Friends of the South Australian School of Art Inc.

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE LAUNCH OF THE
’SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF ART: 170 YEARS SHAPING SOUTH AUSTRALIAN VISUAL ARTS AND CULTURE’
AT SASA GALLERY ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2025

You are also encouraged to also attend the SASA Gallery exhibition Training Ground: Past and Present Students of the South Australian School of Art, opening on 10 October 5pm - 7 pm – invitation to be sent separately. RSVP essential for both. SEE BELOW FOR INFO ABOUT ‘TRAINING GROUND’ EXHIBITION.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA & FRIENDS OF THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF ART

Patron Sandy Verschoor and President Angelika Tyrone Invite you to the book launch for

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF ART: 170 Years shaping South Australian Visual Arts and Culture

by Dr Jenny Aland, published by Wakefield Press.

To be launched by Professor Joanne Cys LFDIA, HonFRAIA. Provost & Deputy Vice Chancellor, Adelaide University

Thursday 30 October 2025 6pm - 8pm @ SASA Gallery, Kaurna Building, UniSA City West Campus

During the exhibition Training Ground: Past and Present Students of the South Australian School of Art, opening on 10 October 5pm - 7 pm - exhibition on till 7 November 2025.

The establishment of the South Australian School of Art (SASA) predates all other Australian art schools and the State’s universities. This history by Dr Jenny Aland, alumni of SASA, former staff member and now Adjunct Research Fellow to the University of South Australia and Adelaide University, tells the story of the School’s beginnings in the Institute building on North Terrace in 1856 and its rise to become one of the nation’s most progressive and influential creative arts institutions, launching the careers of countless artists and designers, and shaping the arts and cultural life of the state and beyond. In the process, Aland builds a compelling case for the significance of the School and its legacies and for the critical importance of art and design education, now and into the future.

 This meticulously researched and richly illustrated book, published by Wakefield Press with additional funding from the University of South Australia, CreateSA, and the South Australian History Trust, would not have been possible without the passion and dedication of the Friends of the South Australian School of Art (FSASA) and the generous financial support of its members, local businesses, and the wider arts community.

Friends’ SASA website & Facebook for membership and updates.

Wakefield Press website information for the book.

Date Thursday 30 October

Time 6pm - 8pm

Venue SASA Gallery Level 2, Kaurna Building City West Campus.

INVITATION to TO MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE SA SCHOOL OF ART

INVITATION to an exhibition OPENING at the SASA Gallery which will host the launch of the History book of the SA School of Art on 30 October. As separate invitation will be sent for the launch. President of the Friends SASA, Angelika Tyrone will announce the book at the following exhibition opening.

Training Ground: Past and present students of the South Australian School of Art
Friday 10 October 2025, 5pm – 7pm
SASA Gallery, Kaurna Building, UniSA City West Campus

Invitation by Anna Zagala

We warmly invite you to the opening of
Training Ground: Past and present students of the South Australian School of Art
Friday 10 October 2025, 5pm – 7pm
SASA Gallery, Kaurna Building, UniSA City West Campus

The South Australian School of Art has nurtured and trained generations of South Australian artists. The exhibition Training Ground at the SASA Gallery draws together works by past and present students – from current students to industry luminaries – in a group exhibition that celebrates the excellence and legacy of the institution. From painting to prints, glass to ceramics, moving image to sculpture, installation and jewellery, Training Ground unearths key works and new talent affirming the pivotal role of training in shaping artistic practice.

Syd Ball Andy Best Jane Bowden Max Callaghan Sarah crowEST Aleks Danko Brad Darkson Margaret Dodd Nicholas Folland Barbara Hanrahan Pamela Harris Anton Hart Louise Haselton Andrew Hill Aidan Hughes Matt Huppatz Aldo Iacobelli Shaun Kirby Helium L Kay Lawrence Christian Lock Michelle Nikou Trevor Nickolls Bruce Nuske Deborah Paauwe Jeffery Smart Brianna Speight James Tylor Angela & Hossein Valamanesh Gerry Wedd Simon Williams Geoff Wilson Min Wong Lucy Zola

RSVP by 5 October.
Date: Friday 10 October 2025
Time: 5pm - 7pm
Venue:SASA Gallery
Level 2, Kaurna Building City West Campus

AUGUST 6, 2025 POST:
NEWS FROM THE BOARD OF THE FRIENDS SASA

NEW POST: 13 FEBRUARY 2025

DR GEOFF WILSON OAM MEMORABILIA

The Friends of SASA have developed two Memorial documents on the life and work of artist/teacher GEOFF WILSON OAM for members and friends to read, download or print.

One is a small BROCHURE (VALE) that provides a very brief glimpse of the life and work of Geoff Wilson. To access this Brochure, CLICK HERE.

The other is a longer essay on Geoff’s life and work as artist and teacher that has been prepared by the Friends SASA President Angelika Tyrone in collaboration with the author of the 170-year history of the SA School of Art, Dr Jenny Aland. To access this essay, CLICK HERE.

GEOFF WILSON AWARDED OAM IN 2022 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

Here is yet another article which has been largely excerpted from the May/June 2022 issue of the SASA Interactive News. Researched and written by Jenny Aland, it focuses on Geoff as a much loved teacher. Click here to read.

NEW POST: 13 FEBRUARY 2025

Update on the forthcoming publication SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF ART: 170 years shaping South Australian Visual Arts& Culture.

This post is to let all members and Friends know that this long-awaited publication is currently overseas being printed. The designer, Rachel Harris of BitScribbly Designs has done a marvellous job in assembling all the material we provided ie text, some 230 artwork images, diagrams and photographs, bibliography and index, into one stunning publication. At this point in time, the Friends SASA are hoping that it will be available for launch some time in May 2025.

NEW POST: 9 DECEMBER 2024

Message to all from President, Angelika Tyrone, and Patron, Sandy Verschoor on behalf of the Friends of the South Australian School of Art Board and Members.

VALE Dr Geoff Wilson OAM
Died 1 December, 2024, aged 97.

'A remarkable landscape painter who gave much to the art world. A generous friend to art lovers and art colleagues, a beloved mentor to many former students of the South Australian School of Art - Geoff gifted us with his vision' - Maeve O'Hara, artist.
For his significant contribution to art, Geoff was awarded an OAM, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia.

Image: Geoff Wilson at one of the many art exhibition openings he attended.

To read more about Geoff and his OAM award, scroll down to our FSASA NEWS icon and look for Issue 1: May/June 2022.

NEW POST: 17 MAY 2024

The April|May issue of the Friends SASA Interactive Newsletter has now been posted to the FSASA Newsletters section of this site. To access, scroll down to the relevant icon, or CLICK HERE.

NEW POST: 16 April 2024

In 2016, a publication titled Adelaide’s Jubiee International Exhibition 1887–1888: The Event, the Building, the Legacy, was released. Edited by Christine Garnaut, Julie Collins and Bridget Jolly, Darlinghurst, NSW, Crossing Press, this publication included a chapter by Dr Jenny Aland, which focused on the post exhibition years wherein the South Australian School of Art was located in the Exhibition Building North Terrace (1891-1963). To read this chapter, scroll down to FSASA Publications or click here.

new posts to the FACEBOOK CONNECT INREVIEW MAGAZINE ARTICLES

Three 2024 InReview articles by John Neylon have just been posted to the Facebook | Connect InReview section of this site. These include: 1. Art dances to nature’s tune at the Palmer Sculpture Biennial, 2. Adelaide Biennial review: The search for sanctuary, and 3. From the modern to the contemporary – Adelaide’s evolving art scene. To access these articles, simply scroll down this page to the Facebook | Connect InReview section or click here.