Our gallery program features regular curated survey and thematic exhibitions, including the works of established and emerging contemporary Australian artists and a series of dynamic public programs for children and adults. The gallery program also includes hire exhibitions by local artists, schools and community groups.
Gallery exhibitions and public programs
Telling Tales
3 December 2021–6 February 2022
Telling Tales is an exhibition that explores storytelling and a shared fascination with books and the literary world in contemporary art. Each artist plays with a range of associations intrinsic to books — reading, knowledge, libraries, transformation, history, personal and collective memory. This exhibition provides rich territory in which to revalue the continued importance and powerful potential of the book form in contemporary art. Telling Tales celebrates the language of books, the stories they tell, and their shifting role in contemporary life. The works span a range of mediums including painting, book sculptures, photography, video, collage and altered books.
Curated by Diane Soumilas, the exhibition features the following artists: Chris Bond; Penelope Davis; Prudence Flint; Nicholas Jones; Victoria Reichelt; Tai Snaith; Charlie Sofo; and Deborah Walker.
Artists and curator’s talks
A series of online artist/curator conversations and public programs including artist talks, curator talks and workshops will be presented in association with the exhibition.
Admission free. Bookings essential.
Diane Soumilas — Curator
Friday 21 January, 1pm
Glen Eira City Council Curator Diane Soumilas will present an engaging talk about the themes explored in the exhibition.
In Conversation with artists Tai Snaith and Nicholas Jones
Join artists Tai Snaith and Nicholas Jones in an engaging conversation with Council’s Curator Diane Soumilas about their shared passion for books, the processes that inform their artistic practice and themes around collecting, literature, recycling and storytelling.
Live Sunday Sessions
Tristan Sumarna
Sunday 23 January, 2pm to 4pm
Tristan Sumarna is a talented local emerging musician who regularly plays cello, piano, organ and clarinet for various ensembles at Monash University.
He is currently in the second year of a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Atmospheric Science student under the mentorship of Aura Go.
Tristan will inspire the audience with a dynamic repertoire of classical and romantic music including Bach, Beethoven and Ravel.
Capacity limits, bookings are essential.
Opera with Shauntai Batzke
Sunday 30 January, 2pm to 3pm
Wiradjuri soprano, composer and writer, Shauntai Batzke is one of Australia’s leading vocalists and a principal artist with Short Black Opera and an Alumna of the Melba Opera Trust.
Shauntai will captivate audiences with a selection of operatic pieces.
Capacity limits, bookings are essential.
Creative Workshops
Glen Eira City Council Gallery — Annexe
Corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn Roads, Caulfield
Handmade Books with Michelle Lackenby: Soft-cover Books
Saturday 22 January, 2pm to 4pm
Michelle Lackenby is the Creative Director and resident paper artist at Paperazzi Design Studio — and has a specialised interest in delivering interactive paper and bookbinding workshops for children and adults.
Learn how to bind your own softcover book then use different pasting techniques to create pop-ups and secret pockets.
For children aged between 5 and 12 years.
Free admission, bookings essential.
Create a collage with artist Tai Snaith
Saturday 5 February, 10am to 12pm
Join artist and author Tai Snaith and learn about how to create a collage using books as inspiration for your artworks and to tell stories. Tai Snaith is a well-known Melbourne based artist and author with an innovative creative practice including painting, collage and ceramics. Incorporating found or made objects and her passion for books, Snaith investigates ideas around storytelling, literature and recycling.
Create your own collages during the workshop and take your artworks home.
Please bring your own hardcover books to use.
For children aged 7 and over, and adults.
Free admission, bookings essential.
COVID-Safe measures
The health and wellbeing of our community and team is our top priority.
In accordance with Victorian Government requirements, attendees to Glen Eira City Council events and facilities must be fully vaccinated or hold a valid medical exemption. Face masks are required indoors for everyone aged 8 and above, unless an exemption applies. Please check in using the Service Victoria QR code, and maintain physical distancing to protect the wellbeing of staff, volunteers and other visitors.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, please do not attend. Instead, get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.
