The Alchemical Table

Feb. 18, 2013, 2:17 p.m.

Curator and artist Tara Gilbee is holding an event which is an introduction to a year long, slow art process she has been 'cooking up' called The Alchemical Table on Sunday, February 24, and Sunday, March 3, at 7pm.

Set amongst the historic atmosphere of Tutes Cottage, The Alchemical Table invites you to feast upon the nature of experiment. Playing with your food is not only encouraged but is the creative act itself. Be introduced to new concoctions, explore new sensory combinations and clink potions in glass vessels. Drawing inspiration from the garden, together with food, fragrance and sonic ambience, the abundance of nature and its transformative effects are big players in the ensemble experiment. Become an ingredient yourself, consuming and producing your role under the guidance of the alchemical conjurers. This is one part performance, one part dinner party, and three parts curiosity.

Tara said she started drying a year's worth of fennel and creating other liquid inspirations with Quince vodka and Quince syrups, to build the mythical apothecary that will inhabit Tutes Cottage in Greenhill Avenue, Castlemaine. The project was made possible through the Mount Alexander Shire community grants.

Led by Tara Gilbee, The Alchemical Table is a dinner as artwork and artwork as dinner. Head concoctor of elements, Nikki Valentti, draws upon her culinary talents to propose new combinations of food in an environment of experimental play. Artists Jacques Soddell and Kent Wilson are on hand as lab partners to facilitate the process and test hypothesis.

All contributions will be recombined and reprocessed into an installation artwork that opens on Friday, March 15, within the visual arts program for Castlemaine State Festival.

All are welcome to dine. Bookings need to be made online prior to the event

The seats are limited to 15 places for this free event, so get in quick to avoid disappointment.

Images from the event: yes people missed out and were disappointed because those that came, loved the event and felt very special :-)