St Kilda’s Alright!

St Kilda became a hub for experimental and independent artistic practice in the 1980s, with artists of all kinds – visual artists, fashion designers, musicians, writers and filmmakers – deciding to call it home.

The 1980s art scene helped to boost St Kilda’s name as a local and international destination for first rate artists looking to push the boundaries of their discipline.

We’re still pushing those boundaries today, as we celebrate the endorsement of the St Kilda Live Music Precinct – Victoria’s first ever live music precinct.

To commemorate the endorsement of the precinct, we’ve curated the St Kilda’s Alright! exhibition, which takes its name from Melbourne punk band I Spit on Your Gravy’s 1985 album, St Kilda’s Alright!, courtesy of the band’s front man, artist and local legend, Fred Negro.

Council recognised the significance of the cultural shift experienced during the 1980s and established an Acquisition Fund to allow for key pieces to be purchased and safeguarded for future exhibitions.

There was a strong focus on collecting works from local and emerging artists, such as Howard Arkley, Stephen Bush, Tony Clark, John Nixon, Peter Walsh, and Jenny Watson.

A highlight of St Kilda’s Alright! is three dresses created by Jenny Bannister, a renowned Australian fashion designer. Bannister’s designs are intrinsically linked to the Melbourne punk movement and her pieces often combined recycled materials with leather being a go-to staple. Fabric was distressed, studded, and perforated, creating a do-it-yourself, individual look.

St Kilda’s Alright! is on display at the Carlisle Street Arts Space from 14 July to 22 September.