What Anne and Gordon did next

As a celebrated American artist, the late Gordon Samstag would have had quite an impact on his students in the 1960s at UniSA’s South Australian School of Art, but it was what he and his wife Anne did subsequently that has had the most powerful impact. Artist Archie Moore returns to the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art thanks in no small part to this couple's quiet generosity.

Gordon and Anne Samstag came to Adelaide in 1961 with Gordon taking up a position teaching fine art until 1970. Notoriously private people, very little was known about them, so it came as something of a surprise when news broke of their substantial cultural bequest following Gordon’s death in the 1980s which had the primary objective of awarding international study scholarships to Australian artists.

Their experiences, vision and the circumstances of the Trust are detailed in The Samstag Legacy: An artist’s bequest, an impressive publication produced to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Anne & Gordon Samstag International Visual Art Scholarships in 2016.

As it transpired, both Anne and Gordon came from distinguished family backgrounds and with no children of their own, the majority of their estate formed the Fine Arts Trust which has distributed millions of dollars under the Samstag Program, a co-operative partnership between the American trustee and UniSA, whose role is to award and administer the scholarships.

No stranger to the challenges of studying internationally, it appears that Gordon Samstag had a vision to facilitate travel to study free from concerns about fees or expenses. Currently, the scholarship provides a $70,000 tax free stipend, travel expenses and institutional fees for up to 12 months and it is specified that at least one of the recipients must have studied in South Australia.

In recognition of their generosity, the University of South Australia’s gallery was named the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, and this month 2000 Samstag Scholar Archie Moore returns with an exhibition commissioned in partnership with the Adelaide Film Festival.

Return of the scholar

When he submitted his portfolio and application for the 2000 Samstag Scholarship, Archie Moore, a Kamilaroi/Bigambul artist, was a recent graduate who had never been overseas. He was washing dishes in a local restaurant and exhibiting in small shows.

On receiving the scholarship, he chose to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. “Some people questioned why I would want to go to a non-English speaking country, but that was the appeal for me,” says Archie. “I didn’t master the language at all, but I used it in my work while I was there.”

Located in central Europe, the Czech Republic was an ideal base for exploration. “It was an eye-opening experience to what art could be and what it could mean,” says Archie. “I just soaked up all that art and culture. If you don’t travel or read more about contemporary art, you can get in a bit of a vacuum.” It was during his year of study that he visited the Venice Biennale for the first time.

On his return to Australia and more confident thanks to his experience of international study and wider exposure to art, artists and galleries, Archie found opportunities to exhibit in other capital cities and some international group shows.

Career highlights include showing with other Aboriginal artists at Fireworks Gallery in Brisbane and being taken on by The Commercial, a gallery in Sydney who still represent him today. He is now a recognised contemporary artist working in a range of media from installations to video, textile and text-based artwork, encompassing sight, touch, sound and smell.

Selected to exhibit his solo work kith and kin at this year’s Venice Biennale, Archie became not only the first Aboriginal artist awarded a Golden Lion but also the first Australian artist to receive an award at the Venice Biennale since it began in 1895. Since the Samstag Scholarship was first awarded in 1991, six of the artists chosen to represent Australia have been “Samstagers”.

“The Venice Biennale is perhaps the most prestigious international contemporary art exhibition,” says Erica Green, Director Samstag Museum of Art. “To be selected to represent Australia and then be awarded the Golden Lion for the Best National Participation at the La Biennale de Venezia 2024 ensures the ongoing significance of Archie Moore and his work on the global stage.”

This success thrust Archie into the spotlight which he found “a bit odd”. Suddenly he was sought after by the paparazzi and being interviewed by the New York Times. “It was a big honour and privilege to be the only winner for the Australian pavilion; that was a great accolade ... I just find it funny that people think there’s a lot of money that comes with the award!”

No doubt Archie Moore is now firmly on the radar of the art scene and “there’s been talk of some things internationally”. kith and kin will spend a year at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at the Queensland Art Gallery before travelling to the Tate in London.

Passing the baton to the next generation

Dwelling (Adelaide Issue) is a meticulously, imaginatively recreated replica of Archie Moore’s childhood home and has been commissioned by the Samstag Museum of Art and Adelaide Film Festival for the 2024 Adelaide Film Festival. The exhibition runs until 29 November 2024.

While in Adelaide, Archie Moore is a UniSA Pirku murititya Visiting Research Fellow (VRF) thanks to the generosity of UniSA supporters Dr David Bunton and Helen Stacey Bunton.

“We responded to UniSA’s inspiring aim of increasing the proportion of First Nations academics and researchers on their staff,” say David and Helen. “We agreed to support Visiting Research Fellowships as a first step towards that: a rare opportunity for outstanding First Nations researchers and practitioners to ignite a profound shift of awareness and appreciation for ancient and contemporary knowledges–a cultural bedrock on which we all stand.”

Among the activities Archie as a VRF will be involved in is a free ticketed event in conversation with AFF CEO and Creative Director Mathew Kesting about his interest in film and music, and this exhibition. He’ll also be addressing current students about the reality of art practice. “I’ll be talking to them about my experience as a Samstag Scholar and this show in particular,” says Archie.” All the things associated with being a contemporary artist, how to get opportunities and promote yourself, or what you might need to do to get your foot in the door. There’s a lot of competition out there.”