Next month Albury Art Gallery will exhibit its Russell Drysdale collection in part to celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday yesterday.

Among them are sketches of Dean Street, the railway station, soldiers and the first jeep in town from his stay on the Border in the late 1930s.

But now gallery curators want locals to offer their thoughts on Drysdale whether it be by message, drawing a picture or writing a poem to be included in the show.

Albury Council’s visual arts co-ordinator Bianca Acimovic said Drysdale, who married an Albury girl, was greatly influenced by the city.

She says his move to Albury was a turning point in the discovery of what was to become his life-long subject matter — the Australian outback and its people.

“We want people to offer their thoughts whether it be on a note, as a poem or even drawing,” Ms Acimovic.

“Drysdale had a defective eye and his impaired vision opened up a new way of seeing Australia, it also meant he couldn’t serve in World War II and this was part of his contribution, documenting life on the land.

“But he showed the country in its reds and drought in an honest way that others hadn’t.

“This will explore the way he transferred that vision to works of art.”

A post box at the entrance to the art gallery will be the drop-off point for contributions