24 August - 16 September

Tilia Europaea, the botanical name for the Linden tree, is the title of an exhibition that reflects upon the origins of the magnificent Victorian home built by Moritz and Rahel Michaelis in 1870 in Acland Street, St Kilda.

"Linden" at 26 Acland Street was named by Moritz Michaelis (1820 ­ 1902) in memory of his home town of Lüdge in Germany.

Tilia Europaea curator, Naomi Cass, has engaged the vision of six contemporary artists to consider the history of the home, family and 19th century Australian Jewish life.

Working in forms as diverse as embroidery, sound, drawing, ceramic and sculpture, Kim Donaldson, Stephen Gallagher, Andrew McQualter, Harry Nankin, Carl Priestly and David Ray evoke the real and imagined history of the Michaelis family.

Through extensive research and much assistance from family descendants the artists have taken particular cues from which to base their work ­ the kitchen garden, the family tree, garments, migration, sounds of the house and the Passover table.

Tilia Europaea (Linden Tree) will be opened at 6.30pm Thursday 23 August by Dr Helen Light, Director, Jewish Museum of Australia.

Linden - St Kilda Centre for Contemporary Arts
26 Acland Street, St Kilda Vic 3182
Gallery Hours: Tuesday ­ Sunday 1.00 ­ 6.00pm

For further information or images please contact Amy Barrett-Lennard on 03 9209 6794 or email info@lindenarts.org.

This exhibition is held in association with
Bagel Belt: the Jews of Caulfield and St Kilda
at the Jewish Museum of Australia.

A behind-the-scenes view of Tilia Europaea(Linden Tree)

3pm Sunday 2 September

Historical research has become an essential tool in the range of a contemporary artist's skills. Delving into the real and imagined history of Linden, artists create a layer of meaning that draws our attention to not only their imagination, intelligence and craft, but to the facts of Linden's history: who built the house, why St Kilda, how did the family of origin reconcile their German Jewish heritage, their British experience, their struggles and success in Marvellous Melbourne.

Through ceramics, beading and sound and through drawing and text, exhibiting artists make sense of their own practice in response to this particular context.

In a walk through the galleries, Tilia Europaea artists discuss their work and their research, joined in conversation by Ruth Marks, a descendent of the family, and the Curator, Naomi Cass.

Cost: $5 (includes afternoon tea)
Bookings essential, ph 9209 6794 or email info@lindenarts.org

Wanderers and Dreamers an evening of Yiddish Story & Song

7pm Thursday 6 September

Melbourne writer and story teller, Arnold Zable, weaves tales of Yiddish theatre in Australia, accompanied by musicians, Freydi Mrocki and David Krycer, in an exciting evening of story and song. Wanderers & Dreamers traces the extraordinary journeys of the many performers, and colourful characters who brought their rare skills to distant Australia from all corners of the globe.

Cost: $15/ $10 concession
Drinks available from bar
Bookings essential, ph 9209 6794 or email info@lindenarts.org