Credit: Work by Micah Eglinton-Woods
DEADLINE:
Sunday, September 17, 2017
EXHIBITION DATES:
November 16 –December 16, 2017
LOCATION:
Nave Gallery Annex, 53 Chester St, Somerville, MA
CURATED BY:
Boriana Kantcheva and Micah Eglinton-Woods
ABOUT:
The history of feminist art starting in the 1970’s up until now has been filled with controversy, turbulence, progress and backlashes against women, women’s art, and its place in art history. From today’s perspective the feminism of the 1970’s is often viewed as utopian, sometimes naïve and even exclusionary. The 1980’s brought a backlash against feminism and feminist art that can be felt even today. Feminist art cannot be easily categorized by male-dominated establishment and as such it is often ignored. A question emerges: What is feminist art? And more accurately what is feminist art today?
There is a long line of women who created feminist art – Judy Chicago, Faith Wildling, Ana Mendieta, Louise Bourgeois and many others. What made their art feminist and what is their legacy? Today we see resurgence in feminist art, an interest in its history and its connection to political and art activism. In the current political climate and its attack on women it begs us to reexamine feminist art and its role in the 21st century. Not all art created by women is feminist and not all feminist art is created by women. Therefore, we invite artists of all gender identities who identify their art as feminist to apply.
Themes of the female body and how it is viewed in today’s society and issues of reproductive rights are some of the themes that are constant in feminist art. How to these themes apply to non-binary bodies? How are the roles of women changing and why? How do we talk about the experiences of women as multi-dimensional human beings, and how are these experiences shaping female identities? What is the place of women in organized religions and are the Goddess traditions still alive and well? What is the place of women in today’s political culture? How are non-binary and trans bodies included and excluded from today’s feminist movement? How are issues like class, economics, race, disability, etc. represented in intersectional feminism? These are only some of the questions we hope to have answered by contemporary feminist artists.
All mediums accepted. Installation and performance work is strongly encouraged. The curators’ goal is to transform the gallery space into a space of interaction and community building.
PLEASE NOTE:
– Artwork may be from any discipline: drawing, painting, sculpture, performance, digital media, etc.
– If you are submitting digital media, please be prepared to provide your own equipment
– Accepted pieces should be delivered to the Nave Annex located in Davis Square (53 Chester St, Somerville, MA) ready to install
– Artwork must fit through a standard 32” door (or be able to be broken down to fit)
– Artists are responsible for cost of shipping work to and from the gallery
– The Nave Gallery will retain a 30% commission for work sold
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK:
– There is a $15 submission fee per artist, payable through Paypal. Paypal is available here. Please include “Restructured” in the note field
– A maximum of three pieces or concepts may be entered for consideration
– Please send up to three submissions to restructuredentries@gmail.com
– 2D and 3D works should be submitted as .jpeg images
– Each .jpeg should be 1200 pixels in the long dimension and named as “NAME_#.jpg” where # is the submission number and NAME is your last name
– Video works may be submitted via a link to youtube, vimeo, or a similar platform
– Installation and performance proposals should be no longer than two pages.Accompanying images or videos that further illustrate your idea are welcome
– Include an image list in your submission email, indicating submission number, title, size, process, and year
– Please include a one page (or less) artist statement or bio for use in printed materials
CALENDAR:
• Deadline for entries: Sunday, September 17, 2017
• Notification: Tuesday, October 3, 2017
• Artwork drop off: TBA
• Exhibition dates: November 16 –December 16, 2017
• Opening Reception: TBA
• Artist Talk: TBA
ABOUT THE CURATORS:
Boriana Kantcheva, originally from Bulgaria, has lived and worked in the Boston area for over 17 years. She has received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and an MFA from School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University joint degree Program. She has worked as an assistant teacher at the Carpenter Center for Visual and Environmental Studies in Cambridge where she has received several Harvard University Certificate of Distinction in teaching awards. She currently works as a gallery coordinator for Chandler Gallery at Maud Morgan Arts Center in Cambridge. Boriana is a member of Bromfield Gallery.
Micah Eglinton-Woods is a designer and aspiring curator. Micah graduated from Montserrat College of Art in 2007 with degrees in Illustration and Art History. Her curatorial practice focuses on socially engaged art. She sees the arts as a vehicle for positive change through the amplification of marginalized voices.
