The Distributed ExhibitionCall for Site-Specific Artwork
Artists’ Submission Guidelines
Artists participating in “The Distributed Exhibition” will have the opportunity to create a new site-specific artwork in a private residence or local business as part of an exhibition by the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. Artists should be interested in responding to the unique layout, architectural features, personal display, or social dynamics of the space.
“The Distributed Exhibition” asks: What might happen when artwork is created for a particular person, family, or living situation? What if private residences became display spaces? What if the occupants became gallerists? What if the viewers became guests? In order to view the works in the show, visitors must enter into a much more intimate situation than other art exhibition venues with a different social contract. The show crosses the boundaries between public and private, exploring an alternate mechanism for viewing and displaying art. It mixes the social context of a friend or trusted party invited into a personal space with the more distant relationship art consumer and gallerist or curator.
All participating artists will receive a stipend to cover materials and installation costs.
About the selection process:
Between ten to fifteen private homes or businesses in the neighborhoods directly surrounding the San Jose ICA will host the artwork in the exhibition. The resident or residents residing in each space will be responsible for curating the piece that goes into their house. Each host or host family will be presented with copies of all artists’ submissions, and from those portfolios, each will choose a different artist to work within their home. Sara Thacher and the San Jose ICA will facilitate this process.
What to send:
One CDR with your name, telephone number, and email clearly printed on the disc. Please include all of the following as digital files:
- Artist Statement: one paragraph (accepted formats: .txt .doc or .pdf)
- Exhibition Statement: one paragraph explaining why you are interested in this working within the context of the “Distributed Exhibition” and an explanation of ways in which you see you work fitting in this unique display environment. Works curated into the show will be site-specific in nature; you are not expected to propose a specific project. (accepted formats: .txt .doc or .pdf)
- Examples of previous work: up to twelve digital images 2100 pixels across on the widest dimension and/or up to ten minutes of video compressed for web viewing (this may be any number of separate clips totaling ten minutes, please save each individual piece as a separate file). File names should contain the title of the piece, underscore, and your first initial and last name. If you include multiple views or details of the same piece, please number each file. E.g.: goodart_jsmith.mov mygreatart1_jsmith.tif mygreatart2_jsmith.tif (accepted formats: .jpg .tif .mov .mp4)
- Slide list: Include the filename, full title of the work, medium, dimensions, duration (if time based), date and a short descriptive text if necessary to contextualize the piece.
Mail submissions to:
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
“The Distributed Exhibition”
560 South First Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Include a SASE if you would like your media returned.
Deadline for Submissions: must arrive at the San Jose ICA by 5:00 on February 1st, 2008. Submissions may be hand delivered.
Artists Notified: February 11th, 2008
Exhibition dates: March 28th to May 17th, 2008
Print this information as a PDF.
For more information:
Sara Thacher
Facilitator for “The Distributed Exhibition”
at the San Jose ICA
distributed_ex AT borro.ws
Susan O’Malley
Assistant Curator at the San Jose ICA
susan AT sjica.org