Artist friends Aunty Melissa McDevitt-Weston, left, and Alisoun Neville have taken a leap of faith
with their new studio gallery.
with their new studio gallery.
By Laura Brearley
A NEW studio gallery called Living Space has been brought to life by Traditional Owner Aunty Melissa McDevitt-Weston and Alisoun Neville. Aunty Melissa is a Bunurong/Boon Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist, and Alisoun Neville is a multidisciplinary artist and an arts and somatic therapist. Both artists live locally.
Adjoining Island Healing in Newhaven, Living Space offers artworks and artist-designed products, alongside creative and healing practices grounded in community. It has been designed to honour Country, creativity, and connection.
A NEW studio gallery called Living Space has been brought to life by Traditional Owner Aunty Melissa McDevitt-Weston and Alisoun Neville. Aunty Melissa is a Bunurong/Boon Wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist, and Alisoun Neville is a multidisciplinary artist and an arts and somatic therapist. Both artists live locally.
Adjoining Island Healing in Newhaven, Living Space offers artworks and artist-designed products, alongside creative and healing practices grounded in community. It has been designed to honour Country, creativity, and connection.
The recent launch of Living Space began with a warm Welcome to Country from Aunty Melissa and a song of welcome in Boonwurrung language, composed and performed by her daughter Renee Sweetman, with Renee’s daughter Harmony accompanying her on clapsticks. After the smoking ceremony, the opening of Living Space was celebrated with colour, music and movement, led by Invy Horn Jam.
Aunty Melissa is a passionate advocate for inclusiveness and community empowerment, creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage with art, culture, and storytelling through workshops, collaborative projects, and community-led initiatives.
Alisoun works across painting, pastel, photography, and artist-designed products, exploring the living spaces of art, body, and place. The studio gallery coincides with the launch of her new product range, Artful Interiors.
Aunty Melissa and Alisoun have come together with a shared vision for Living Space. Their project is a reflection of their rich creative lives and their living relationship with each other. At the launch, Alisoun spoke about the importance of trust in creative collaborations.
As a community, with Living Space now open, we are the beneficiaries of that trust.
Alisoun works across painting, pastel, photography, and artist-designed products, exploring the living spaces of art, body, and place. The studio gallery coincides with the launch of her new product range, Artful Interiors.
Aunty Melissa and Alisoun have come together with a shared vision for Living Space. Their project is a reflection of their rich creative lives and their living relationship with each other. At the launch, Alisoun spoke about the importance of trust in creative collaborations.
As a community, with Living Space now open, we are the beneficiaries of that trust.