Located within Pawson House, Mailbox Art Space is a vibrant “alternative” gallery with a variety of exhibitions inside and outside of 19 restored mailboxes.
Currently managed by Alice Dickens and Shel Odgers, the duo reopened the space in 2023 after being closed for several years due to the pandemic.
Alice and Shell are passionate volunteers who breathe new life into this unique space, even though they both have full-time jobs.
“We met working at the Heide Museum of Modern Art and saw that they were recruiting a new team of directors to take over the operation of the mailbox,” Alice and Shell told CBD News.
We applied because we wanted to contribute to this iconic space and were lucky enough to be successful. We relaunched the space with a retrospective of work by former Mailbox directors and artists as a way to celebrate the past and look forward to a bright future.
Established in 2007 as 'Mailbox 141' by curators Martina Copley and Shanley McBurney, the space has curated an impressive range of exhibitions, including Craft Cubed, Midsomer and Melbourne Fringe. Directors who have collaborated with various festivals have taken turns participating.
“Each year we advertise expressions of interest from artists via social media and email. We then review these applications and plan for the year. We also participate in year-end alumni shows to interact with artists and organize group exhibitions,” said Alice and Shell.
“We feature art of all kinds, as long as it fits within the miniature parameters of a mailbox. Over the years, this has included painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, found objects, jewelry, photography, textiles, and more. Performances, There were also artist and curator talks, readings, and other forms of performance art.”
A true hidden secret, the Mailbox Art Space offers an incredible opportunity for students and emerging or mid-career artists to take on the creative challenges of this space.
Alice and Shell are also pleased to share that exhibitor recruitment for 2025 will open soon and encourage people to keep an eye on social media.
“It is extremely rewarding to work with emerging artists and help them develop their practices and showcase their work in innovative spaces,” they said.
“People love finding spaces, whether they specifically seek them out or stumble across them. The small scale of the works allows visitors to get up close and focus on them.”
Mailbox Art Space is located at 141-143 Flinders Lane, Pawson House.
This article is proudly supported by Hidden Secrets Tours Melbourne.
