintings from one of South Australia’s most admired and respected living artists.
Andrew took us behind the scenes of Anna’s process. She builds each scene by hand with props and costumes, and she sometimes dresses up as her characters herself before she paints them. The works explore time, ageing, family and motherhood, and some of the most personal ones feature her late mother, Margaret. The Greek titles go back to Anna’s happy childhood years in Greece. And the frames Anna uses are shaped like little houses, chimneys and all, so each painting feels like a home you’re invited into.
Andrew also made a point that really stayed with us. When anyone can make an image in seconds, art that takes years to create and comes from real life feels more special than ever. Seeing these paintings with the person who brought them together was a real privilege.
After formalities, Penny took us on a tour of the Teaching & Studios Building, a converted heritage building. Seeing it in use was very special astwo art classes were under way as we moved through all three floors. We visited the student gallery and an Honours student’s studio, and got a glimpse of where South Australia’s next generation of artists are learning their craft. Guests then went back to the Gallery and the bar to keep chatting as the evening settled in.
A heartfelt thank you to our presenting partner, Adelaide Central School of Art, and especially to Penny and Andrew for opening their doors after hours for our members. Thank you also to our event supporters Karrawatta Wines, Jim Barry Wines, The Lane Vineyard, Tony & Marks and Duda Balestrin Photography, and to our volunteer Board and volunteers for bringing the evening together
