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.

The Vessel was the first exhibition to mark the opening of this new space for creativity. Three artists working and living on Djaara country in the Central Victorian goldfields; Kaori Fujimoto; Minna Graham & Mel Ogden showcased their latest ceramic work inspired by the ancient memories of the ceramic vessel.