All artist talks take place at Montsalvat in the Barn Gallery.

A telephone in a tree, a superhero kangaroo, police attempting to arrest a wombat, it’s all here! We unravel the wild and sometimes controversial legends of Dunmoochin and its artists.

Rarely open to the public, Dunmoochin is a special place for potters, painters, musicians, writers, politicians and environmentalists. It was founded in the early 1950s in Cottles Bridge by a group of artists who sought to live closely with nature as a source of inspiration and learning. Today, Dunmoochin offers artists retreats of up to two years, providing time and space to explore the creative, environmental, and cultural significance of the area.

HOST

Amanda Grant is the Lead Artist for the Women of Montsalvat project. Known predominantly for her work on the Blacksmiths' Tree in Strathewen and the Homefront Sculptures in Greensborough War Memorial Park, Amanda is a Designer, Sculptor and Creative Director managing complex art projects.

SPEAKERS

Laura Russo is a writer and academic who based her Master's thesis on the history of Dunmoochin. During this time, she researched the Dunmoochin archives, interviewed over 35 former residents and associates, and discovered previously unknown historical records. She is currently working on a book about Dunmoochin's Bohemian heyday.

Judy Laycock spent her childhood at Dunmoochin in the 1960s and 70s. She is one of four children of potters, Helen and Peter Laycock. She has lived a life of art of all descriptions and now lives in Castlemaine.

Fionna Madigan is a landscape artist and an alumni of the Dunmoochin art residency program. She has been a finalist in many national art competitions including the Lethbridge landscape prize and the Adelaide parklands prize.

Free event; RSVP required

Contact the host of In-Conversation: Dunmoochin Amanda Grant with Laura Russo, Judy Laycock and Fionna Madigan