On in Manningham Art Gallery's Curio display window, this small exhibition of works by Anni Hagberg and Rhys Cousins extends the artists' recent exhibitions in the gallery, exploring and playing with materials in innovative and exciting ways.

The display pairs silk prints of finely detailed photographs of non-descript textures by Cousins with a collection of amorphous ceramic and mixed media objects created through experimental firings by Hagberg.

Together, the items speak to the artists' shared interest in everyday, discarded or otherwise forgotten materials and surfaces of modern urban environments and how they interact in myriad ways.

Curio is accessible at the south-eastern corner of Manningham City Square (MC Square), 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster VIC 3108.

Come and explore and enjoy different walks on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes, walking shoes, bring sunscreen and a full water bottle.

In summer, please also wear a hat. 

Walking route and location available via booking link.
 

An exhibition exploring works by several exceptional emerging artists, whose practices examine our natural environment from an aerial perspective, homing in on materials and subjects often overlooked.

These artists push, capture, map and rework the everyday. Through this process, pieces of refinement and polished simplicity form, like Rhys Cousins’ Plank and Brick. Or waste materials transform into rough jewel like sculptures as seen across Anni Hagberg’s works.

A highlight of the exhibition is Wurundjeri Artist Ash Firebrace’s Possum Skin Cloak he produced in collaboration with his sister Michelle Mills.

Interwoven throughout our space, are ceramic pieces from the Manningham Art Collection. A revisiting of works old and new.

Tasmina K Majles is a Bangladeshi born visual artist based in Melbourne. In 2019, she earned a Master of Creative Arts from Deakin University, Australia.

Her practice explores the presence of duality in nature and the interconnectedness of all things in the universe.

Nature is the core inspiration to A Symphony of Dichotomies; forms, shapes, and elements of nature, in particular, birds are depicted as a metaphor to reflect the coexistence of inner and external worlds, freedom of soul, infinitude and self-reflection, to create immersive watercolour and ink paintings; alongside the site-specific installation. The works are meditative and inquisitive, asking us to marvel at and pay closer attention to our lived environment.

Installation View, Manningham Art Gallery, February 2022. Photo by Tasmina Majles. 

We’ve opened our final exhibition for the year! 

Showcasing moving image artworks by Australian artists, this exhibition celebrates ACMI’s vibrant collecting and commissioning program.

Come and see the exciting new works at Manningham Art Gallery, Doncaster. Open until February 2024.

Ngura Pukulpa - Happy Place by Kaylene Whiskey

Yankunytjatjara artist Kaylene Whiskey envisions a world where pop culture collides with traditional Anangu culture.

Analects of Kung Phu: Book 1, The 69 Dialogues between the Lamp and the Shadow by Jason Phu 

Jason Phu presents us with a guide for surviving contemporary life through the lens of martial arts films.

The Gods of Tiny Things by Deborah Kelly

Deborah Kelly’s kaleidoscopic video unleashes a vivid collage of animated figures and landscapes cut free from the pages of old magazines and encyclopedias to explore the threats of extinction and the climate crisis, the tolls of colonialism, and the global political shift to the right. 

The Beehive by Zanny Begg

The Beehive is a non-linear experimental documentary exploring the unsolved murder of Sydney anti-development campaigner Juanita Nielsen.

Gaps by David Rosetzky

Gaps embodies Rosetzky’s ongoing exploration of personal identity and the relationship – or ‘gaps’ – between self and other through speech, movement and dance.

Bayi Gardiya - Singing Desert by Dr Christian Thompson AO​​

Open on Thursday 1 February and Friday 2 February 2024 from 10.00am to 2.00pm at Doncaster Library. To experience this 360-degree work, please visit the Creative Lab located on the mezzanine floor of Doncaster Library, accessible via the lift in the junior area. There will be a staff member there to assist. Suitable for all ages. 

In this 360-degree video experience, Christian Thompson invites audiences to walk through the landscape of his childhood where they witness a simple yet profound aesthetic gesture of the artist singing in his traditional Bidjara language, a recognised lost language.

Photo caption: Kaylene Whiskey, Ngura Pukulpa – Happy Place, 2021. Between the Details: Video Art from the ACMI Collection. Image courtesy of Kaylene Whiskey and Iwantja Arts.

Photo: Max Mackinnon

An ACMI touring exhibition
The works in this exhibition are commissioned by ACMI, Artbank, Bundanon Trust, Carriageworks, City of Melbourne, Melbourne Art Foundation, Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO and Catriona Mordant AM, John Allsopp (Web Directions) and assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Lara Chamas and Hootan Heydari present a selection of recent work in our main gallery, titled Retrace Your Steps!

This exhibition brings together two remarkable artists, each with unique styles and practices. 

While each artist approaches their mediums in distinct ways, their work shares a profound connection through the exploration of themes such as home, familial memory and generational migrant experiences of leaving their home countries due to war and political upheaval.

Their works are both poetic and poignant, speaking to both personal stories and broader political histories.

Lara Chamas is a Lebanese artist, born and raised in Naarm (Melbourne). Her work comprises of sculptural objects and installations that reflect on family, memory, and domestic life.

Hootan Heydari is an Iranian-Australian artist, who predominantly works in sculpture and photography. His art captures connections between the past and present, distilling echoes of history into contemporary expressions. Heydari is represented by Futures Gallery.

This exhibition contains artwork that explores themes of war and violence, which may be difficult for some visitors. Please speak to our staff if you would like more information before attending. We thank you for your understanding.  

_{Photo credit: Lara Chamas, Pestle that He made, Jido (mama), for crushing garlic, Hummus; Chickpeas; Knife that He made, Jido (mama), for chopping parsley, tabouli; Corer that He made, Jido (mama), for hollowing zucchini coosa mahshe; and Mould that He made, Jido (mama), for filled biscuits, ma’amoul; 2021, cast bronze objects, variable sizes. Image courtesy of the Artist.} 

Mind Calm will be facilitated by group therapists and is suitable for those who are new to meditation and people who wish to explore or extend their current practice.

• Discover what mind stilling methods work for you. 
• Experience mindfulness.
• Learn breathing techniques.
• Practice different types of meditation.

This event has a series of four sessions.

Getting there

Located on Doncaster Road between Westfield and the Manningham Council Civic Centre, MC2 is conveniently accessible by public transport.

There are ample parking spaces on site including 4-hour parking underneath the building.  Access to level 1 via the lift or via stairs in the front foyer.

Confused about what (and where) you can recycle your household waste and other items? 

This free face-to-face presentation is designed to you explore ways of identifying and managing different waste streams in your household. 

Nanna Anna will discuss the typical waste elements in a household including food, water, textile, energy, and Stuff; and showcase practical examples of effective waste management in each of these areas. Included in the presentation is a waste audit checklist you can use at home, and ideas on how to implement different management strategies. 

Registration is required and spots are limited.

Ramak Bamzar, a Melbourne-based Iranian photographer, blends art historical influences with a meticulous focus on colour, texture, and lighting. Her work explores themes of gender identity, geographical determinism, culture, and environment, all characterised by thoughtful compositions.

In these striking works, the Moustachioed Women and Rhinoplastic Girls from Bamzar’s 2022 series burst out of their imprisoning frames to capture a moment in the ongoing struggle, intertwining with the essence of Iranian culture and heritage. Through the integration of poetic motifs, epic themes, and historical allusions, the images go beyond mere documentation, offering a profound insight into the resilience and determination of Iranian women.

The Vigil – Crying for a Man I Never Met, 2022. Ramak Bamzar. Image courtesy of the Artist.

Mount Lofty bushwalk meanders through gum and tea trees, crosses creeks, and follows the Yarra River before rising to the summit of Mt Lofty.

Starting at the sacred Wurundjeri Bukkertilibul dreaming site on Brushy Creek, we'll follow the river upstream, then head up to one of the highest points in Manningham.

At the summit, enjoy a 360-degree sunset view, with the Great Dividing Range to the north and the rapids marking the start of the Warrandyte Gorge below.

• Rating: difficult (some steep and slippery sections)
• Distance: 5kms
• Time: 2.5hrs
• Bring: a water bottle and a snack
• Wear: sturdy shoes, a hat and weather-appropriate clothing

Bookings are essential. Meeting point to be supplied on booking.

Come and see this photo exhibition and learn about how Warrandyte Stone has been used in the town's walls, memorials, houses, and buildings.

Don't miss the accompanying Foundation Stone Talk by the master stonemason, James Charlwood.

Foundation Stone Talk with James Charlwood

The talk will be at 2:00 pm on Sunday, 15 May in the Federation Room at the Grand Hotel Warrandyte.
If you would like to attend, please contact the Warrandyte Historical Society to reserve your place.

The Warrandyte Historical Society are running this event.

Re:SPECT: a Space to Pause, Express, Connect and Thrive.

A 6 week creative art therapy group for women recovering from family violence.

The Women’s Re:SPECT program utilises the visual arts, journaling and mindfulness for self-expression to explore themes relating to emotions, values and identity.

Bookings are required.

أهلا ومرحبا

Join us for Arabic stories and rhymes to support families with young children who wish to maintain a family language or learn an additional language.

Storytime sessions support literacy development, social skills and group learning, all while exploring health and wellbeing themes.

Who: For children aged one to five years.

When: Every third Thursday of the month at The Pines Library.

Cost: Sessions are free to attend, and no registrations or library membership are required.

The Arabic Storytime session is a part of the Government Multicultural Storytime grant which will help our local libraries deliver Storytime programs for babies and young children in Arabic and Italian in Manningham.

أهلا ومرحبا

Join us for Arabic stories and rhymes to support families with young children who wish to maintain a family language or learn an additional language.

Storytime sessions support literacy development, social skills and group learning, all while exploring health and wellbeing themes.

Who: For children aged one to five years.

When: Every third Thursday of the month at The Pines Library. Every first Tuesday of the month at a local community venue.

Cost: Sessions are free to attend, and no registrations or library membership are required.

The Arabic Storytime session is a part of the Government Multicultural Storytime grant which will help our local libraries deliver Storytime programs for babies and young children in Arabic and Italian in Manningham.

Ciao e Benvenuto!

Join us for Italian stories and rhymes to support families with young children who wish to maintain a family language or learn an additional language.

Storytime sessions support literacy development, social skills and group learning, all while exploring health and wellbeing themes.

Who: For children aged one to five years.

When: Every second Tuesday of the month during school terms at Bulleen Library.

Cost: Sessions are free to attend, and no registrations or library membership are required.

The Italian Storytime session is a part of the Government Multicultural Storytime grant which will help our local libraries deliver Storytime programs for babies and young children in Arabic and Italian in Manningham.

Ciao e Benvenuto!

Join us for Italian stories and rhymes to support families with young children who wish to maintain a family language or learn an additional language.

Storytime sessions support literacy development, social skills and group learning, all while exploring health and wellbeing themes.

Who: For children aged one to five years.

When: Every second Tuesday of the month during school terms at Bulleen Library. Every fourth Tuesday of the month at a local community venue. 

Cost: Sessions are free to attend, and no registrations or library membership are required.

The Italian Storytime session is a part of the Government Multicultural Storytime grant which will help our local libraries deliver Storytime programs for babies and young children in Arabic and Italian in Manningham.