Archiving the Ephemeral, for the first time, brings together the completed bodies of work spanning over thirty years of performance artist Leisa Shelton’s practice at Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne, from 14 to 22 April 2023. The major outcome of Shelton’s residency at the multi-arts precinct, Archiving the Ephemeral provides an environment to reflect on the value and role of artists within our society, and the potential to create dialogue and action for the future.
Leisa Shelton, Mapping. Photograph: Alex Talamo. Courtesy the artist and Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne
Archiving the Ephemeral will bring together five major works, MAPPING, ARCHIVE, and SCRIBE, addendum, and Performing the Archive featuring artists Jill Orr and STELARC, into an exhibition, series of live performances, and opportunities for audiences to participate by adding to each archive. Each of these responsive works focuses on the need for greater visibility, recognition and honouring of hundreds of Australian experimental artists through the voices of the audience.
We are asked: How do we acknowledge and honour our elders within the arts? How are we creating visible linages of practice for emerging generations, and how are we enabling our artists to know they are valued within our Australian context? These are the starting points for a conversation between Shelton, Orr, STELARC, and academic Dr Anne Marsh. This art panel, scheduled for 18 April, will take place amid a collection of contemporary archiving works by Shelton made as active responses to these questions, and will consider Orr and STELARC’s live work within the exhibition, Performing the Archive, on 15, 16 and 22 April. Book online to join them and participate in this vital cultural conversation.
Live event program:
Archiving the Ephemeral exhibition
Display of five major works: ARCHIVE, MAPPING, SCRIBE, addendum; and Performing the Archive
14 to 22 April
Tues—Sun 10am to 4pm
Magdalen Laundry
Performing the Archive with Jill Orr and STELARC
15, 16 and 22 April
10am to 4pm
Magdalen Laundry
Mapping
Audience members can add to the publicly curated archive of the Australian artists that have had a seminal impact on us — building a national archive of significant Australian artists for future generations
14 to 22 April
Tues—Sun 2pm to 4pm
Magdalen Laundry
Scribe
Audience members can sit with a scribe and discuss their experience of the event
14 to 22 April
Tues—Sun 12pm to 4pm
Magdalen Laundry
Artist talk facilitated by Anne Marsh, featuring Leisa Shelton, Jill Orr and STELARC
18 April, 4pm to 5pm
Magdalen Laundry
