Business and art collide in a new exhibition at Milestone Cafe and Bistro

By Taylah Baker

Apr 1, 2024

**In focus:** Jacob Dedman, known as Digital Journey Photography, stands by his artwork at Milestone Cafe and Bistro. Photo by Megan Fisher

Those who visit Milestone Cafe and Bistro in Kialla can now accompany their caffeine fix with a free slice of inspiration.

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A new exhibition showcasing the works of local artists has recently been installed on the blank slate walls of the cafe.

For customers, interweaving the business with a gallery is a treat for the tastebuds and the eyesight.

But its significance goes further than that.

The exhibition is part of the Greater Shepparton City Council’s Creative City Strategy, which aims to unlock, support and drive the creative potential of the region.

Strategy coordinators Mimi Leung, Kristen Retallick and Anita Larkin have been working diligently to deliver this plan.

**Collaboration:** Shepparton Festival director Kristen Retallick works alongside the Creative City Strategy to facilitate such initiatives. Photo by Megan Fisher

In this instance, Ms Leung, the exhibition’s driving force, was supported by Ms Retallick as Shepparton Festival director.

“(This exhibition) opens up the idea of businesses and other organisations like community centres and schools being homes to art and places where art can be featured,” Ms Retallick said.

“Mimi’s a local artist herself, and so she’s very keen to foster the idea of an artist-run initiative being formed out of this networking and relationship-building opportunity.”

Ms Leung handpicked six artists from the region to participate in the cafe’s exhibition, including photographer Jacob Dedman, cartoonist Peta Manning, print-makers Kat Parker and Kerry Handwerk, 2-D medium artist Katelyn Trevaskis and painter Philip Hickingbotham.

**Full of beans and art:** At Milestone Cafe and Bistro, visitors can come for a coffee but stay for the exhibit. Photo by Megan Fisher

The exhibition launched at a networking event on Thursday, March 14, where coffee connoisseurs rubbed shoulders with talented artists.

Mr Dedman, known as Digital Journey Photography, was part of the latter present.

“It’s quite an honour to have first been chosen and for the great variety of talented artists to be included too,” he said.

**Snapped:** Digital Journey Photography has four photographs on display at the cafe. Photo by Megan Fisher

Mr Dedman’s exhibited photographs can be described as a stand-still of Victoria’s natural marvels.

However, a stint in South Australia and the pandemic-stemmed chaos surrounding that adventure is also on display.

“(The self-portrait shot) was a really special one – it came runner-up in the junior category of the Australian Photography magazine’s Photographer of the Year awards,” he said.

Titled Where to Now?, the photograph captures the moment he and his family were stranded in South Australia thanks to a lockdown on state-wide borders.

Stationed next to their caravan park living quarters, the historic railway provided the perfect backdrop to convey their immobilisation.

**Train of thought:** The exhibition includes Digital Journey Photography’s award-winning self-portrait, *Where to Now?* Photo by Megan Fisher

At that moment of time, there was nothing but confusion.

In the present day, exhibitions like this nurture collaboration between artists and organisations, providing a sense of certainty for Greater Shepparton’s growing art sphere.

The exhibition is on display until Tuesday, April 30, at Milestone Cafe, 7723 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla, open daily from 8am to 3pm.

For enquiries about the exhibition, contact Mimi Leung at ccitymimi@gmail.com