Exploits Valley Region, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Deadline: 31 January, 2011
About Art Ex: Art Ex is an annual multi‐day celebration of visual art which takes place in the Exploits Valley region of central Newfoundland, July 7‐10, 2011. Art Ex provides a unique venue for exhibitions, introductory and advanced workshops, panel discussions, artist talks, interactive art interventions, public artworks and collaborative community based art events. The activities occur concurrently in a number of municipalities within the region. The objective is to offer innovative and diverse experiences for all age groups and skill levels in a number of culturally and geographically diverse locations along the Exploits River watershed. Art Ex takes a thematic approach to each year’s event: this year’s theme is “River as Source”.
Artists are encouraged to consider the following when planning proposals for Art Ex:
- The river as “source” or “wellspring”
- Revitalization, renewal
- Human interaction with the natural environment/each other
- Concepts of memory/time/history
- The river as continuum: a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct
- Fragility/transience vs. Strength/permanence
- Specific historical events pertaining to the river/region
About the Region: Geographically, the region is defined by a river. Ostensibly dividing the island portion of the province in half, the Exploits River flows from its headwaters near the southwest corner of the island, 246 kilometers northeast to the sea, draining an area of 1,100 square kilometers. The Exploits is one of the largest rivers in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is truly a natural wonder, and is tied closely to the history of this place. It has provided refuge, transportation, power, and sustenance; it has been the lifeblood of the region from prehistory to present‐day. The River connects 19 communities from its headwaters at Red Indian Lake to the Bay of Exploits, which opens onto the North Atlantic. The geographic diversity of these locations should be explored and utilized when considering a proposal.
Submission Guidelines: Art Ex will be accepting submissions for the following activities for 2011:
1. Exhibitions ‐ Art Ex has one main gallery space of approximately 1300 square feet, with 1100 linear feet of wall space (for technical details and floor plan contact Robert Lodge 292‐4520). Artists are also actively encouraged to submit exhibition and activity proposals that take advantage of other natural and built environments throughout the region. Specify any special requirements or technical considerations in your detailed proposal. Other projects which can be accommodated include interactive art interventions, public artworks, collaborative community based art events,
environmentally sensitive installations, performance art, sculpture, interactive
projects or site specific work incorporating any number of disciplines.
2.Dinner & Art talk series (a venue for all manner of art talks and critical discourse)
3. Introductory and advanced art workshops (for arts professionals and/or the public)
4.Professional development opportunities for visual artists
5. Art on the Water ‐ Centered on the riverfront in Grand Falls‐Windsor, Art on the Water represents the highlight of the Art Ex activities, and invites artists to explore the cultural, historic, social and environmental legacy of the Exploits River. The event will facilitate the creation of, and provide a venue for, a series of temporary, floating public artworks that will attract visitors to the riverbanks and invite them to interact with the h the creations o environment througf the participating artists.
The concept behind Art on the Water is: by bringing art to the river’s edge viewers and artists will be asked to contextualize the human (creative) experience within the natural environment. Through these exchanges with their surroundings, artists, residents and visitors will come to a better understanding of complex historical relationships between the unique geography of the Exploits Valley region and its inhabitants, while gaining insight into the way all people interact with the physical environment.
These projects could include (but are not limited to) environmentally sensitive installation, performance art, sculpture, interactive projects, or site‐specific work incorporating any number of these disciplines. While anchored floating platforms and designated areas of the shore will provide the exhibition space for the artworks, artists are encouraged to consider the entire river and region as a whole when planning proposals for Art on the Water.
Submission Procedure: Submissions for Art Ex 2011 must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2011. Submissions are eviewed and evaluated by the Art Ex steering committee. If submitting more than one application, please forward separately. Art Ex does not accept email submssions.
Proposals will be selected based on consideration of the following criteria: artistic merit of the proposed project, thematic appropriateness, feasibility of the proposed project, and the ability of Art Ex to accommodate the project. CARFAC fees will be paid.
Submissions must include the following:
Detailed Proposal : clearly outline the work you are proposing; provide details about any special requirements. (including any equipment needed).
Artist Statement
Curriculum Vitae
Images/Support Material: 15‐20 JPEG images with name and title; image list detailing mand size. Video artists may submit a video no longer than 5 minutes.
Self addressed, stamped envelope with sufficient postage for return of support materials
Please mail submissions to:
Art Ex 2011 Submissions
Exploits Valley Econonic Development Corp.
5B Bayley Street
Grand Falls - Windsor, NL
Canada, A2A 2T5
Our website is currently under construction, for further information please call 709.489.8700 or email artex@exploitsvalley.nf.ca
