Mel Young: Collected When Walking

An exhibition of contemporary hand-quilted cloth collages.

Mel Young is an artist based in the Central Victorian Goldfields, where her work is deeply intertwined with the natural environment surrounding her. The rhythms of the land, from the shifting colours and textures of local bushland to the seasonal changes, fuel her creative process. Through frequent walks in these landscapes, Mel finds a continuous source of inspiration, translating the natural world into intricate cloth works.

Her current body of work, Collected When Walking, reflects the immersive experience of traversing the local bushland and regional towns. Each piece is a collection of natural objects, memories, and imagined narratives, woven together into hand-quilted cloth collages. These tactile works act as both maps and meditations, capturing the inner and outer journeys of the artist. The slow, rhythmic act of walking is mirrored in the repetitive stitching, grounding the work in a sense of time and place.

View Mel's work and stop by for a coffee, cake or leisurely lunch overlooking the community garden, rich in birdlife, fruit and flowers. At Fossickers Fine Food & Eatery they specialise in share plates and charcuterie boards showcasing the flavours of the region. Make it a date and meet Mel at the opening drinks on Valentine's Day 14 February 5pm-6pm with live music from 6pm and a special Valentine's Menu.