This groundbreaking exhibition calls attention to the pressing issue of Indigenous incarceration in Australia and the crisis of deaths in custody. 

Guest-curated by Kent Morris (Barkindji), it presents works by leading First Nations artists including Vernon Ah Kee, Gordon Bennett, Destiny Deacon, Jimmy Pike, and Judy Watson. Their powerful responses are shown alongside the remarkable creative achievements of former and current prison inmates, many of whom have connected with their culture and Country through The Torch program, such as Thelma Beeton, Stacey Edwards, Robby Wirramanda and Sean Miller.

The exhibition is showing until 20 July 2025 in the Heide Main Galleries.

Visit the Heide website for opening hours and information about how to plan your visit.

Image credit: Trevor Nickolls, Brush with the Lore, 2010, Art Gallery of South Australia, acquisition through Tarnanthi: Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art, supported by BHP 2018.

JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here is Angela Valamanesh’s exploration into the interconnectedness of life on earth – between human, animal, and plant beings. This life view, first felt intuitively by the artist; is reinforced through her ongoing research at leading libraries and scientific institutions both in Australia and abroad. 

“I believe that art like science can help teach us about who we are, what we are made of and in doing so show us the importance of recognising that we are part of a whole.” Angela Valamanesh

Inspired by the symbiosis between science and poetry, Angela Valamanesh’s artworks elicit intrigue and a strong sense of personal investigation as she manipulates seemingly familiar anatomical, botanical, and parasitic forms in beguiling and unusual ways.

Primarily known for her biomorphic ceramic sculptures, this exhibition also celebrates the artist’s evocative drawings, watercolours, and mixed media works from her developing style of the late 1990s until present.

Historically, links have been made between the human form and plant species, not only structurally but also through language: the family tree, our roots, or a severed limb, while early medicine made connections between plants that resembled parts of our bodies and their therapeutic effects on those body parts.

About the exhibition

JamFactory’s Icon series celebrates the achievements of South Australia’s most influential artists working in craft-based media.

JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here will tour to 14 venues nationally and is accompanied by a 40-page catalogue featuring images by Michael Kluvanek with essays by Dr. Mike Lee and Wendy Walker.

Other public programs

Artist Talk with Angela Valamanesh

Saturday 3 September, 2.00pm to 3.00pm.

Free event.

Find out more and register online. 

Ceramics Workshop with Holly Phillipson

Available sessions:

• Friday 2 September, 10.30am to 1.30pm
• Saturday 3 September, 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Tickets: $40 general admission, $30 concession.

Find out more and book online.

About the artist

Angela Valamanesh was born in Port Pirie, South Australia in 1953 and currently lives and works in Adelaide. Angela holds a Diploma in Design in Ceramics from the South Australian School of Art (1977), a Master of Visual Arts from the University of South Australia (1993), and a PhD from the University of South Australia (2012).

Her drawings, ceramic objects, and watercolours are the result of an incredible depth of research, referencing complex scientific, historic, and philosophical ideas. Angela’s imagery stems from micro- and macro- biology, historical anatomical and botanical illustrations, natural history collections, and rare books.

Valamanesh’s oeuvre is populated with the animal, vegetable, and mineral with glimpses of microbes, bacteria, pathogens, and spores. Valamanesh’s works elicit ambiguity and present a strong sense of personal investigation. In the artist’s own words:

“It is important that the work is not prescriptive but offers the viewer the opportunity of personal engagement with the work and time to reflect on their own personal experiences.”

Instrumental in Valamanesh’s bourgeoning visual arts practice was her Samstag Scholarship undertaken at the Glasgow School of Art. This residency resulted in the seminal work For a long while there were only plants, 1997, and is the point of departure for this exhibition. This artwork – a watercolour, pen and ink work on paper and dipped in wax – is a repository for images and ideas that have fuelled Valamanesh’s practice ever since.

Presenting partner
JamFactory

JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here is a JamFactory touring exhibition.

Government partners
Australia Council for the Arts
The Visual Arts and Craft Strategy
Department for Innovation and Skills

JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here has been assisted by the South Australian Government through the Department for Innovation and Skills and the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, Contemporary Touring Initiative.

Angela Valamanesh acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts.

Angela Valamanesh is represented by GAG PROJECTS, Greenaway Art Gallery, Adelaide and Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert, Sydney.

Photo credit: Michal Kluvanek.

Join JamFactory ICON artist Angela Valamanesh for an engaging walk through her exhibition About being here. Learn more about the life view that informs her artistic exploration of the interconnectedness of human, animal and plant life.

Inspired by the symbiosis between science and poetry, Angela Valamanesh’s artworks elicit intrigue and a strong sense of personal investigation as she manipulates seemingly familiar anatomical, botanical, and parasitic forms in beguiling and unusual ways.

Held as part of the exhibition JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here, on now at Manningham Art Gallery until Saturday 17 September 2022.

Other public programs

Ceramics Workshop with Holly Phillipson

Available sessions:

• Friday 2 September, 10.30am to 1.30pm
• Saturday 3 September, 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Tickets: $40 general admission, $30 concession

Find out more and register online.

Join JamFactory's Associate of the Ceramic Studio, artist Holly Phillipson, for this specialist clay-colouring and hand forming workshop.

Holly will be teaching techniques employed by renowned artist Angela Valamanesh, such as dying clay with stains and oxides, and a demonstration of the ‘scratch-back’ technique utilised in many of her objects. 

Participants will each create a unique piece that is dyed and formed by hand.

Held as part of the exhibition JamFactory ICON Angela Valamanesh: About being here, on now at Manningham Art Gallery until Saturday 17 September 2022.

Available sessions:

• Friday 2 September, 10.30am to 1.30pm
• Saturday 3 September, 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Please bring a towel and wear covered shoes and old clothes or an apron.

Other public programs

Artist Talk with Angela Valamanesh

Hear more from Angela about the many amazing works in her exhibition About being here.

Saturday 3 September, 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Free event.

Find out more and register online. 

In her site-specific project Lumina, Izabela Pluta builds on her ongoing interest in temporality and place, using photography as a dynamic process to investigate the fluid intersections of time, memory and impermanence.

Come and see this art exhibition at Heide Museum of Modern Art until 5 October 2025.

Visit the Heide website for opening hours and information about how to plan your visit.

Kevin Heinze Grow’s Spring Celebration is back, and we invite you to join us for a fun family day out in support of our meaningful work.

What to expect:

• activities for all ages - enjoy a gardening workshop, pot decorating, and a scavenger hunt for the kids
• nursery and plant sale, including 9 varieties of heirloom tomato seedlings
• PhotoVoice exhibition - experience participant stories through Megan Dennis’ PhD research 
• self-led tour - learn about our impactful programs and services through the KHG gardens, at your own pace
• exclusive tour of our therapeutic gardens with Patrick Wain, KHG Therapeutic Horticulture Coordinator
• art exhibition - explore beautiful artwork created by our community
• food and refreshments - indulge in delicious treats from our café and cake stall
• raffle and prizes - support our cause and win amazing prizes
• support our mission - donate to help more people with disabilities access the therapeutic benefits of gardening. 

This event is for gardening enthusiasts, families, community members, KHG supporters, Therapeutic Horticulture professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about Kevin Heinze Grow.

Don't miss out. Come and be a part of our vibrant community. We look forward to celebrating spring with you at Kevin Heinze Grow.

Join fruit tree expert Christy Clarke from Fruit Tree Folk as he discusses how to effectively select, plant and care for a range of fruit trees for maximum health and abundance.

We will discuss the art of winter versus summer pruning, common pests and diseases, and organic solutions for these.

The seminar begins at 6.30pm, or join us from 6.15pm for our monthly food swap, where you can bring and trade homegrown produce, cuttings, seeds, gardening magazines, jars, ferments and more!

About Home Harvest: Home Harvest is a free, complete home gardening program that runs monthly from February to December. It aims to educate and inspire residents to grow their own organic, nutritious and delicious produce at home. The series hosts seminars, question and answer time, on-site activities and food swaps!

Please see our events section for other upcoming sessions.

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We invite members of community organisations to attend this information session to find out more about our Community Partnership Grants program 2026-2030.

This session will provide essential information about our upcoming round of Community Partnership Grants which open for applications on Monday 27 October 2025.

Community organisations could include:

• seniors clubs sports clubs
• recreation and leisure groups
• arts and cultural groups
• previous recipients of grants awarded through our Community Grants Program

The session will cover:

• key dates and available funding
• grant streams including community partnership, minor community events and major community events
• eligibility assessment criteria
• project plan
• evaluation framework and budget
• information how to apply

Community Partnership Grant Guidelines

Join us to acknowledge Sorry Day and learn more about First Nations People and cultures.

This event will feature:

• a video of Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin's Sorry Day address
• a Cultural Regeneration Workshop with Alana Marsh
• closing comments by Manningham CEO Andrew Day
• a viewing of the Manningham Art Gallery Exhibition Serving Country

Catering will be provided by Mabu Mabu. Please advise if you have any dietary requirements by Monday 23 May by contacting spcs@manningham.vic.gov.au.

Wonga's Artist Celebration (WAC) is fun evening out for the whole family.

The Wonga Park Community Cottage will open its doors to our youth community to host a special evening showcasing local artistic talent, including music performances, art exhibitions, stand-up comedy and more.

There will also be a selection of food trucks providing an assortment of tasty snacks and dinner options.

We invite all youth aged between 13 and 24 and their families to join in the fun.

This is a drug and alcohol-free event.

Visit our website and Facebook for more information and updates.

Spirit Worlds and Dreamscapes explores for the first time Albert Tucker’s lifelong fascination with spiritual and esoteric ideas and how he integrated his belief in invisible forces into his art.

The exhibition has been made possible by the Albert and Barbara Tucker Foundation and is showing until 31 August 2025 in the Albert and Barbara Tucker Gallery.

Visit the Heide website for opening hours and information about how to plan your visit.

Image: Installation view, Albert Tucker: Spirit Worlds and Dreamscapes, 2025, photograph: Christian Capurro.

Painted Country presents the work of five Australian First Nations artists - Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi.

Drawing upon their rich artistic, cultural, and ancestral knowledge, each artist paints unique depictions of Country, refracted through memory and lived experience. Using restrained colour palettes, the artists each capture the subtle shifts of light, native flora, ancestral stories, and culturally significant sites across the vast desert regions of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory.

Presented together, these diverse artistic perspectives and practices converge to reveal a rich and nuanced portrayal and understanding of the Australian desert landscape. Atmospheric and harmonious, these works transcend naturalistic representation, evoking deeper resonances.

Working from Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory, the artists uphold and carry forward ancestral and artistic traditions through their practice and deep cultural knowledge.

With special thanks to the Artists; Iwantja Arts, South Australia; Papunya Tula Artists, Northern Territory; and Alcaston Gallery, Melbourne, who partnered with Manningham Art Gallery to curate this major exhibition. 

Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi is an emerging Pintupi artist whose rhythmic, tessellating compositions recall his familial cultural and artistic lineages and herald the bold future of Papunya Tula painting. Tjungurrayi paints Yunala, the name of both a desert flora with an interlacing root network and a significant site on his ancestral Country, expressed in meandering lines and geometric forms. Adrian's soft tonal gradations conjure the salt lakes of his Country, resulting in a highly sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic.

Brenda Napaltjarri is an emerging Pintupi artist from Walungurru (Kintore), in the far west of the Northern Territory, Australia. Napaltjarri’s powerful practice recalls the concentric and inwardly focused energy of her father’s work, the late Shorty Lungkata Tjungurrayi. Refining her father's practice further, the elegant simplicity of Napaltjarri’s radiating circles emanate a visceral energy, undulating with hypnotic motion.    

Clara Napurrula is an emerging Pintupi artist from Walungurru (Kintore), in the far west of the Northern Territory, Australia. Napurrula is recognised for her precision and elegance, painting fields of finely dotted lines that shimmer and surge across the canvas. Napurrula is the daughter of renowned Pintupi artist Wintjiya Napaltjarri (c. 1932 – 2014) a pioneer of the women’s Western Desert art movement. As a second-generation Pintupi artist, Clara Napurrula’s practice serves as an important continuation of the women’s Papunya Tula art movement.

Nellie Ngampa Coulthard paints the landscapes of her childhood, Yankunytjatjara Country near Oodnadatta, South Australia. Coulthard’s paintings are refined in technique and composition, accenting bold pinks, golden browns and burnt oranges and defined by the outstretched linear branches of the Acacia Murrayana Wattle that sit at the heart of her compositions. 

Rene Sundown is a senior Yankunytjatjara artist from Indulkana, in far north South Australia. Sundown paints delicate fields of cream and gold that recall the subtle shifts in colour of the Ngura Tali, Sand Dune Country near Erldunda in the Northern Territory where she was raised.
Her refined palette evokes the shifting dunes and sun-warmed grasses of the central desert, intersected with bold linear compositional markers delineating sites of cultural significance.

Image Credit: Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Tjuntala Ngurangka - Country with Wattle (Acacia Murrayana), 2023, synthetic polymer paint on linen, 152 x 167 cm (detail). Courtsey of The Artist, Iwantja Arts and Alcaston Gallery.