Sometimes, the best part of seeing a show is the conversation it sparks. Our series of ‘morning after’ breakfast events invites you to join a selection of writers, critics and arts lovers to dissect selected Melbourne Festival shows, sharing views on what worked, what didn’t – and why.
Each Morning After session will pair one or more of our creative writers with established critics to talk about what they’ve seen. Come and debrief in a relaxed, informal atmosphere – the perfect way to share ideas and inspiration about art.
This morning, we’ll be talking about three amazing visual art exhibitions: Making Models: The Collaborative Art of Wendy Ewald, by the award-winning American photographer, The Somali Peace Band, a remarkable chronicle of a musical collaboration that reaches across the Indian Ocean, presented by Australian artist Royce Ng, and Disarm, Pedro Reyes’ uplifting vision of a world free from weapons and full of music.
Download the podcast: (mp3 –55:30 / 26.6mb)
Read our writers' reviews and join the discussion around these amazing exhibitions on this website.
Featuring
Simon Abrahams
Simon Abrahams is a strategic arts and cultural leader, dynamic programmer and experienced producer whose work has been recognised nationally and internationally. He is Chair of Theatre Network Victoria, and a freelance arts consultant and performer.
Previously, Simon served as the Wheeler Centre’s Head of Programming, Executive Producer at Polyglot Theatre, Artistic Development Program Manager at Arts Centre Melbourne and Producer at Gasworks Arts Park. In 2010, Simon was named amongst Arts Hub’s Top Ten Australian Arts Leaders.
Chloe Hooper
Chloe Hooper’s The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island (2008) won the Victorian, New South Wales, West Australian and Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards, as well as the John Button Prize for Political Writing, and a Ned Kelly Award for crime writing. Her latest book is The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire (2018). She is also the author of two novels, A Child’s Book of True Crime and The Engagement.
Dylan Rainforth
Dylan Rainforth is the editor of Art Guide Australia. He also writes a weekly visual art column for the Age newspaper and contributes to a range of Australian art magazines and journals.
Amanda Lohrey
Amanda Lohrey is the author of several acclaimed novels, including the award-winning Camille’s Bread, as well as Vertigo, The Philosopher’s Doll and The Morality of Gentlemen.
She has also written two Quarterly Essays, Groundswell and Voting for Jesus. Reading Madame Bovary, her first collection of short fiction, was published in September 2010 by Black Inc.