Artists at the Table
An evening of art, Italian food and conversation.
Friday 27 November 2026 | From 5:30pm
Autumn Rooms, Darby Street, Newcastle
$300 per person | Limited seats

For the first time, Autumn Rooms opens after dark, welcoming Gabriella Kelly of A Tavola into our kitchen for an extraordinary evening of food, art and conversation.

Created exclusively for Darby After Dark, Artists at the Table brings together contemporary artists, a three-course Italian menu, matched wines and a dining space transformed by art.

At the centre of the evening is the table itself.
Sculptural ceramics by Jacquie Garcia will sit among softly draped linens, natural textures and warm, earthy tones, creating a dining installation inspired by the relationship between art, form and materiality.

Guests will dine in the company of artists Michelle Gearin and Peter Gardiner, with a conversation facilitated by Brontë Naylor. An opportunity to hear the stories behind their work, discover what informs their creative practices and share in the kind of conversation that rarely happens within a gallery.

In the kitchen, Gabriella draws on her Italian heritage and memories of gathering around her Nonna Giuseppina's table. For her, food has always been about bringing people together, and this evening is an extension of that philosophy.

Three courses, thoughtfully paired wines, art to experience up close and a table designed to bring strangers together.

Every guest will also take home a limited-edition printed tea towel by artist Holly Macdonald, created for the occasion.

The Menu
A three-course Italian menu by Gabriella Fioriti of A Tavola, exploring form, texture and transformation.

I. FORMA | To Shape
Barbabietola al Sale
Salt-baked beetroot, whipped goat's curd, pickled cherries, toasted hazelnuts and vincotto.
Served to share.

II. FUOCO | To Transform
Filetto di Manzo
Beef fillet, smoked potato crema, charred radicchio and salsa verde.

III. NATURA | To Create
Panna Cotta al Cioccolato Bianco
White chocolate panna cotta, poached peach, burnt honey and almond tuile.

The Artists
Michelle Gearin and Peter Gardiner
Two Newcastle artists join guests at the table for an intimate conversation about their work and creative lives, facilitated by Brontë Naylor.

Jacquie Garcia
Jacquie's sculptural ceramic works will form the centrepiece of the dining installation, bringing art into the experience of gathering and sharing a meal.

Holly Macdonald
Working across ceramics, drawing and installation, Holly explores relationships between objects, memory and place. Each guest will receive a limited-edition printed tea towel created for the evening.

Your Ticket Includes

• Welcome canapé and drink on arrival

• Exclusive three-course Italian dinner by A Tavola

• Matched wines

• Artist conversation with Michelle Gearin and Peter Gardiner, facilitated by Brontë Naylor

• An immersive dining installation featuring Jacquie Garcia's ceramics

• Limited-edition Holly Macdonald tea towel to take home

Join Us at the Table
Friday 27 November 2026
From 5:30pm
Autumn Rooms, Darby Street, Cooks Hill
$300 per person
One night only. Limited seats available.

BOOK YOUR SEAT
Presented as part of Darby After Dark's Spring program.

Booking Information
Due to the limited capacity and bespoke nature of this event, all ticket sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable for change of mind or inability to attend, except where required by Australian Consumer Law.

If you’re unable to attend, you may transfer your ticket to another guest by contacting Autumn Rooms before the event.

Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.