This edition of Talking History @ Eureka is a little different. We sat down with Ballarat-based performer Marg Dobson to find out about her research into early women photographers as part of the development of her one-woman performance, ‘Picture Her’. This video will be made available for viewing on 6 October at 5.30pm.
‘Picture Her’ was first performed at the 2019 Ballarat International Foto Biennale and is set to be revived in February 2021 as part of the Photo21 Festival at the Footscray Community Arts Centre. https://footscrayarts.com/event/picture-her/
‘Picture Her’ has been a collaborative project between Marg Dobson and award-winning director, Maude Davey. Audiences are taken on a playful detective search for Australian women photographers, and, the true story of one unacknowledged artist. Delving into public records, newspaper archives and an exhibition of the printed negatives, the performance pieces together tall tales and true stories of photographer Daisy Harriet Llewelyn born in 1882. Through funny and surprising moments of audience interaction - being photographed, handling an original glass plate negative, making creative use of badminton rackets – the audience become Marg’s colleagues on her ‘research escapade’.
Marg is a warm and engaging storyteller and here shares her journey to reimagine the historical and tell a forgotten story. Marg will also discuss her motivation for developing this theatrical work and where she hopes to take this show next.
Talking History @ Eureka is a forum for the sharing of research into the history of the Ballarat region, with a special focus on the colonial period. Talks are held monthly from March to November on the first Tuesday of each month at 5.30pm.
Image: Dr Lisa Anderson ‘Marg Dobson Picture Her’ The continued development of Picture Her was made possible through funding by Regional Arts Victoria.
