Listen to the the Audio Tour here.
Zeitz MOCAA presents a solo show with the South African artist Senzeni Marasela. The exhibition traces significant themes in her practice, particularly in relation to the persona and alter ego of the artist, Theodorah. Inspired by, and in femage to her mother, Marasela has over the last sixteen years explored the role of black working women in South Africa, subjected to the devastating effects of migration, patriarchy, and apartheid. Through printmaking, drawing, performance, and mixed-media installations involving textiles and embroidery, Marasela’s work unpacks history, memory, and personal narrative, emphasising historical gaps and overlooked figures.
Here (VR dance film installation, South Africa, 10mins) Presented at: Immersive Africa Exhibition – A Collection of 360° Narratives Works by work by Nyasha Kadandara, Shelley Barry and Nirma Madhoo. Isivivana Center in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. 10-13 December 2019 Curated by Electric South
Presented at: In Frame – A 360 Film Exhibition 23 November 2019-11 January 2020 TMRW Gallery, Rosebank
Second Creativate Digital Arts Festival at the National Arts Festival Makhanda, 27 June to 7 July 2019 National Arts Festival 2019 #1, #2, #3
2010
An Evening With Shelley Barry
28 April 2010, New York University, 19 University Place, 1st Fl theater. Room 102. Part of the disTHIS! Film Series, a project of the Disabilities Network of NYC in association with the New York University Council for the Study of Disability, a monthly showcase of festival quality independent and international short, documentary and feature films with disability themes audiences are unlikely to see elsewhere. Film director Shelley Barry @ NYU, Sean Jacobs, Africasacrountry
2007
Umbilical Cord (rehearsal documentation) Presented at: eVokability: The Walking Project 14, 15, 16 June 2007 Dance Theatre Workshop Studio 219 West 19th Street, NYC 10011
22 & 23 June 2007 Spirit Wind Studio 213 New St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Selected Filmography (2004-)
2019
Here (VR dance film installation, South Africa, 10mins) Premiere at theTogether! 2019 Disability Film Festival, 6-8 December 2019 The Old Town Hall Stratford Broadway London E15 4BQ, IMDB
2018
Re:incarnation (video poetry) A woman longs for her lover she has spent lifetimes with.
Out of Reach (video poetry) The city is out of reach for people with disabilities.
Ink/Visible A writer contemplates how writing counters invisibility.
2014
Diaries of a Dissident Poet (shortened documentary feature) Tracing the story of Dr James Matthews who used poetry to fight against the struggle and save his own life. Selected and sold out: Encounters Documentary Film Festival.
2015
I’m not done yet (shortened documentary feature) A woman creates art in response to the news of terminal cancer. Sold out screenings at Artscape Theatre.
2013
Mr Shakes the passion to Live (shortened documentary feature) A story of disco, cancer, tik. And Jesus. Selected and sold out: Encounters Documentary Film Festival
Trailer: Mr Shakes – the passion to live
2011
Place of Grace (in collaboration with Gerard Samuel) The dance of love and betrayal. Funded by GIPCA, UCTScreened at UCT School of Dance
2007
Where we planted Trees The story of nostalgia for a house taken away during the group areas act in Port Elizabeth. Best Documentary: Diamond Screen film festival, Philadelphia
New York/New Brighton (short fiction) Two young girls across the oceans (Port Elizabeth and New York) dream of meeting Mandela and Yemaya.
2006
Cry Like the Loons (experimental documentary) A car accident transforms a holiday experience.
Str/oll (experimental documentary) A woman in a wheelchair explores the streets of Manhattan.
Umbilical Cord A revisioning of Frida Kahlo’s painting “What the water gave me”
2005
Retrato/Portrait (short fiction) Portraits from the life of a transwoman reflecting on her transition and her fractured relationship with her mother.
Inclinations (short fiction) Co-directed with Jen Simmons A writer faces blocks in writing and in love. Extensive screenings worldwide. Purchased by MTV in 2007 Selected as top 10 click list on MTV’s online film site.
Where are my Heels? (experimental documentary) A two year old girl in Puerto Rico takes over a party.
Pants? Skirt? Lipstick? Queer couples and their friends plot a night of fooling immigration for a green card, during the Presidency of George Bush. Selected for screening at The San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
2004
Whole A Trinity of Being (experimental documentary) (Pin Pricks + Voice/Over + Entry) A docu-poem about reclaiming life after trauma.
Best Film: Superfest: California Best Narrative Short: Philadelphia Festival of Independents Best Experimental Film: Breaking Barriers Festival: Moscow Best Experimental Film: Projections 2: Canada Spirit of Independence Award: Brooklyn (New York) International Disability Film Festival Jurors Citation Award: Black Maria Film Festival, New Jersey Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Pennsylvania Association of Graduate Schools Audre Lorde scholarship award for media production Television Acquisition: WYBE, DUTV (community tv stations USA) SABC, SA International festival screenings
Barry, Shelley (2013) Disability and desire: journey of a film-maker – life story. In: Ekine, Sokari (ed.) Queer African Reader. Nairobi, Dakar: Pambazuka Press.
Barry, Shelley (2011) The travelling poet. South Africa: British Council.
Barry, Shelley (2007) dipping inside elephantʼs eye. Presented at the 11th South African Womenʼs Arts Festival (SAWAF) 31 July – 12 August, The Playhouse, Durban.
Barry, Shelley, Deela Khan & Malika Ndlovu (eds.) (2003) Ink@ Boiling Point: A Selection of 21st Century Black Women’s Writing from the Southern Tip of Africa. Cape Town: WEAVE.
Barry, Shelley (2001) Strip. Surrender. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity. African Feminisms One. No. 50, 128-130. [download pdf here]
Barry, Shelly (1998). Changing attitudes: an overview of awareness raising about disability in South Africa. Media Officer, Office on the Status of Disabled Persons, The Presidency, The Republic of South Africa. Published in 2001 as: Changing attitudes: an overview of awareness raising about disability in South Africa. Disability World 9 [download pdf here].
