MESS Residents Reveal w/ Grace Ferguson and Isaac Barton (WVCHWY)

As part of its ten year celebrations, MESS continues a tradition with its annual Residents Reveal. Showcasing the work of our local residents and the creative excellence fostered at MESS, the Residents Reveal offers an intimate opportunity to delve into creations made by Melbourne/Naarm-based sound artists Grace Ferguson and Isaac Barton (WVCHWY) during their 2026 MESS studio residencies.

Over the last eight weeks, both artists have had full access to one of the world’s most eclectic and historically significant collections of musical instruments at the MESS studio. They’ll share the sounds they’ve been crafting at Miscellania, followed by a live Q&A providing deeper insight into their creative processes.

We can’t wait to hear what they’ve been making and to learn directly from them about their lives and work.

Accessibility: Miscellania is not wheelchair accessible. Find full accessibility details here http://tinyurl.com/yc7kd7sb

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About the artists:

Grace Ferguson is an artist and teacher based in Naarm/Melbourne. Since studying classical piano performance at the MCM, she has been an active member of the arts community, producing original electro-acoustic music, performing live and collaborating with others across the forms of theatre, dance and film. Drawing from historic traditions and encounters ranging from the ordinary to the mythic, her works combine composed and improvised material that continually examines the tension between the planned and practiced, and what remains out of our control. Recognition for her practice includes, APRA PD Award finalist (Classical/Experimental), Best Original Score for a Main Stage Production for the production ‘On the Beach’ (STC) – Sydney Theatre Awards and artistic residency at La Cité internationale des arts, supported by Creative Australia. Grace is represented as an Associate Artist by the Australian Music Centre.

WVCHWY (pronounced “which way”) is a Kalkadungu and Bidjara producer, DJ, and artist based in Naarm/Melbourne, working across techno, trance, hard house, and acid with a focus on rhythm-driven, non-linear club music. Their practice centres on building immersive sound that prioritise groove, tension, and movement over conventional song structures. WVCHWY’s work explores the intersection of electronic music and cultural storytelling, integrating elements of their Indigenous identity through both concept and sound design. Increasingly, this extends into hybrid performance, incorporating live instrumentation such as didgeridoo/yidaki and a growing interest in analogue synthesis and hardware-based workflows. Since establishing themselves within Naarm’s electronic scene, WVCHWY has performed at key national festivals including SXSW Sydney, Pitch Music & Arts Festival, Beyond The Valley, and Sonder Festival, and has supported artists such as Jennifer Loveless and RONA. Alongside their solo work, they curate events through Sameway, a platform focused on creating pathways for Indigenous, queer, and emerging artists.