SIDE GATE

A PORTAL TO WHERE? May 4 – 5, Side Gate 🕯️ Zaiba Khan, Stephanie Hicks, Rel Pham, Matilda Davis, Louise Meuwissen, Lichen Kelp, Jess Tan, Isabelle Rudolph, Crawlers, Alexandra Nemarić. Curated by Jess Cockerill and Anna Dunnill. 🕳️ The screen glows black and bright. Type the secret password. Motes of colour surface from pixellated depths. And engulf you in their tides. 🔮 Saturday 4 May, 5 - 8pm: opening party, BYO drinks Sunday 5 May, 12 - 5pm: exhibition open 🪟 2pm Sunday: Portals to Web Chaos – a workshop with Crawlers (Jess Cockerill & Lyndsey Walsh). 🕸️ DM @side_gate for address and to register for the workshop. 🪨 Access info: Side Gate has two individual steps up to the front door, small single steps between some rooms, and a step outside to access the rear courtyard. We sincerely apologise that Side Gate is not wheelchair accessible, and are working to solve this issue. 🫧 Please get in touch to discuss any other access requirements. 🌚 Image: Rel Pham, 2024, animation still.

A PORTAL TO WHERE? May 4 – 5, Side Gate 🌀 Zaiba Khan, Stephanie Hicks, Rel Pham, Matilda Davis, Louise Meuwissen, Lichen Kelp, Jess Tan, Isabelle Rudolph, Crawlers, Alexandra Nemarić. Curated by Jess Cockerill and Anna Dunnill. 🌑 Press your eye to the keyhole. You see your own face reflected infinitely. You lose balance, tip forward. You’re falling in. 🌪️ Saturday 4 May, 5 - 8pm: opening party, BYO drinks Sunday 5 May, 12 - 5pm: exhibition open 🪸 2pm Sunday: Portals to Web Chaos – a workshop with Crawlers (Jess Cockerill & Lyndsey Walsh). 🕸️ DM @side_gate for address and to register for the workshop. 🕳️ Image: Isabelle Rudolph, Cabinets of Wonder (3D slides), 2021, detail from Viewmaster slides. Courtesy of the artist.

A PORTAL TO WHERE? May 4 – 5, Side Gate 🕸️ Zaiba Khan, Stephanie Hicks, Rel Pham, Matilda Davis, Louise Meuwissen, Lichen Kelp, Jess Tan, Isabelle Rudolph, Crawlers, Alexandra Nemarić. Curated by Jess Cockerill and Anna Dunnill. 🌀 Gather at twilight, when the veil is thinnest. Cosmos flowers gleam like stars. Follow the map. Search for hidden places, secret doors and shimmering thresholds. Step through. 🪞 Saturday 4 May, 5 - 8pm: opening party, BYO drinks Sunday 5 May, 12 - 5pm: exhibition open 🔮 2pm Sunday: Portals to Web Chaos – a free workshop with Crawlers (Jess Cockerill & Lyndsey Walsh). 🕳️ DM @side_gate for address & to register for the workshop. 🚪 Image: Matilda Davis, Self-Portrait, detail, 2022, oil on linen mounted on pine board, cotton-pleated trim, 40 x 30cm. Courtesy of the artist and Futures Gallery.

We are a group of artist-run initiatives joining the worldwide call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. In the face of genocide, we are coming together in solidarity against the state-sanctioned colonial violence of Israel towards Palestine. We strongly condemn the escalating violence in the region which continues to heavily impact innocent Palestinian families and civilians. We urgently call for humanitarian aid, to further prevent the loss of life, and to support those directly affected. We recognise the important role art plays in offering a mirror to the urgent issues of the world, and the role that arts organisations have in platforming artists and shaping culture. This is a duty that we, collectively, take seriously, operating on stolen lands. In our local arts community, we have seen artists who have courageously and bravely stood up in support of Palestine, even while facing threats of harassment and loss of opportunities and funding. As artist-run organisations, our solidarity will always be with artists, not with systems that suppress and silence artists. You inspire us with your leadership and advocacy, and our statement is written in this spirit. This statement is the first step for our collective, and we will be sharing more shortly. If you want to co-sign this letter, please get in touch.

SIDE GATE EDITION: soft furnishings for the chronically exhausted. For ‘Itineraries of Escape’ – tomorrow, Saturday 25 November! – we have collaborated with artist Anita Cummins to turn their artwork ‘I got out of bed today’ into a very special limited edition pillowcase set. We are producing a VERY SMALL RUN of 10 sets at $210 each. As you lie in bed, scrolling through capitalism’s last gasp, let yourself be emotionally and physically supported by these pillowcases. A perfect gift for the fatigued and overwhelmed; you could even split a set with a weary friend, one pillow each, like those best friend necklaces you coveted in primary school. Anita’s artwork has been digitally printed in Melbourne on organic cotton, with a reverse side of yellow cotton poplin, and sewn (to rigorous and exacting standards) right here at Side Gate. DM @side_gate to preorder now! Allow 4 weeks for delivery, and let us know if you need it by Christmas so we can ensure this. Proceeds will support future Side Gate projects. Original artwork: Anita Cummins, ‘I got out of bed today’, 2018, collaged Cheezel boxes. @anita_cummins_ Photography by Jess Cockerill @jess___sea Project supported by @artsmerri_bek and @eastcoburgandnewlands Fabric beautifully printed at @nextstateprint

🌜EXHIBITION RESCHEDULED! 🌛 Itineraries of Escape will now take place on Saturday 25 November, NOT this weekend!! Apologies for any inconvenience, and we hope to see you in two weeks 🌿 – Side Gate presents: ‘Itineraries of Escape’ NEW DATE: Saturday 25 November 11am – 6pm A one-day exhibition about domestic space, ritual, and coping strategies for precarious times. *** DM @side_gate for address *** ~ ARTISTS ~ Anita Cummins Ellen Yeong Gyeong Son Gemma Watson (WA) Maggie Hensel-Brown (NSW) Renae Coles (NSW) Ruby Brown Ruth Cummins Sophie Cassar Curated by Anna Dunnill ~ ACCESS ~ Side Gate has two individual steps up to the front door and further small steps between some rooms. We sincerely apologise that Side Gate is not wheelchair accessible. Please get in touch to discuss access requirements and we will do our best to accommodate you. @anita_cummins_ @ellenygson @gw_2000 @maggiehenselbrown @colesradio @ruby_te_ata_marama @rumth @isitmybody @okayampersand 🌿 This exhibition is supported by a Flourish Grant from the Merri-Bek City Council. Thanks also to NECCHi (Newlands and East Coburg Neighbourhood Houses). @merri_bekcitycouncil @artsmerri_bek @eastcoburgandnewlands 🌿 Image: Ruth Cummins, ‘Weighted Blanket’, 2020, artist’s t-shirts, jeans, recycled cotton, wadding, and 17kg of rocks collected with artist’s 5km radius during Melbourne’s stage 4 Covid-19 lockdown. Photo: Kenneth Suicio.

***UPDATE – EXHIBITION RESCHEDULED *** – Side Gate presents: ‘Itineraries of Escape’ NEW DATE: Saturday 25 November 11am – 6pm A one-day exhibition about domestic space, ritual, and coping strategies for precarious times. *** DM @side_gate for address *** ~ ARTISTS ~ Anita Cummins Ellen Yeong Gyeong Son Gemma Watson (WA) Maggie Hensel-Brown (NSW) Renae Coles (NSW) Ruby Brown Ruth Cummins Sophie Cassar Curated by Anna Dunnill ~ ACCESS ~ Side Gate has two individual steps up to the front door and further small steps between some rooms. We sincerely apologise that Side Gate is not wheelchair accessible. Please get in touch to discuss access requirements and we will do our best to accommodate you. @anita_cummins_ @ellenygson @gw_2000 @maggiehenselbrown @colesradio @ruby_te_ata_marama @rumth @isitmybody @okayampersand 🌿 This exhibition is supported by a Flourish Grant from the Merri-Bek City Council. Thanks also to NECCHi (Newlands and East Coburg Neighbourhood Houses). @merri_bekcitycouncil @artsmerri_bek @eastcoburgandnewlands 🌿 Image: Ruth Cummins, ‘Weighted Blanket’, 2020, artist’s t-shirts, jeans, recycled cotton, wadding, and 17kg of rocks collected with artist’s 5km radius during Melbourne’s stage 4 Covid-19 lockdown. Photo: Kenneth Suicio.

‘Unfinished Works’ is open this weekend: Sat & Sun, 12-5pm. DM for address! We are so thrilled by the generous and vulnerable artworks, sketchbooks and process journals that artists have contributed to this exhibition! Come and visit and have a cup of tea. Images: 1. Ruby Brown, ‘Silver One (WIP)’, 2023, aluminium board, wire, toilet paper, soft plastics, plaster, clothed spray paint @ruby_te_ata_marama 2. Minna Gilligan, ‘Untitled Sketchbook’ (detail), 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Daine Singer Gallery. @minnagilligan @dainesinger 3. Sebastian Temple, ‘studio tool box’, 2022-ongoing, dried sweet pea, 2B pencil, paper clip, rock, 2 beads, mandarin sticker, biodegradable phone case, carved stick, collected seeds, tiny shrivelled lemon, melted carving wax, nail, plastic grub, tape, wood, brass handle, takeaway container 4. Danni McGrath, ‘Street level signage’, 2018-ongoing, traced image references @d_e_mc 5. Tai Snaith, ‘Half-finished chainbow’, 2023, bisque fired porcelain and pigment @taisnaith 6. Izabelle Chabierski, ‘Sploosh! Spiced peaches’, 2017-ongoing, hand-dyed polyester (found wedding dress) @squizzy_chab Curated by @jess___sea and @okayampersand .

TONIGHT! 5-8pm, Coburg: a beautiful selection of unfinished works and sketchbooks, plus mulled wine, tea and snacks (and BYO if you want). DM for address 🏠 A reminder that if you’ve tested positive for Covid or are unsure, please stay home! We’ll have masks available for anyone who wants one. Access: Side Gate is within a 5 min walk of Moreland & Sydney Rds – close to the #6 & #19 trams, Moreland Stn, and Moreland Rd buses. Street parking available. Side Gate is single storey with one step up to the front porch, and two individual steps within the house. Audio and video works have transcripts/captions. Please DM if you have specific access requirements! Image: installation view of artworks by Isadora Vaughan and Jess Cockerill. @okayampersand @jess___sea

Side Gate presents ‘Unfinished Works’ – an exhibition honouring art that has stalled, failed, been interrupted or abandoned, turned out to be impossible, or is still meandering towards greatness. Curated in response to a sketchbook drawing by MC Escher, ‘Study for Palm Tree’, the exhibition coincides with the centennial anniversary of this unfinished work’s date: 17-5-23. Featuring: Olga Bennett • Leonie Brialey • Ruby Brown • Edie Bush • Gonzalo Ceballos • Izabelle Chabierski • Jess Cockerill • Briony Galligan & Mel Deerson • Anna Dunnill • Camilla Eustance • Minna Gilligan • Phoebe Haig • Camille Laddawan • Egg Lemon • Cheralyn Lim • Gabby Loo • Grace McArthur • Danni McGrath • Josephine Mead • Marlo Mogensen • Jaime Emily Powell in collaboration with Diana Rahim and Divaagar • Isabelle Rudolph • Jas Shirrefs • Slug • Tai Snaith • Audrey Tan • Sebastian Temple • Isadora Vaughan Curated by Jess Cockerill and Anna Dunnill. Opening: Wednesday 17 May, 5-8pm Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May, 12-5pm or by appointment DM @side_gate for address! @olgabennett @lugggs @ruby_te_ata_marama @ede.bush @dirty_sprite_pouring @squizzy_chab @jess___sea @brionygalligan @meldeerson @okayampersand @camillaeustance__ @minnagilligan @phoebehaig @camilleladdawan @egg.lemon @cheralynlim @djrescuedog @yonic_shark @d_e_mc @josephinemead @marlomogensen @jaime.jaime @diva.agar @vrkur @isabellerudolphart @deaf_dyke @cyberslug9999 @taisnaith

After a long hibernation (and a house move), our domestic exhibition project Side Gate is preparing to re-emerge. Exhibition announcement coming very soon! 🏡🌼

Some little snippets from Tough and Tender 📸 @leonlytimes Artists in order: @l00ming , @smoochy_piranha , @hannahgartside (with @zamara.zam.art.a ceramic in the background + @no_fems68 in the window), @yonic_shark , @jessicagraceart , @gemini.hands , @no_fems68 with an interested visitor, @mitch.stitches , @zamara.zam.art.a , and @tohmas_baltchfrod 💖 Thanks so much to the 70+ people who came through 🥰 it was such a lovely time! More pics to come.