Eat, drink, art, repeat! A menu of delectable experiences at Manningham

BY PREETI JABBAL

It turned out to be a perfect day for us to explore nature, encounter art and experience taste through one-of-a-kind art and food famil in Manningham recently.

In the beautiful setting of this iconic suburb of Melbourne, we were invited to a culinary experience complemented by diverse art, and the combination of the two made for some magical memories.

Indulging in our specialised itinerary, we savoured coffee, sampled grappa, created fresh pasta, sipped Sangiovese and tasted the local produce. In the process, we discovered the delights and flavours of cultural immersion, uncovering the best of what Manningham has to offer.

Heide Museum Of Modern Art

A bright sunny day under a clear sky made for a great drive. Our trip started with a visit to the famed Heide Museum of modern art. The vast grounds of this culturally significant home of art patrons John and Sunday Reed stood sprawling and impressive in the middle of suburbia. We learnt about the fascinating history of Heide, from its establishment in 1934 to its current status as a public art museum and sculpture park. We marvelled at the creative concept behind collaborative works of Janet Burchill and Jennifer McCamley and their philosophy of material conceptualism.

This was followed by the visually stunning collection of photographs by acclaimed artist

John Gollings, featuring indigenous sites. Spirit of place delves into the historic art and architecture of First Nations people around the world.

Curator Sue Cramer also guided us through other exhibitions, sculptures and Heide 1: House of ideas, presenting works from various artists supported by the Reeds.

The artworks currently on display include Albert and Barbra Tucker’s exploration of the apocalypse in the landscape and body, Isadora Vaughan’s Climarte - inspired installations and some of Mirka Mora’s distinctive art.

The morning was taken up admiring the ever-expanding repertoire of art mediums and enjoying the bucolic idyll in an urban setting. The wonderful coffee at the trendy and welcoming Heide café helped set the cogs of wheels in my brain into motion.