Tag Archives: Dave O’Neil

The Art & Soul of it

Painting by Richard Morrison
Painting by Richard Morrison with Jim Lee

Text & images by Kerrie Pacholli

St Kilda, considered the jewel of Port Phillip, has always been synonymous with multi-layered cultures, music, theatre, art and artists.

However, along the way St Kilda lost its ability to attract and nurture its rising creatives.

St Kilda was cleaned up. Became gentrified.  The toilet block at the well known indigenous meeting place ‘Koori Park’ was torn down and the the tribe was forced to scatter. Property prices skyrocketed and financial and property investors reigned supreme.  The local council became one of the richest in Melbourne and the well-to-do believed they held the key to St Kilda’s rising prosperity and glory.

Today when one takes a stroll down the sunset side of Fitzroy Street you got to wonder WTF happened?  Bucket loads of taxpayer’s money has been spent on road infrastructure to accommodate the projected masses flooding into St Kilda as a result of the clean up and  gentrification and yes parking, car manoeuvrability  and business has been severely impeded.

Regardless of its unique and beautiful seascape, St Kilda has became known as a bi-law trap, whether on the roads or in the venues where noise is policed to what many consider unreasonable and unrealistic proportions.  Without doubt many performing artists and the businesses that accommodated them have little reason to feel confident in being facilitated to reach full potential.

Singer / songwriter Lisa Wood
Singer / songwriter Lisa Wood part of “Tribute to Women” at St Luja 

A number of years ago local creatives with countercultural persuasions, living and working in St Kilda, started to look at ways to do their bit to save St Kilda’s diverse cultural expression and keep the streets alive and pumping. These guys were not property owners, nor did they have ties to local council or government. They battled along with their personal desires, inspirations and imaginations.  Eventually a move was made to activate their collective visions and The St Kilda Arts Community was formed.

Espy 2017 St Kilda Comedy Club was reborn
Espy and the St Kilda Comedy Club was reborn. Cj Fortuna, Andrew Goodone, Brad Oakes & Dave O’Neil.

Its founding members were remaining creatives working in isolated pockets throughout St Kilda who came together for the greater good. A new collective movement was ignited and the first St Kilda Art Crawl  happened, followed by two more.

The Victorian Minister for the Arts was approached by representatives of this newly formed Arts Community and unquestioningly acknowledged the need and potential on offer and gave his official thumbs up. Local council also followed suit with some practical and moral support.  The Alex Theatre and the not yet refurbished Espy opened its doors and rallied with moral and practical support, Slowly the local business owners, who were somewhat fiscally strained, started to take note although at first non-committal and wary. Many local artists and galleries on the other hand were given renewed enthusiasm, sensing the energy shift and the potential that comes with it.

Simon Barnett, Martin Foley & Mick Pacholli
Simon Barnett, Martin Foley & Mick Pacholli 

A collective vibe throughout the arts community started to rise and ‘art happenings’ in the lesser known art hubs in St Kilda started to be acknowledged and illuminated by the Arts Community for their efforts.

The thing is, artists are workers who deserve a decent income. Their creative and artistic enterprises deserve to be held in high esteem and celebrated.  History shows this is what nourishes community.

Robert Mate Mate performing Theatreworks 1992
Robert Mate Mate performing at Theatreworks 1992 image by Russell Cooper.

To quote Robert Mate Mate, a much loved friend who passed on many years ago…

“Politics breeds combat ability whereas art and culture breeds compatibility.”

The choice is ours.

St Kilda Comedy Club at the Espy 24 Sept 2pm

ITS HERE!!! Yes you read it right at the The Esplanade Hotel part of StKildaArtCrawl.com

Sunday 24th Sept 2pm

CJ Fortuna, Andy Goodone, Brad Oakes & Dave O’Neil at Espy image by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com

The line up includes:

MC Brad Oakes, Pommy Johnson, Dave O’Neil, Bob Franklin, Elliot Goblet, Chris Wainhouse, Christine Basil, C J Fortuna, Wayne Deakin, Michael Shafar. Supported by Mark Hughes and the Temple of Blues PLUS MORE

Book Now @ www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=317727

Remember back in the day when the Espy hotel was in full swing? Back when stand up comedy ruled the Gershwin room every Sunday afternoon?

A glorious mix of new and seasoned comics would strut their stuff in front of a packed enthusiastic crowd.

Back in the day when Hughesy was on the dole, Rove was in a double act with his old mate Duff and Pommy Johnson’s song Psycho Chicken could be heard bellowing through the sacred hall to an eruption of applause; the punters getting drunk off laughter alone.

Those were the days. It was a comedy show with a rock’n’roll vibe. Espy comedy was the best thing in town.

Imagine if ‘back in the day’ was back tomorrow or more specifically back on Sunday the 24th of September at 2pm.
That’s right the Hotel along with the St Kilda Arts Crawl and St Kilda Comedy Club are opening the doors to the Gershwin room.

For a one off special event bringing back the glory days of comedy in Melbourne.

 CJ-Fortuna-Andy-Goodwin-Dave-ONeil-Brad-Oakes-at-the-Espy-©-pationpics.com-5.jpg
CJ Fortuna, Andy Goodwin, Dave O’Neil & Brad Oakes at the Espy image by Kerrie Pacholli © pationpics.com