a petite Curated project space to test out ideas , connect and share stories. a place for creativity, curiosity and kindness.
The Folk Experiment is nestled within the historic London House building in the tiny goldrush town of Talbot, on the unceded lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
Together, with our wine bar and store, Fossickers Fine Food & Eatery, you will find a welcoming destination to relax, slow down and connect. We support the handmade, small-batch and sustainable artisans, producers, artists, designers and makers from this special region.
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upcoming exhibiTION
MEL YOUNG: COLLECTED WHEN WALKING
14 February - 23 March 2025
AN EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY HAND QUILTED CLOTH COLLAGES
14 FEBRUARY -23 MARCH
OPENING DRINKS WITH THE ARTIST:
14 FEBRUARY FROM 5PM-6.30PM
STAY ON FOR VALENTINES DINNER & LIVE JAZZ WITH THE WATTLE CITY SYNCOPATORS
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. Image: Mel Young, Collected When Walking (detail) textile, 60cm x 52cm