Beyond The Table: The Dinner Party Reimagined

This exhibition is a reimagining of a traditional dinner party with a nod to 1970s nostalgia and celebrating one of the key gathering spaces in our homes – the humble dining table.

Emerging Manningham artist Isobel Goodman responds to and selects works from Manningham Council’s Potters Cottage Collection, a grouping of vessels created by the Potters Cottage co-operative. The co-operative was founded in Warrandyte in 1958 to advocate for and sell handmade functional Australian pottery. While the five founding members had distinct styles, their shared idealistic belief that modern, handmade pottery could enhance the quality of life and functionality within our homes was central to their philosophy.

Goodman hand builds her signature papier mâché and plaster sculptures – organic and abstracted forms to reference a dinner party table setting – vases, cutlery, plates, and candlesticks that play off and create a contemporary juxtaposition against the Potters Cottage vessels from the 1970s. The artist also reflects on the shapes, designs, colours, and patterns from this collection and era.

Visitors can view the installation at Manningham Art Gallery or even pull up a chair and join the dinner party. Goodman encourages the viewer to interact with her works, take a moment to rest or choose a fresh flower to take home from one of her handmade vases.

Surrounding the central dining table presentation is a display of paintings from local Manningham artist Jade Plitz. These works depict bright, layered and abstract domestic objects that encapsulate the exhibition’s celebration of communal gathering and ritual.

The exhibition is curated by Lucy Beattie Hughes, Manningham Council’s Creative Industries Officer and was supported by Gabriela Mello, owner and director of Warrandyte Pottery, through artist mentorship and technical and conceptual support.