Around the Block is an outdoor exhibition of moving image works, unfolding across Next Wave, Blak Dot Gallery, Counihan Gallery, and Michelle Guglielmo Park from 9 July – 20 August.

Works will change every two weeks, allowing the program to shift over time – something to return to or stumble upon again.

ARTISTS

From 9 July

Andrea Draper
Badra Aji
Blaktasia Projection Collective
Astrid Mulder
Charlie Lee

From 24 July

beingbaker
Camille Perry
Kimberly Summer
Wenmiao Xin
Tony Aitorea
Vicente Barriga

From 6 August

Aarushi Chowdhury
ARTStop
Jack Hodges
Lesley Wengembo
Lily Houbert
Pierra Van Sparkes

These artists were selected through open calls initiated by Next Wave, Blak Dot and Counihan Gallery. The program platforms artists from a diversity of lived experiences, many of whom are emerging in their practice, and engages with themes of identity, place, playfulness, and temporality.

Join us for our opening event on Thursday 9 July, and for exhibition tours hosted by Next Wave on Friday 24 July and Thursday 6 August.

Next Wave (Brunswick Mechanics Institute, 270 Sydney Road)

Four screens facing Sydney Road.

Michelle Guglielmo Park (260 Sydney Road)

260 Projection Space — operated by the Little Projector Company, programmed by Next Wave.

Counihan Gallery (Brunswick Town Hall, 233 Sydney Road)

Projections at two locations at Brunswick Town Hall: one at the front of the building, facing Sydney Road, and the other at the rear in Saxon Lane.
Visit the Counihan Gallery webpage for more information

Blak Dot (33 Saxon Street)

Main entrance and across the Balam Balam Place grounds with large-scale projections.
Visit the Blak Dot website for more information

Celebrate the opening of Around the Block. There will be a Welcome to Country, artist talks, mulled wine, and a walking tour of all the screening sites.

Featuring works by Blaktasia Projection Collective at Blak Dot, Astrid Mulder and Charlie Lee at Next Wave, Andrea Draper at Counihan Gallery, and Badra Aji at Michelle Guglielmo Park.

When: From 6pm
Where: Blak Dot Gallery
Free to attend

Join us for a walking tour and artist/curator talks as we launch new works for Around the Block.

Featuring works by Tony Aitorea and Vicente Barriga at Blak Dot, Kimberly Summer and Wenmiao Xin at Next Wave, beingbaker at Counihan Gallery, and Camille Perry at Michelle Guglielmo Park.

This event is part of Open House Melbourne’s 2026 program.

When: From 6pm
Where: Next Wave
Free to attend

Take a tour of the final series of works being screened at Around the Block.

Featuring works by Lesley Wengembo and Pierra Van Sparkes at Blak Dot, Aarushi Chowdhury and ARTStop at Next Wave, Lily Houbert at Counihan Gallery, and Jack Hodges at Michelle Guglielmo Park.

When: From 6pm
Where: Next Wave
Free to attend

Blak Dot Gallery and Next Wave’s Around the Block programming is supported by Arts Merri-bek Flourish Arts Grants 2025–2026.

Around the Block is an evolution of Next Wave’s 2025 Winter Windows program.

Winter Windows 2025 featured local artists Axel Garay and Liwen Lian, who presented digital works responding to the theme Possible Worlds: Imagined Futures.