Back from Melbourne
So we just got back from a week in the great southern cultural haven that is Melbourne. And in true Melbourne style, it was grey, rainy, and utterly freezing cold - but that didn't inhibit this intrepid adventurer. My beloved Melbourne Design Guide received plenty of use, and is now looking very, very worn-in indeed. In comparison, my near-new Sydney Design Guide is yet to see such action (and oh, but it will)..!
These are just some of the highlights from the week (in no particular order):
Highlight #1 > The 3hr 'Walk to Art' tour where our guide, Bernie, introduced us to a whole raft of new arty spaces: a hidden gallery in the backstreets of Chinatown (an artist-run initiative called TCB); an upstairs artist's studio in Fitzroy; a wander through the enchanting Nicholson Building on Swanston St; a glimpse at a "gallery space" inside a row of old wooden mailboxes (see pic below); a drop-in to Craft Victoria to see a typography exhibition; down and through a myriad of laneways and subways glimpsing art installations and street art all the way; and finishing with a scrumptious platter of cheese and wine at the delightful Bar Lourinha.
Highlight #2 > The Rose Street Artists Market, held in a carpark/warehouse space down a backstreet in Fitzroy. Those lucky, lucky Melbourne people! In Sydney we get the Hope Street Markets once every 3 months, but in Melbourne they get an art + design market every week. And it's really good too. Lucky buggers.
Highlight #3 > The Medieval Imagination exhibition, currently showing at the State Library of Victoria. A whole room full of beautiful, sparkly, illuminated manuscripts. Has to be seen to be believed! And it's free!
Highlight #4 > An afternoon of badgemaking at Sticky in the very funky Degraves subway (impressively, Sticky is now open 6 days a week!), where I also got to meet some of the lovely girls who volunteer their services to keep the Sticky store running (hello to Miss Louisia - sorry, but your new badge dictates that there is now a second 'i' in your name). Oh, and the new badges I made will be available for purchase at the Hope Street Markets next weekend!...
Highlight #5 > My first ever visit to the National Gallery of Victoria (coming straight from the ACCA - Australian Centre for Contemporary Art just around the corner). Wow, the NGV was incredible, architecturally and artistically. There's quite a mix of exhibitions too - I saw everything from breathtaking oil masterpieces (such as the dramatic painting pictured above), sculpture, decorative arts, contemporary Asian photography, and magical calligraphic ink paintings, right through to shocking WW2 etchings by Otto Dix. Oh, and the gallery store is nearly as remarkable as the gallery.
Highlight #6 > bar crawling!! DD and I visited another few new bars - this time around we tried out the Gin Palace, the Order of Melbourne, Cookie, the Toff in Town, and Murmur. Almost went in to the Workshop bar, but heavy metal music ain't really my thing so we gave that one a miss. The Order of Melbourne (pic on the left) had the best vibe! Murmur offers some fantastic cocktails (pic on the right).
Highlight #7 > Finally, finally getting to see Pushka OPEN..! God knows I've been disappointed half a dozen times on previous visits, but finally I have now seen it open and enjoyed its alleyway ambience whilst sipping my 30th Melbourne latte chased down with a yummy Portugese tart (with chocolate inside!). Hooray! It's the little details that I like about Pushka - a grassy front-door mat, a cushy seat on the stair, little framed pictures adhered all along the alley wall, a miniature window 'gallery' called Twenty by Thirty (its dimensions in cm)... Good coffee too.
Highlight #8 > Ok, this might even have been my favourite find, if only because we just happened to stumble across it as a lovely little surprise whilst walking along Smith Street, Collingwood. Housed in what used to be a disco in a former life, it is now the wonderful Lost + Found Market, full of delightful secondhand vintage things just waiting to be rummaged through. I found myself a little Japanese recipe box and a wooden box of Conte crayons. Cool place - definitely drop by if you're into vintage things.
Well that's enough from me for now. I've a very busy week ahead - we are moving house next week, and I have a stall at the Hope Street markets to prepare stock for! Busy, busy...
how much was that art tour? i have been thinking of going on one again this year.
it was lovely meeting you at stick, thanks for the badge!
Posted by: lu | May 05, 2008 at 07:31 AM
Hellooo Michelle! I've moved my blog, I don't remember if I mentioned that. Pls check out http://blognow.com.au/makemyheartsing
Woo Hope.St next week! I'll probably be going on the Sunday, I'll be sure to say hi! =) and I love hearing abt your adventures to whereever, its a good point of reference for me when I decide to go on my own haha
Posted by: Maria | May 11, 2008 at 02:46 AM
ooh i like i like .. i'm already planning to check out the places at surry hills .. pls share with us your new findings of your visits *always*
i was at your stall at hope st mkts, great stuff!
Posted by: tian | May 20, 2008 at 02:49 PM
What's the MCA zine fair? I haven't heard of it.
Actually I'll look it up.. I'm free this Sun so that'll be something to do, tehe thnks :)
It was great meeting you Michelle from Shelbyville!
Posted by: Maria | May 20, 2008 at 08:42 PM
Oh i just read 'and the bub too!' LOL!
i couldn't keep her still the whole time. there was no point in trying really, she was so happy bouncing around!
Posted by: Maria | May 20, 2008 at 08:44 PM