Notes on a Transient Archive

22/11/2024

00:00

Notes on a Transient Archive

Artwork by Rachel Barbaresi

Notes on a Transient Archive: Rachel Barbaresi

Fusion Arts is proud to present Notes on a Transient Archive, a series of thought-provoking works by artist Rachel Barbaresi, exploring overlooked histories and the fragile nature of archival preservation.

Through her deeply personal and collaborative approach, Barbaresi sheds light on spaces and stories often excluded from institutional archives and civic records. Her work is centered on the ‘hyper-local,’ engaging closely with the Oxford community to foster long-term collaborations and highlight the importance of storytelling in preserving histories.

A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele and the Oxfordshire African Caribbean Community Archive

Barbaresi’s recent collaboration with Oxford Brookes University and the Oxfordshire Community Education Group (OCEG) focuses on expanding the Oxfordshire African Caribbean Community Archive. This vital project records oral histories and photographs from the local community, creating a rich legacy for future generations.

Barbaresi’s Wearable Archive series features ‘A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele,’ a symbol of the collaborative and social nature of archiving. Elders contributed to the cape’s creation, stitching care and community directly into the work. The cape will be revealed at the closing event of the Windrush Years Exhibition on 30th November at Fusion Arts.

‘No Records, No Map’ and the Legacies of Exclusion

Accompanying this is ‘No Records, No Map,’ a performative piece using fragments of maps and Oxford tourist ephemera to examine themes of exclusion, belonging, and the legacies of empire. This piece forms part of the Finding Our Way project, a TORCH-funded collaboration with academics from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes, exploring entangled histories and the ongoing impacts of colonialism.

An Inventory of Loss (Ongoing)

Barbaresi’s mixed-media work, ‘An Inventory of Loss,’ reflects on the challenges of preserving stories that lack institutional support. Using materials like stitched scrim, layered paper, and found objects, the piece meditates on time, memory, and the acts of care required to sustain community archives.

Exhibition Details

Imagery from Barbaresi’s wearable archive series and her creative process is currently displayed in the Hythe Bridge Street windows, viewable 24/7 (end date TBC).

The Windrush Years Exhibition, where A Cape for Dolcie Obhiozele will be presented, is open Thurs–Sat, 1–6 PM, at Fusion Arts, 15 Park End Street, Oxford, until 30th November.

About the Artist

Rachel Barbaresi studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, and Chelsea School of Arts, UAL. She is a Senior Lecturer on the Art & Design Foundation course at Oxford Brookes University and is pursuing a PhD. Her work has been exhibited at Modern Art Oxford, Cornerstone Arts, OVADA, and more. She is part of the collaborative duo barbaresi & round and recently collaborated with Euton Daley on the Finding Our Way project.

What's on

Browse upcoming events, exhibitions, workshops and classes at Fusion Arts and in the wider community.

GENDER, BODY, AND THE VISCERAL: Girlpane Visual Arts Exhibition
95 Gloucester Green 03.12.24

GENDER, BODY, AND THE VISCERAL: Girlpane Visual Arts Exhibition

GENDER, BODY, AND THE VISCERAL: Girlpane Visual Arts Exhibition
Notes on a Transient Archive
Windows on Hythe Bridge Street 22.11.24

Notes on a Transient Archive

Notes on a Transient Archive
Windrush Years: Portraits of a generation who rebuilt Britain
15 Park End Street 09.11.24

Windrush Years: Portraits of a generation who rebuilt Britain

Windrush Years: Portraits of a generation who rebuilt Britain
FOCUS window display
15 Park End Street 16.10.24

FOCUS window display

FOCUS window display
Story Makers Symposium: Collections of Hope
Oxford Museum of Natural History 11.12.24

Story Makers Symposium: Collections of Hope

Story Makers Symposium: Collections of Hope
Writing Food Memories & Culture
Oxford Quaker House 16.11.24

Writing Food Memories & Culture

Writing Food Memories & Culture
Oxford Writers Wheel x OCCAC: Writing Family
Caper Book Shop 02.11.24

Oxford Writers Wheel x OCCAC: Writing Family

Oxford Writers Wheel x OCCAC: Writing Family
Creative Multilingual Discovery Day
95 Gloucester Green 02.11.24

Creative Multilingual Discovery Day

Creative Multilingual Discovery Day
Ruskin Drawing Sale
95 Gloucester Green 30.11.24

Ruskin Drawing Sale

Ruskin Drawing Sale
Four Guys who Draw and Friends: Pop-up art & book sale
15 Park End Street 16.11.24

Four Guys who Draw and Friends: Pop-up art & book sale

Four Guys who Draw and Friends: Pop-up art & book sale
Ambient Receiver
95 Gloucester Green 08.11.24

Ambient Receiver

Ambient Receiver
Moses Bikishoni & The African Flags of Independence: Artist’s Talk and Q&A
95 Gloucester Green 04.11.24

Moses Bikishoni & The African Flags of Independence: Artist’s Talk and Q&A

Moses Bikishoni & The African Flags of Independence: Artist’s Talk and Q&A

Supporters of Fusion Arts

Oxford City Council Arts Council England National Lottery Funded Project Grant National Lottery Community Fund Oxfordshire Community Foundation Here for Culture Doris Field Charitable Trust BBC Children in Need Levelling Up South Oxfordshire District Council Christ Church College Jesus College