call for artists
When Brains Collide
Posted on 5/23/13 by Jen Urso » 3 Comments
Many artists spend an inordinate amount of time thinking when, really, they want to change the world. They are something like maniacal world leaders but without all the guns, killing and domination. They are sketching, writing, researching, reading, watching, futzing. As mentioned a few weeks ago, this time alone to brood and develop can be incredibly useful and productive. But, sometimes, at some point, an artist might come to a point where she’s stuck and doesn’t know how to move ahead.
Putting our heads together to conquer the world with art.
A good, complex work doesn’t usually get there by coming up with an initial idea and immediately executing it. You can’t say you came up with an invention by just talking about it. You have to actually go through the process of making the thing. In order to avoid artwork becoming gimmicky or only concepts that you throw around at a party after a few drinks, a little more work is involved.
There are a lot of these ideas that float around the community—a lot of “what ifs.” But “what if” these ideas and projects began to take form and “what if” there was a source someone could go to get out of a rut, hear some suggestions and be encouraged to move on to the next stage?
Enough Talk, More Action
I’d like to propose a series of discussion/brainstorming sessions for the downtown Phoenix area. It’s been my experience that sometimes, people just need a little push. This could be by sitting back and letting someone talk out an idea or by bombarding them with questions. Call it a selfish act but I like to see interesting things happening around me. I like being part of them. I like to think and help others work out ideas.
Each month topics will rotate from something like text-based works to art using technology to creative computer hacking to new approaches with sculptural materials. People interested in participating will sign up or congregate via a website and then be prepared to talk for five minutes in front of a group about the project. The focus of the meet-up is to talk more about the work and less about ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the area, an undergrad at ASU or an experienced artist with national exposure—the point of the group is to use the collective power of each other’s brains to come up with a solution or suggestion on where to take the work next.
Think of this less as social networking and more as project developing. There are plenty of outlets in Phoenix for social meet-ups of like-mindeds. The art openings on First and Third Fridays end up being a place where artists and other creative people can mix and relax but when can we sit down and discuss the details and the ugly truth of actually making a work possible? Somehow, maybe, we’re holding back.
This can be a venue to voice new work that an artist isn’t so sure about—something that functions outside a comfort zone. Artists who usually work in paint but have been toying around with the idea of a web-based project could come to a meeting and solicit suggestions from others who regularly and fluently work with the web.
Meetings would stay on track with a moderator to make sure that everyone can be heard and no one monopolizes the time (we know how artists like to talk). Guest artists, curators and writers will be invited to participate in the discussion in an effort to bring in an outside voice with a different perspective. The direction of the conversation would be constructive, direct and candid. Be prepared for someone to cry. I’ve seen it happen before… or perhaps I was the one doing the crying.
If this sounds like something you’d like to participate in some time in the near future or if you feel that a meeting like this will help push creation in Phoenix to a new level, please “like” this article, use the comments section here to voice your support or email me at jen@dphxj.com.
Some name suggestions for the group: Clash of the Artists, What Happens When Brains Collide (WHWBC), P-Art-Y (you decide what the P and Y stand for), We Make Artists Cry, Combustion, ThinkAct.
Call for Artists | Limits
Posted on 12/03/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Call for Artists: Limits
Deadline: January 1, 2013
Notification by: January 15, 2013
Contact: limitexhibit@gmail.com
Location: Bragg’s Pie Factory, Phoenix, AZ
Date: April 2013
Seeking artists who impose restrictions on themselves or others or who choose to continually test and push boundaries conceptually and physically in their work. Like the first polar explorers, ultra-marathoners or Guinness record-breakers, individuals who choose to question boundaries or limitations open themselves up to a risk that many aren’t willing to take, especially now in a culture that is becoming more regulated and monitored due to a heightened sense of fear.
NO limits.
This exhibit will highlight artists who share an adventurous attitude but who, more specifically, feel compelled to test their own limits, the limits of the system they function within or who intentionally impose restrictions on themselves or their participants. Of particular interest are artists using performance, interventions or works that inherently test systems like using the architecture of the internet against itself or functioning on the brink of what is socially acceptable or legal.
This exhibit will be housed in an art space but include relics or documentation of site-specific works created throughout the city and other locations as well as instructional pieces and other ways to engage the audience within the space. Artist does not need to be on-site for the exhibit if their work is instructional, video or has relatively simple set-up. Possible entries/proposals could include but are not limited to: video, projection, intervention, performance, web-based, ephemeral, instructional.
Exhibit will run for one month at the historic Braggs Pie Factory in the Grand Avenue district of Phoenix, AZ. Call to artists is open to any U.S. artist.
Submit for consideration:
- 5-10 images in jpeg format (keep each image under 500K)
- Resume (2 pages max)
- Statement or Proposal
Email to: limitexhibit@gmail.com
Direct questions to Jen Urso at the above email address.
About the curator:
Jen Urso is a multi-disciplinary artist who has curated group and solo exhibits at locations such as the Icehouse, eye lounge and First Backyard. She has exhibited her own work in Arizona, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro and published her book the things in between in conjunction with a solo exhibit at Modified Arts in 2011. Jen has been a proponent of the Phoenix arts community for years and looks forward to involving and exhibiting artists from around the country. (She also is a DPJ contributor.)
Call for Artists | Art Detour 25
Posted on 11/30/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
DPJ’s Wire series delivers news and information straight from the source without translation.
Artlink Phoenix seeks an original artwork or artworks for Art Detour 25. The work will be used in a designed format as the basis for the Art Detour 25 poster, postcard and other marketing materials.
This artwork should:
- Create excitement and interest for the community
- Potentially (but not necessarily) honor and commemorate the history of Art Detour.
- Celebrate the artistic community in the downtown Phoenix area.
- Inspire people to remember the past, and to appreciate the cultural legacy that belongs to them and to future generations
The artwork (s) must be a flat work in any medium – but will be represented digitally in all paper and electronic collateral. The original piece will be displayed during Art Detour 25 at the A.E. England gallery. The size of original piece does not matter – it will be represented as a poster, postcard and online in various sizes.
Art Detour 24 art by Jenny Ignaszewski.
The artist may be asked to work with designers to help format the poster, etc. The original artwork will remain the property of the artist.
Eligibility: Any artist currently living and working in Arizona.
Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2012
Digital representations must reach the Artlink board via email or flash drive. The work will be chosen and the announcement made on December 31, 2012.
The Artlink board reserves the right to change the project timeline.
How to Apply
Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following:
- A digital representation of the piece. No larger than 1 MB. This should be a JPG, TIFF. PDF or PNG file. Submission files will not be returned.
- A note with current contact info.
- A maximum of three works.
- Titles, dates of completion, materials used in the original work, any other background information deemed necessary.
Please submit all materials to: nancy@artlinkphoenix.com
Call for Artists | Phoenix Public Library
Posted on 9/05/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Photo courtesy of Phoenix Public Library
Burton Barr Central Library is seeking submissions from artists for exhibition in 2013 in its @Central Gallery, located on the first floor at 1221 N. Central Ave. Proposals will be accepted from artists residing in Arizona, 18 years or older, and not currently represented by a gallery.
Artists may submit up to 10 images on CD following the prospectus instructions. Works previously exhibited in @Central Gallery and artists who have had a solo exhibition at the library in the past two years are not eligible for consideration.
The submission fee is $15. Submissions must be postmarked or hand-delivered by Wednesday, Oct. 10.
For a prospectus and submission form, visit phoenixpubliclibrary.org or send an e-mail to centralgallery.lib@phoenix.gov.
Phoenix Public Library is a system of 16 branch libraries and the Burton Barr Central Library. For more information, call 602-262-4636 or visit phoenixpubliclibrary.org. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/phxlibrary.
Call for Artists | Seventh Avenue Merchants Association Seeks Banner Designs
Posted on 7/24/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
The Seventh Avenue Merchants Association (SAMA) is seeking design submissions for new street banners. Currently there are 42 light pole banners that line the Melrose District (7th Ave from Camelback to Indian School Road). SAMA is seeking to have those banners updated and replaced with three different designs reflecting the themes: shopping, dining and services.
Details of submission:
Banners are 26 inches wide by 64 inches tall. Designs must be in full color and contain the SAMA branding in a visible and prominent way. Designer must submit graphics for all three themes (shopping, dining and services). Designs will leave a 26 inch wide by 15 inch tall blank space at the bottom of each banner for banner sponsor information. This blank space can coordinate in color and feel with the overall design. All submissions must be in either .pdf or .ai format and must be print ready. Design must submitted by Wednesday August 22, 2012. The winning design will be announced Friday August 31, 2012.
Please email all submissions to m7news@cox.net with “2012 banner designs” in the subject line.
For more information please contact Meghan Olesen at 480.703.2620 or email lucky15creative@cox.net.
