In response to (Greater Shepparton City Council candidate) Fern Summer’s letter regarding the SAM museum (The Adviser Oct 14 2020), I would like to offer her my perspective.
Fern, in the opening scenes of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (which was made well before you were born), there is a large grey monolith that has arrived on Earth rising into the sky and standing still with early people looking at it in amazement.
It offers the suggestion of intelligence and enlightenment from a galaxy far away. Or, at least that’s how I interpreted it in my youth.
What I see when I drive north along Wyndham Street, is an amazing building that reminds me of that scene.
After being hit in the eyes with that structure, the city then opens up with the view across the lake to Aquamoves, another amazing piece of architecture that gives balance to our lake. Both these buildings act like bookends on opposite sides of the natural feature of the lake and together welcome people into the CBD and beyond.
What a replacement for the previous petrol station that welcomed us to the lake.
Even if you are not an art lover, we will soon have a fabulous location for a café with the best view in Shepparton. I hope to see you there.
I can see you hosting a party on the rooftop bar at sunset enjoying the view over our lake and beyond to the river.
Don’t forget that the majority of funding to build SAM has come from government grant funds and bequests.
Also, don’t forget to mention that the challenge for the SAM committee of management as I understand is to make sure that the running costs of the galleries are paid for with income generated by marketing of all the spaces both gallery, café and function.
Love or hate the design, it makes a huge statement that Shepparton has stunning modern architecture and is a place to come for the possibility of visiting a site of intelligence and enlightenment, even if only for a coffee and the view.
John Anderson
Shepparton
