by Carole Epp | Apr 7, 2011 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
The 46th Annual NCECA Conference, “On the Edge”, will be held in Seattle, Washington at the Washington State Convention Center, March 28 – March 31, 2012. In conjunction with the conference, The Bellevue Arts Museum will host the 2012 NCECA Invitational “Push Play” from January 19 to June 17, 2012.
The NCECA Invitational is a themed, curated exhibition that features leading edge, large scale and often challenging ceramic art. Held in even-numbered years, a foundation group of works are selected by invitation; then additional artists are invited to submit images that support the theme for consideration. The submission process is open to all artists working in ceramics. This format brings established reputations and emerging talent to bear on the selected theme and adds vitality and fresh perspectives to an ongoing dialogue. A color catalogue documents the exhibition experience and contains artist statements, pertinent essays and color images of the art. The exhibition is curated and organized by NCECA Exhibitions Director, Linda Ganstrom.
Concept
The 2012 NCECA Invitational focuses on the importance of play as related to art and life.
Push Play
Want to play? Such an invitation offers the possibility of learning through pleasurable, focused activity. Associated with nature, physical interaction and props, play allows the participant the freedom to observe, respond, interact and react in ways not prescribed, although some rules still apply with consequences for those who don’t play fair. The stories that evolve from play, in their authenticity, act as triggers for personal fantasy, artistic imagining and creative problem solving. The open nature of play and playthings endows them with the power to help establish gender roles, identity, social status and career roles. Governed by a set of rules or boundaries, an outside force directs gaming or sports play. As technology interfaces with gaming, play offers virtual experience, regulated and safe, but still exciting. No longer relegated to the realm of childhood, games simulate realities ranging from war to spiritual quests while assigning players alternative identities and enhanced personalities. What are the benefits and costs of these various types of play? Is art play? Creativity lies at the heart of both art and play. When does play become art and how does skill figure into the mix? Artists often approach their work as highly focused play involving all their sentient faculties. Increasingly democratized by technology, art-making no longer requires the skills developed from material discipline. A movie can be filmed from a cell phone as evidenced by the 2010 Guggenheim and YouTube groundbreaking competition, “Play Biennial.” While everyone has potential as an artist, not all have the highly specialized skills to create artifacts with a marketable value. Where does ceramics fit in? Art making, particularly in clay, immerses the maker in sensual substance and offers an appealing alternative to technology and virtual reality play. The materials and processes of ceramics regulate the game. Whether intuitive or skillful, play in clay can be intensely engaging.
Sharing a neighborhood with the corporate offices of Nintendo and Microsoft, The Bellevue Arts Museum seems an appropriate place to investigate the question, “What is play today?” NCECA and BAM encourage artists to create works that “Push Play” up their 30 foot lobby walls to reach the gallery floors, weather the winter and spring outdoors, invite physical interaction and employ play as the subject of their art. Filling most of the second floor of the Bellevue Arts Museum, “Push Play” has room for large as well as more traditional format works. Art is serious business, so too is play. This exhibition seeks to encourage artists to move into a realm where play and its connections to art, technology, individuality and community are investigated and celebrated, while stimulating thought and provoking conversation regarding the relevance of play in contemporary life. Ceramics is the perfect medium to “Push Play.”
Linda Ganstrom, Curator Eligibility
This exhibition is open to any artist whose works incorporate primarily ceramic materials and processes. NCECA Members pay a discounted submission fee. If you are not sure whether you have a current membership in NCECA contact: [email protected]
Media & Limitations
All works must be primarily ceramic or unfired clay. Mixed media works will be accepted only if ceramic materials are the primary media, although video documentation of projects involving ceramics are encouraged. The curator will make final determinations. Large scale work can be accommodated. Floor works must be firmly stable. Wall-mounted pieces are limited to 20 lbs per section. Works may be hung from the ceiling in specific places. Work must have been produced within the last five years and not have been shown in previous NCECA exhibitions, Bellevue Arts Museum or the greater Seattle area. Calendar
Detailed information and Online Submittal form: Available Jan.12, 2011
Online Submittal deadline: July 5, 2011 (midnight EST)
Acceptance notification: August 1, 2011
Contracts and Statements due: August 15, 2011
Delivery of accepted work: Before December 19, 2011
Installation: December 20 – January 18, 2012
Exhibition dates: January 19, 2012 –June 17, 2012
Return of work: After June 17, 2012
For all the details visit their site here.
by Carole Epp | Apr 7, 2011 | Uncategorized
The following is via Designboom
our friends at hong kong-based architectural firm map office are sending out a call to bring attention to the disappearance of contemporary chinese artist ai weiwei. last sunday, april 3rd, 2011, ai weiwei and his friend wan tao were stopped and detained by police authorities, from boarding a flight from beijing airport. they were then escorted away
since then, there has been no word as to their whereabouts until now. a statement was released this afternoon from a state-run global times newspaper breaking china’s media silence on the situation, stating that ai weiwei has no respect for the laws of his country, and that he is on the verge of pushing the limits of legal tolerance. for this, ai weiwei’s behaviour will be evaluated and he will pay a price for his actions.
the artist is best known for his political activism revolving around the earthquake that hit china’s sichuan province in 2008. since then he has faced physical abuse from authorities, his new studio was recently demolished and his name and work has been censored throughout china among other events and incidents.
you may read more about the detainment of ai weiwei by jerome cohen here.
ai weiwei’s work ‘sunflower seeds‘ is currently on show at the tate modern in london.
in may his ‘cirlce of animals / zodiac heads‘ world tour will begin in the grand army play near central park in new york.
*** Update thanks to Lori Buff:
A petition has been started to ask congress to request Weiwei’s release. To see and sign the petion, click here: http://www.change.org/petitions/free-chinese-artistactivist-ai-weiwei?share_id=irQHuRxLko&pe=pce
It’ll just take a minute!
Once you’re done, please ask your friends to sign the petition as well. Grassroots movements succeed because people like you are willing to spread the word!
by Carole Epp | Apr 6, 2011 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
**Overseas deadline June 8th 2011**
Since its debut in 1999. Cheongju International Craft Biennale(CICB) has biennially extended the horizon of Craft from “Hands of Harmony”, “The Breath of Nature”, “Use”, “Temptation”, “Creative Evolution”, “Deeply and slowly” through “Outside the Box” as themes. through as themes. Even though CICB has brought about an innovation and change in craft world. Concerns have been expressed. One of them was the surplus of artistry.
There was a request we need to meditate on the lesson craft have two pillars: usefulness(necessity) and artistry(beauty). So we CICB will try to re-read the usefulness as an essence of craft based on the truth, ‘craft in a daily lift here and now’. That is why CICB suggests as its theme. This theme includes an aesthetic usefulness beyond the implemental usefulness.
Kindly expected deep and diverse craft-interpretations on the theme will be shown through this “The 7th CHEONGJU International Craft Competition”.
Genre: All craft artwork projects demonstrating a creative and original vision Qulifications for Entry: All nationalities and genders are welcomed to apply. We accept both individual and group projects of 3 artists or fewer.
For all the details and dates to remember please visit their website here.
by Carole Epp | Mar 29, 2011 | Uncategorized
From their website:
“Interest in ceramics education is dwindling: our response is a national clay programme to ‘refire’ kilns in schools and inspire learners. About the programme
Firing Up is a new national programme of highlighting clay and ceramics. The initiative has been development by the Crafts Council through a steering committee of representatives from NALN, NSEAD, University of the Arts (London), Clayground Collective and Ofsted. The core elements have been designed to:
1. Raise awareness of the importance of clay in our everyday lives and in world cultures;
2. Support schools in using this medium creatively and confidently, and in optimising its educational value for students and creating sustainable local links;
3. Showcase and exhibit the work of young people; and
4. Demonstrate the links between clay-work and the wider creative industry sector showing that working in ceramics is a viable career choice.
The programme uses a ‘cluster’ format that will be constructed around the ceramics departments within partner Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Each regional cluster will consist of one HEI who will supply a ceramics ‘ambassador’ (usually the ceramics course leader), a technician and up to ten students, and five secondary schools.
It includes the following core elements:
• ‘Kiln Rehab’ – the rejuvenation of clay facilities in participant schools, supported by the expertise of ceramic –specialist staff from partner HEIs.
• ‘Clay Skills Training’ – twilight CPD for cluster teachers to build confidence and expertise using clay in the classroom.
• ‘Project Clay’ – an innovative creative workshop programme designed by Clayground Collective and delivered by local practitioners to enthuse and inspire the school community through a collaborative project.
Each phase of the programme has been carefully designed to support and inspire schools in using this magical material confidently and creatively with their pupils, in as broad a way as possible. In particular, we hope that through the building of sustainable relationships with HEIs and local schools, as ‘critical friends’, schools will feel inspired to take risks and enlarge upon the scope of the medium in a cross-curricular dimension as part of a creative curriculum.
Firing Up is generously supported by a 3 year grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.”Please visit the UK Craft Council’s website for more info.
by Carole Epp | Mar 26, 2011 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
Deadline: All Applications must be received by JUL 15th
Lillstreet Art Center announces their 4th Annual International Ceramic Exhibition call for entries. They are accepting applications for all functional vessels and vessels referencing function that pay special attention to surface treatment. The exhibition will run from August 26th – September 18th, 2011.
Website: http://www.lillstreet.com/call-for-entry
To apply, please submit a maximum of 3 images and a $35 application fee to: www.lillstreet.slideroom.com
Founded in 1975, Lillstreet Art Center is a large community of artists and students working side-by-side in a friendly environment which encourages and inspires artistic growth in the individual. Lillstreet Art Center supports the arts through an artist residency program, gallery, studio space, education, and an outreach program. Lillstreet Art Center is located in Chicago, Illinois.
