Vineyard Favourite Montalto Is Hosting Artists Including Patricia Piccinini Over a Long Lunch Series

The Mornington Peninsula winery is launching a new program of long lunches and artist conversations, held overlooking its Sculpture Trail.
Libby Curran
March 08, 2022

Art, wine and a sumptuous long lunch. It's a covetable trio — and one that's set to star at Mornington Peninsula winery Montalto plenty over the coming months, thanks to a new series of in-depth artist chats.

The renowned winery has teamed up with the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG) to deliver the Contemplating Art lunchtime events, which each host a conversation with a different celebrated artist over a relaxed long lunch. They'll take place in Montalto's award-winning restaurant, fittingly overlooking the estate's Sculpture Trail.

Montalto

The series is set to dive right into the deep end, too, with acclaimed artist Patricia Piccinini as guest of honour at the first of these lunches, on Thursday, March 24. If that name feels particularly familiar right now, it's likely because of A Miracle Constantly Repeated, Piccinini's ongoing otherworldly exhibition in the Flinders Street Station Ballroom. Or perhaps you know her as the artist behind giant hot-air balloon sculptures Skywhalepapa and Skywhale, which are set to take to the skies above Melbourne this month as part of the MPavilion program.

For the debut of Contemplating Art, Piccinini will appear in conversation with MPRG Gallery Director Danny Lacy, chatting about her background, inspiration, the techniques that drive her practice, and her existing and soon-to-be-completed works. All while you enjoy a two-course shared lunch feast courtesy of the Montalto kitchen.

Piccinini's 'No Fear of Depths' (2019), from exhibition 'A Miracle Constantly Repeated'

On Thursday, May 12, the second event in the series will shine a spotlight on interdisciplinary NSW-based artist Hiromi Tango and collaborator, neuroscientist Emma Burrows. The pair are behind newly launched Science Gallery Melbourne installation Wheel (for Mental: Head Inside) — an interactive 'hamster wheel' that explores the benefits of exercise on our brains and mental health.

Contemplating Art marks a desire by Montalto to offer its guests more 'moments out of the ordinary', as the winery gears up to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Further events in the series are set to be announced soon — stay tuned via the Montalto newsletter and website.

Contemplating Art kicks off on Thursday, March 24, with guest artist Patricia Piccinini, followed by a conversation with Hiromi Tango and Emma Burrows on Thursday, May 12. Events will take place at Montalto, 33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South, Victoria. For more info and to grab tickets, see the website.

Top Images: Patricia Piccinini with one of her works, captured by H.Walker. Montalto Estate.

Published on March 08, 2022 by Libby Curran
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