Syndicate: CALL FOR L/G/B/T artists: "TROUBLING CUSTOMS"

[Tapio MŠkelŠ <tapio@projekt.net> (by way of Andreas Broeckmann)]

Please consider participating in "TROUBLING CUSTOMS" and pass the word to
anyone who might be interested. Thanks.

***LAST CALL***

CALL FOR ENTRIES
"TROUBLING CUSTOMS"

The Gay and Lesbian Caucus, an affiliated society of the College Art
Association, invites L/G/B/T artists to submit art work for "Troubling
Customs," an art exhibit to be held at the Gallery of the Ontario College
of Art and Design (OCAD) in conjunction with the 1998 CAA annual meeting in
Toronto, in February 1998, and then shown at a site in the U.S. following
the conference.  No fee will be charged and no payment will be made for
participation.  All participants will receive a document of the exhibition
that will be produced at the conclusion of the second show.

We title the show "Troubling Customs" for several reasons.  First, we refer
to geographic and political entities known as nations or states - going
through customs. Second, we refer to the habits, practices, and rituals
that are characteristic of cultures, subcultures, and other groupings of
people.

Some possible topics for work include:

*ways in which national and geopolitical borders have been maintained,
policed, and transgressed - and how ethnicity, "race," sexuality, gender,
religion, language, and economics have been marshalled to do  so.

*ways in which people have wanted borders to protect distinctions and
preserve difference.

*queer customs that seem to originate in queer communities, and queer
practices, revisions, and views of customs that are often identified as
"straight," such as marriage, family reunions, the prom.

*gender, transgender, transsexual, and two-spirit border crossings (and not
crossings).

*colonialism, imperialism, censorship, sex, money, war, germ theories,
alien bodies, and other issues that  affect customs in both senses of the
term.

"Troubling Customs" has a third point of reference: the trouble frequently
involved in getting art work across national borders, for reasons ranging
>from content to commerce.  Because the art work in this show will be
displayed in both Canada and the U.S., it will cross national borders.  We
ask artists to recognize the risk of destruction or confiscation that
accompanies the transport of visual material across borders and to document
the work fully.  (Artists should note that the Caucus, the College Art
Association, the exhibit's organizers, OCAD and the US gallery cannot be
held responsible for the preservation or exhibition of the work and none
can provide insurance for either transit or exhibition.)  Given the risks,
and the theme/intent of the exhibition, we suggest submitting art work that
exists in multiples such as prints, photos, reproductions, posters, and
postcards.  All work will be mounted on the wall and should arrive "ready
to hang."  There are no specific size limitations; however, since we would
like to include many artists we ask that you keep the gallery's limited
size in mind.  Please note, too, that we cannot accommodate work that
requires audio-visual equipment.

In response to legal issues related to censorship and obscenity law, the
show will be curated based on artistic merit.  As legal issues are the
stimulus for the introduction of curation (in contrast to previous Caucus
shows which were open calls), we will use criteria for artistic merit based
on the guidelines recognized in Canadian case law.  Such criteria may
include: sincerity of purpose, artistic intention, technical merit and/or
the potential to provide something of value to the viewer.  (Not all work
submitted, then, will necessarily be shown.)

The show will be curated by Caucus members Cyndra MacDowall, Lecturer in
photography, McGill University and University of Toronto/Sheridan College;
Sallie McCorkle, Associate Professor of Visual Arts, Penn State University;
and Erica Rand, Associate Professor of Art History, Bates College.

Gay And Lesbian Caucus Organizing Committee: Harmony Hammond, Cyndra
MacDowall, Sallie McCorkle, Mary Patten, Erica Rand, Robert Repinski.

*************

"TROUBLING CUSTOMS"
SPECIFICATIONS and ENTRY FORM (print this and submit with your work)

Canadian  Exhibition:  February 11 - 28, 1998 (reception: Thursday,
February 26, 7-9 pm)
The Gallery, Ontario College of Art and Design, 100 McCaul Street (gallery
is across the street from this address), Toronto, Ontario

U.S. Exhibition:  June 15 - June 30, 1998
The Katherine Lane Weems Center, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, 230
The Fenway, Boston, MA

************

Eligibility:  All L/G/B/T artists are invited to participate.

Specifications:

Given the risks and the theme/intent of the exhibition, we suggest
submitting art work that exists in multiples such as  prints, photos,
reproductions, posters, and postcards.

All work will be mounted on the wall and should arrive "ready to hang."
There are no specific size limitations; however, since we would like to
include many artists we ask that you keep the gallery's limited size in
mind.

Please note: we cannot accommodate work that requires audio-visual equipment.

Insurance:  Artist's responsibility, if desired.

*************

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:  Work should be sent to arrive between January 5
- 30, 1998.

IMPORTANT  NOTE:  An important aspect of this show is the transportation of
the art work across the US/Canada border.  Please follow the instructions
below carefully.

IF YOU ARE IN CANADA, SEND WORK TO:  "Troubling Customs," OCAD Gallery, c/o
100 McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario   M5T 1W1

IF YOU ARE IN THE U.S., SEND WORK TO:  Sallie McCorkle, 210 Patterson
Bldg., Penn State University, University Park, PA  16802

IF YOU ARE ANYWHERE ELSE:  Pick either location.

****************************Cut Here*****************************************

ENTRY FORM (submit with your work)

Name:



Address:



Phone(s):


I understand that no work in these exhibitions will be for sale and that
return of my work is not guaranteed.

YOUR SIGNATURE:

If you include an SASE, we will return your work, if possible.

****************************Cut Here*****************************************


For more information:

Erica Rand 207/786-6453 <erand@bates.edu> or Cyndra MacDowal
<cynmac@interlog.com>.
____________

Invitation to join the Gay and Lesbian Caucus of the College Art
Association:   While participation in "Troubling Customs" does not require
CAA/Caucus membership, we take this opportunity to invite you to become a
member. (No e-mail responses, please.  Print the form and send in as
directed)


Gay and Lesbian Caucus
An Affiliated Society of the College Art Association


Name:

Affiliation:

Address:



Phone (include area code):

E-Mail:

Fax:


The Caucus produces a Membership Directory.  Please let us know if you want
to be listed (circle one).         yes             no


I am an (circle one):

        Artist                  Art Historian           Other (please specify)


I am a (circle one):            New Member                      Renewing Member



Suggested Annual Dues:  $25 employed    $5 student/un(der)employed

Make checks to GLC and mail to:  Jonathan Weinberg, c/o History of Art,
Yale University, P.O. Box 208272, New Haven, CT  06520-8272

For CAA membership information:  212/691-1051

Mary Patten <mpatte@artic.edu>

Tapio MÅ kelÅ 
writer, critic, researcher, procuder, X
Projektnet Ab Senior Project Manager <tapio@projekt.net>
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