The New England Regional Art Museum opened The Rennie Ellis Show in a themed celebrations of bell-bottoms jeans, tie-dye T-shirts and all things 70s and 80s.

The New England Regional Art Museum opened The Rennie Ellis Show in a themed celebrations of bell-bottoms jeans, tie-dye T-shirts and all things 70s and 80s.

DJ Matman and the Welder’s Dog provided entertainment in the form of music and refreshments while guests received prizes for best dressed of the night.

In all, more than 150 people attended and museum director Robert Heather said I was a really good night.

“People really got into the spirit of things,” he said.

“We had door prizes for best 70s and 80s fashion of the night.

“And people really enjoyed the whole evening.

“It was a good way to branch out and get a new bunch of people to come in and see this photography exhibition of Rennie Ellis who photograph Australian society in the 70s and 80s in a really fun way.”

The event was attended by many who lived through the period Rennie Ellis photographed but also attracted a younger crowd

“There were a couple of people there who could say they were at some of the things in the photos,” Mr Heather said.

“But we also had a younger group of people too.

“The feedback we got from younger people was very interesting.

“They said, ‘didn’t anyone wear clothes in the 70s’.”

Mr Heather said people just really enjoyed the opportunity to see a slice of life and a way of life that’s just not quite the same anymore.

“The rock concerts, events, parties and protest,” he said.

“Things are very different now.”

“It was great for people to come along to see a really relaxed type of exhibition as well.”

“People really enjoyed to opportunity to let their hair down in the gallery.

“For us, exhibition openings are about creating a good vibe and some word of mouth about the exhibition and this one did that really really well,” he said.

The Rennie Ellis Show is open to the public at NERAM until October 16.