Gordon Stammers Story board 2 Occy top view

Gordon Stammers is a Surfcoast artist/surfer and also a Community Development worker who teaches art and music in indigenous Australian communities. In 1998 the museum launched an art exhibition where we invited artists to use surfboards as the basis for works of art. Gordon’s story board was one of the more popular works submitted. It featured the fictitious story of a 14 year old boy that runs away from home to go surfing at the notorious South Australian desert break called Cactus. Loosely based on personal experiences at Cactus, Gordon’s board featured a letter from Maurice to his parents on the deck of the board and his parents response on the other side. The story was so well received by visitors the museum commissioned Gordon to do a series of boards expanding Maurice’s tale. They remain one of the most popular elements in the museum. Mark Occhilupo is a much loved Australian surfer. He first appeared on the world tour as a teenager with phenomenal talent, but after having not reached his full potential dropped off tour and disappeared. Rumours abounded about an overweight Occy being spotted at the beach as rumour and myths about this once great surfer spread. A rejuvenated Occy came back to pro surfing and in 1999 won the world Championship in what is surely one of the greatest sporting comebacks in Australian sport. Maurice, like many groms at the time, worshiped Occy.

Gordon Stammers Story board 2 Occy