thank you

GALLERY FOUNDATIONS, 2021

‘Ebben’s practice involves painting, found object assemblage, wood work, drawing digital printing, digital manipulation and collage. His work comes from an innate desire to turn the illusory aspects of the human experience and the imaginative into the interactional and observable concrete.

The inventive narratives of his work are left non specific and unresolved. Ebben’s work could be characterised as having a bold sense of style and aesthetics in which each individual artwork becomes a contextualisation and furthering of the last.

Ebben’s work often involves an awareness of the strange, that something is not quite right and in doing so prompts an alternative and imaginative beauty to be found within this dissonance. Art Making for Ebben is a constant and multi-faceted act which continues to take many expanding forms and plays an essential foundation to his life.’

During our formational months in early 2021, 17 was fortunate to dream and vision-share alongside Ebben. We were inspired by his playful spirit, his independence of thought and strength of self as he stands true to his beliefs and the direction in which he works to shape the world. His humble perspective on the nature of our role within our community resides within the heart of who we are now. He is a true guardian of St. Kilda. We are grateful for his generous contribution of time, his handy-man expertise, his kindness and the gentle support that he has continued to gift this project, since 2018. Thank you, Ebben.

Biography provided by Ebben Saunders
Image by Steph Reid

ALCHEMY ORANGE INSTALLATION, 2021

‘Alchemy Orange is the physical expression of Yorta Yorta Artist, Shahn Stewart’s connection to Country. Shahn continues to challenge the pre-conceived notions of what constitutes floral art by recontextualising mundane and unconventional materials. She highlights the beauty in organic stems that tend to be overlooked and works to showcase them in a new light.

This everlasting landscape has been sculpted to pay homage to the native flora that continues to live harmoniously despite all odds. The intricate details of this piece are a representation of the wisdom and depth understood by the longest living Peoples on Earth.’

The Collective first met Shahn in early 2021, when she came to discuss possibilities for a permanent floral installation in the gallery space. This incredible installation is recognised by all who come through the doors of 17 Acland Street, St.Kilda and is a powerful reminder of the strength and unconditional beauty of the stolen land upon which we reside. As we learn more about what it takes to sustainably run an ethical, community-based business, we look up to leaders such as Alchemy Orange as they shine light on a new way forward. Thank you, Shahn.

Biography provided by Shahn Stewart
Image by Sam Carson

DESIGN CONTRIBUTION, 2021

‘I have lived and worked in this heavenly community (St. Kilda) for the best part of my life. My work is seen spotted around town, being applied to both the interiors and exteriors of homes and venues. Trained as a sign writer back in the 80’s, I found it to be my path of no return. Using the skills I learnt, which enabled me to create perfect straight lines, corners and circles, gave me the opportunity to take things further, thus entering the world of decorative art.’

Colin Shepard is a dear friend and an ongoing supporter of the Gallery 17 Project. In early 2021, he gifted to us a beautiful and cherished header design which is found on the homepage of this website. Colin is St. Kilda. His knowledge of what has come before us and his understanding of what community truly means, is a grounding gift for which we are deeply grateful.

Biography provided by Colin Shepard
Image by Sam Carson

GALLERY FOUNDATIONS, 2018 —

‘Louis McGowan is an industrial designer and photographer living and practising on the unceded lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Peoples. Curiosity and materiality leads Louis’ practice. He is interested in how constructed forms and spaces influence our everyday being, where our rapidly consumed materials come from.

For Louis, photography acts as a visual diary and platform to explore composition and perception in relation to his design work. Photography provides him with another medium to showcase ideas that struggle to transfer from the print to the tangible, working towards his aesthetic resolve. Louis is interested in documenting both the Australian and international landscape in an effort to create images that transport and convey a sense of timelessness.’

In 2018, with a gentleness, loyalty, groundedness and love, Louis dreamt of and believed in Gallery 17 before it was ever conceivable.

Together, through our renovation of 17. Aland Street, St. Kilda, we lived the concepts that 17 has come to embody. Since then, his support and presence has been unwavering.

The graceful consciousness with which Louis moves through this world, is inspiring and reflected through all he creates. I have known no deeper a listener, no more patient a friend nor a more humble achiever.

Thank you, my Lou. Our community is stronger and kinder because of you. Our environment is safer and so many are the unknowingly beneficiaries of the time and care you gift. Thank you.

Biography by Louis Mgowan
Image by Marlee Harrison

ACLAND STREET MURAL, 2021

‘Charlotte Alldis is an emerging Australian painter who is currently completing her first art residency at the Dunmoochin Art Foundation, on Wurundjeri Country, in so-called Melbourne.

Working predominately in oils, Alldis actualises her thoughts and experiences with imagination by taking us along on a narrated journey full of play and diving deep into the subconscious. We bear witness to an inquisitive and emotionally guided person who externalises her internal world. Alldis uses painting as a way to expand and untangle her thoughts and experiences, and to elaborate on the quirks and navigations of living.

Painting is a means for Alldis to document and unpack as we pry into her inner world through a combination of bold, lively and wild characters and use of colours. The further we dive into her world, the further we descend into another time and place.

Born in 1993 in Geelong, Alldis completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology, and is currently completing her Masters in Art Therapy.’

At the beginning of the year, we were so fortunate to have a meeting of paths with the beautiful Charlotte Alldis. For a little courtyard that for my entire lifetime had been so dark and unloved, she gifted the most phenomenal mural of colour and light that brought an energetic healing to this property that each person who has spent time here since, has been the true beneficiary of. Her unconditional generosity and belief in 17 moved us and we are so inspired by the play and all-inclusivity within the arts, that she champions. While we are sad that when we move from St. Kilda, we will part ways with this artwork, its symbolised hope and unity will remain with us, always.

Biography provided by Charlotte Alldis
Image by Sam Carson

YOGA TEACHER, 2019 —

‘We are all unique.
But are we really?
We all ultimately want the same thing... to feel good, and to feel like we belong.
That's what this yoga practice is all about.
Little by little, day by day, growing and evolving ourselves into the best version of ourselves.
Celebrating that although we are different... we are all on the same path.
Our minds crave peaceful stillness.
Our souls craves connection.
The proven practice of yoga satisfies these cravings; taking us those blissful “aha” feel good moments.

Love always,
Yoga.

As I stepped into teaching yoga, I realised that the practice has been heavily commercialised, making it inaccessible and un-inviting. I intended to offer a shared moment where everyone felt welcomed and left feeling nourished.

We have spent the past 18months offering the practice to our community in exchange for a donation of their choosing that has, in turn, contributed to a variety of local causes.

It has been a beautiful gift facilitated by a collaboration of hearts - Nixie and myself, Eliza.’

There was a little blackboard outside the front of the gallery onto which we would write little community notes. One day, as we were changing its message, Eliza’s beautiful mama happened to be walking by. She suggested that her daughter and I should meet; she had a feeling we might become close friends. And inevitably, we did.

Eliza is loving-kindness. She embodies the truth of her practice with a humility and a grace that inspires each person with whom she crosses paths, to love more deeply, more truly and with greater compassion.

Through gentle movement, she heals souls and space. She has integrated a lightness and a balanced energetic wellness to 17 Acland Street, that each person who has spent time on this land has been the quiet beneficiary of.

It is an unfound privilege to wake up on a Saturday morning to the sound of happy voices, little giggles and soft music floating through your home. We are so grateful. Never have you asked for, or sought, recognition. Always, you place the consideration of our community and its peoples’ wellbeing, first. We learn from your selflessness. Thank you, Eliza, for the generous, unconditional gift of your divine self.

Biography provided by Eliza Hilmer
Image by Eliza Hilmer

GALLERY FOUNDATIONS, 2020 - JULY, 2021.

‘Klari Agar is a visual artist dwelling on and learning from the unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjiri peoples of the Woi Wurrung language group. Guided by their own sense of time- Klari uses photography as the base of their practice to express the tangled nature of place and relationships. Rather than using traditional means, they employ a series of experimental and delightfully un-controlled techniques to create new solutions to their own investigations in art.

They believe that, similar to an image being taken, the process of treating an image cannot be recreated – it can only exist in response. This results in film negatives being treated in experimental means – being shattered, buried, shared, driven over and dropped in toilets. They rely on intuition and feeling to navigate why a picture should be taken (or not) rather than how. Their practice is an extension of their own thinking and playing with time and material to gather a landscape.

These values of making and unmaking spin into their ideas of holding space, as their role at Gallery 17 developed over the past years. Through spurts of experimental and experiential developments (rather than following any traditional trajectory) they have had an ongoing relationship with the site since 2019 and lived there for 10 months during the developmental stages of opening (including several lockdowns and various renovations).

The narrative from initial contact to residential address has completely occurred by ongoing chance, openness and a sense of momentum that has seemingly gathered throughout the space, people and atmosphere over this time.’

In July 2021, our friend Klari parted ways with 17. Their love for our community is immense. It touches us, individually and collectively, in ways that are none other than transformative. Their independence of being, their refusal to accept the commonly accepted (cue: ‘why now and with what intention?’ ) and the humble depth of their listening will forever be entwined with this project. We thank Klari; for their humour, persistence and patience, their care, vision and above all, their time. From 2019 to the current day, without them this project simply would never have been.

Since 2019, with a gentle intuition and a gift for capturing raw moments of beauty and expression, Klari has documented our journey. As 17 stands on the precipice of change, words fail to wholly convey what it is to be able to look back, feel the magic of our shared times and be reminded, so deeply, of why, together, we will always continue. Klari is a world-changer and we look forward to seeing where their dreaming will take them next.

Biography provided by Klari Agar
Image by Mae Hartrick

PHOTOGRAPHY, 2019 —

‘Sam Carson is a filmmaker and photographer working on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung. They are currently completing a Bachelor of Film and Television at the VCA. Their practice focuses on radical arts communities and queer thought. They are particularly interested in gender and the body. In their work they strive to antithesise cis-hetero experiences, at once aiming for engagement with and distance from hegemonic boundaries. Their recent works include video installations of 'Energetic Heat Maps' representing trans bodies (without their 'fleshy outer layers'), as well as a photo series exploring hidden queer histories of Collingwood. Their work aims to communicate that truth and liberation can be found within strong communities, and that new vocabularies must be invented to properly represent non-binary identities.’

17 is grateful for the friendship, support and creative vision of dear friend and fellow creative, Sam Carson. It was clear at the moment of our first meeting, that our values deeply align. It was a shared understanding that, inevitably, this would lead to impactful future collaborations. They embody (and have inspired) much of what this project aims to celebrate; kindness, compassion, forgiveness, a strong sense of justice, a courage to voice their truth while simultaneously holding space for others to do the same. Since 2019, with a gentle intuitiveness and generosity, Sam has captured many beautiful moments of togetherness and celebration at 17 Acland Street, while simultaneously inspiring an appreciation of the everyday. We are eternally grateful. Thank you, Sam. We feel you with us as a protective force and we stand unconditionally with you as you continue to bring such light and love into this world.

Biography provided by Sam Carson
Image by Klari Agar