YAVA is thrilled to be able to move beyond the gallery walls and curate spaces in our partners’ venues. The third of our winery venues is Steels Gate. Throughout Spring we welcome you to enjoy the works of Savaad Felich and Christen Jo Stone.

Savaad, an experienced sculptor and curator with a four-decade-long career, began his artistic journey while working as a gardener at the Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne, evolving from chainsaw and chisel carving to a dynamic process of lamination, assemblage, and construction, often incorporating recycled materials, all while maintaining a mud brick studio in Toolangi and branching into 2D abstract art, particularly collage works.

Christen Jo, an accomplished artist, educator, and multi-media creator, has spent a lifetime immersed in diverse artistic endeavors, receiving numerous awards for her work, representing Australia internationally in basketry, and finding inspiration in the challenges posed by various materials, all while residing in the scenic Yarra Valley and operating from her Stringybark Studio.