This summer Hazelhurst Regional Gallery is going to the beach with a major exhibition which will explore the early days of surfing in the 50's through to today.
Southern Swell, a history of surfing in southern Sydney opens November 23 and runs until February 2 next year.
Hazelhurst Gallery is calling out for memorabilia from the public to be part of the exhibition.
From the early days of the 60's through the decades of the 70's, 80's, 90's and now, the exhibition will examine the history and culture of surfing along Cronulla's beaches.
The exhibition will include contemporary and historic photographs, films, memorabilia and commissioned artworks that highlight key surfers, influential characters, iconic surf breaks, competitions and clubs over the past decades.
The Cronulla beaches have been instrumental in the development of surfing culture in Australia, with the father of surfing Duke Kahanamoku putting on a display at North Cronulla Beach in 1915 and the first sight of the modern Malibu surfboard when the American Lifeguard team turned up in 1956 for the Melbourne Olympic Games and put on a demonstration at Cronulla Surf Club.
Cronulla has also produced many surfing champions including the late Bobby Brown and World Tour surfers Jim Banks, Gary Green, Richard Marsh, Kirk Flintoff, Connor O'Leary and of course 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo.
Curator Carrie Kibbler, whose job it is to faithfully recreate the Sutherland Shire love affair with all things about surfing, is calling out for memorabilia and hidden artworks that may be of value to the exhibition.
All items loaned for the exhibition will be insured and installed by professional art handlers.
All confirmed lenders will be provided with individual loan agreements and returned back safely to their owners.
Surfboards, surferplanes, old wetsuits from the day, photography and film footage, registration stickers, trophies and medallions, Benz Bikinis newspaper clippings and magazines and all things surf will be considered.
So dust them off and contact Carrie to be part of this memorable exhibition
Email ckibbler@ssc.nsw.gov.au by September 30.
