Lesley Harding

Kendrah Morgan

The impact of Mirka and Georges Mora on Australian art and food has been remarkable. Arriving in Melbourne in 1951 from Paris, they energised local society and transformed the culinary and artistic landscapes. Their apartment became a hub for the bohemian set, and their cafes and restaurants brimmed with sophisticated food, sexual intrigue and creative endeavours. Mirka's distinctive art, now collected by major galleries, was a vital part of this heady mix. Their eateries were magnets to the rich and famous, a who's who of the art world and those looking for a seriously good time. Mick Jagger was a customer. As were Bob Dylan, Barry Humphries, Jean Shrimpton, Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Maurice Chevalier and Graham Kennedy. Launched in the year of Mirka's 90th birthday, Mirka & Georges gloriously illustrates the Moras' extraordinary story, with the couple's classic French recipes, photographs from family albums and images from Mirka's studio by internationally renowned photographer Robyn Lea.

A Culinary Affair

Mirka and Georges

Much has been written about the lives and art of Heide, but finally the remaining members of the inner circle have entrusted the truth to be told through this intimate biography of John and Sunday Reed. Equal parts romance and tragedy, Modern Love explores the lives of these champions of successive generations of Australian artists and writers, whose works and personalities John and Sunday carefully curated to suit their artistic tastes and sexual passions. It is a story of rebellion against their privileged backgrounds and a bohemian existence marked by extraordinary achievements, intense heartbreak and enduring love, a remarkable partnership that changed all those who crossed the threshold into Heide and altered the course of art in Australia.

The Lives of John and Sunday Reed

Modern Love

Sunday Reed was a passionate cook and gardener, who believed in home-grown produce, seasonal cooking and a communal table. Sunday's Kitchen tells the story of food and living at the home of John and Sunday Reed, two of Australia's most significant art benefactors. Settling on the fifteen-acre property in 1935, the Reeds transformed it from a run-down dairy farm into a fertile creative space for artists such as Sidney Nolan, Albert Tucker, Joy Hester and Charles Blackman. Richly illustrated with art, photographs-many previously unpublished-and recipes from Sunday's personal collection, Sunday's Kitchen recreates Heide's compelling and complex story.

Kendrah Morgan

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