Last Word with Susi Muddiman OAM

Susi Muddiman, Director of Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, 2021. Photo: TRGMOAC, 2021

By Alex Pedley

Susi Muddiman, Director of the Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre chats OAMs, bubbles and regional art galleries.

(Alex Pedley) AP/ SUSI, A SIMPLE QUESTION FIRST: ONE ADJECTIVE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF.

(Susi Muddiman) SM/ Just one word??! But I’m not known for my brevity! Perhaps ‘bubbly’ might be appropriate? I do love bubbles, particularly the drinkable ones. I’ve recently had to complete that Myers Briggs Type Indicator thing, and I was definitely classified as an extrovert.

AP/ WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST NON-CAREER ACHIEVEMENT OF THE LAST TWO YEARS? TWO DAYS?

SM/ Two years – that would be clearing out and organising the Tupperware cupboard.

Two days – Two things: I successfully baked a Hummingbird cake, and I went to a fun knitting class last night with artists and made (with very patient guidance from the fabulous tutors) an inelegant, yet highly festive, Christmas stocking, complete with a pompom. Such fun. There was mulled wine involved and hilarious creative ladies.

AP/ ARE YOU FANCIER NOW THAT YOU HAVE AN OAM AT THE END OF YOUR NAME? ARE THERE SPECIAL EVENTS FOR OAM-ERS—AND DO YOU GET PLUS ONES?

SM/ Well, the lovely little pin you get is pretty fancy. To be honest (and I hope I don’t get myself in any trouble for saying this), I’d wear it more if there were two of them and I could wear them as earrings! The middling size medal is attached to a pretty ribbon, but it’s a bit on the obvious side for my outfits, and the large one is like an Olympic medal and very grand and very gold. It’s not really what could be referred to as a delicate accessory.

My friends all endearingly regarded me as somewhat of a princess before ‘the pin’, so I don’t think it’s that different now.

No, there’s not any special events that I’m aware of. If there are, I can’t say I’ve been invited. And I’m still searching for the right plus-one... and waiting for the upgrade to Business Class…

AP/ WHAT MOMENT HAS MOST EXHILARATED YOU AND WHAT MOMENT HAS MOST HUMBLED YOU IN A DISTINGUISHED CAREER DEDICATED TO THE ARTS?

SM/ The most exhilarated would be getting the go-ahead to proceed with the capital development for the Margaret Olley Art Centre at the Tweed. Such an exciting and daunting project to work on. Such an honour.

Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, NSW.

As for the most humbling moment—that would be receiving the call while I was in Paris on holiday about being nominated for the OAM. I was supposed to keep it secret for a few weeks, but, well… I was in Paris with artist friends, so how could I possibly contain myself? There may have been some celebrations. And my dad was so proud.

AP/ WHAT DOES THE REGIONAL GALLERY LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW IN NEW SOUTH WALES, OR FURTHER AFIELD, FOR THOSE UNACQUAINTED? HOW HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS CHANGED THINGS DO YOU THINK?

SM/ I am an unabashed groupie of regional galleries and the incredibly hard-working staff teams of each of them, so it’s no surprise that I’m going to say that there’s a smorgasbord of incredible work being done in the regions. As a Board member of Museums and Galleries New South Wales (MGNSW), I am so lucky to be well versed in what’s happening in the regions, and I get to read a lot of grant applications.

Regional galleries so often have incredible collections— treasure troves of beautiful and significant artworks that have made their way into collections via philanthropy or direct acquisition by talented directors and curators. I would absolutely recommend regional galleries to the uninitiated as so often the exhibitions will be incredible touring shows, or exhibitions which represent that region through the visual artists of the area or further afield. Artists chronicle the times we live in—or present their view of a landscape or things we tend to take for granted, so galleries are excellent venues to explore other interpretations. I’ve been around for a while and I’m ever surprised by the clever curation of exhibitions and gallery programs that do so much to inject education and public programming into communities.

Galleries are all about engagement and I can pretty much guarantee there will be something on in a regional gallery near you that will expand your thinking or invite or entice you to think differently about a subject. You’re bound to learn something—or be enthralled by the talents of artists.

Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre, 2021. Photo: Kate Holmes

In NSW alone, there are quite a few new regional galleries or new building developments to explore. I can’t wait to get out and about again and see them myself! Recently opened, Ngununggula Southern Highlands Regional Gallery, Retford Park, is most definitely on my list. It has an outstanding program and sensational line up of exhibitions. It’s a credit to all involved. I literally cannot wait to get to that one! Also on the list is the new gallery in Mudgee Arts Precinct and the brand-new upgrade of the Orange Regional Gallery which has just officially re-opened. Orange has consistently had a terrific program. I really need to take some holidays and do a road trip!

I know from personal experience how much hard work is involved in capital developments, particularly in local government contexts. I take my hat off to each of these three new developments, and all the others I haven’t mentioned here. Local governments can do so much for regional and cultural tourism through their support of regional galleries and museums. With the right support this can achieve amazing results for economic development for the region. I think local government has definitely realised this more and more over the last 15 years or so, and the support of the State Government to help resource the development and presentation of quality programming can’t be underestimated either.

In the last couple of years, we’ve certainly seen some changes! Personally, I think regional galleries are more distanced than ever before as travel has been so restricted and there’s no doubt that local governments have been relied upon more and more, with no extra resources to assist regional communities. To say that regional galleries are resilient is a major understatement—it’s been so helpful to have that collegiate support of the sector. And again, it’s been incredible to see how the dedicated staff of galleries and museums have found or invented new ways to connect with their audiences and the artistic community. I know that online programming has been a challenge for some regions, but there has been so much quality programming appearing online—I know I was inspired. The sector’s IMAGinE Awards presented through MGNSW showcased just a snippet of what’s been happening in the sector.

AP/ WHAT IS IN STORE FOR TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY & MARGARET OLLEY ART CENTRE NEXT YEAR THAT YOU ARE MOST EXCITED ABOUT? AFTER ALEX SETON’S SHOW, OF COURSE!

SM/ Well of course Alex’s show A History of Forgetting is number 1! It just happens to be the first exhibition on the program for 2022 as well! We are all looking forward to it.

Alex Seton, 'Easing the Tension' (detail), 2021. Wombeyan marble, 120 x 58 cm. Photo: Mark Pokorny

On until late February in the Margaret Olley Art Centre (MOAC) is 'At Home: Margaret Olley and Ben Quilty', which, although I’m a little biased, is an excellent exhibition which tells the story of mentorship, art and friendship between these two artists. It’s a collection of recent still life paintings by Ben alongside still lifes and interiors by Olley from the latter half of her extraordinary career. Later in the year, there’s a huge new show in the MOAC all about flowers.

We’ve got 'Pattern & Print' coming in late April, showcasing the fashion house of Easton Pearson. There’s the exhibition from the graduate artist in residence program, offered in partnership with the National Art School and awarded in 2020 to artist Arash Chehelnabi, as well as our invited resident artist Tamara Dean. Back in 2014, Alex was our inaugural artist in the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio. We’ll also have a new exhibition from our collection, a show by a graduate of the Byron School of Art (BSA) via our partnership with that very dynamic art education facility. And—quite possibly—a brand-new prize to announce! Amongst many other exhibitions and terrific public programs, education workshops and fun events. We’re as busy as ever.

I’m so lucky and incredibly grateful to have such a supertalented, hardworking, dedicated team of fabulous women to work with. They make work fun every day. Working with artists and partner galleries is the absolute icing on the cake (which, incidentally, goes very nicely with bubbly!).