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Call to Northeast Ohio Artists
SPACELab is a laboratory created to help artists push and pull a concept until it materializes. By providing resources and instruction SPACELab not only acts as a venue for the display of process and projects but plays an active role in the conceptualization of art.
Each artist accepted to the SPACELab program will participate in a workshop and a solo exhibition that grows out of the workshop. This is an opportunity for younger, emerging artists to stretch their concepts and skills, or for more established artists to reexamine their practices and find new wellsprings and directions.
The elements of the SPACELab program are designed to allow for the development of truly experimental projects. The extensive commitment limits this program to artists living in the 14 counties of the NE Ohio region (Ashtabula, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Holmes, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, and Wayne). This restriction will ensure an affordable experience while creating new opportunities for artists in the region.
Eligibility for 2009/10 Exhibition Season
The SPACELab call-for-entries is open to all established or emerging artists, curators and cultural producers who are 21 years old or older and living in one of the 14 NE Ohio counties listed above. The main stipulation is that applicants be open to putting their concepts first and developing their process and methods through the concept. There are eight slots per exhibition season and will be selected in two, four-slot segments. Participants must remain residents of these counties for the duration of the program.
Deadlines
Applications are reviewed twice each year. To ensure applications are considered in a timely manner, please coordinate so your application arrives at SPACES by the posted deadlines on our website. These are not postmark deadlines.
Application Details
Each application must include: a completed application form, 250-word artist statement, 250-word SPACELab statement, one-page C.V., 10-15 still image work samples OR 2-3 two-minute segments of audio and/or video (or appropriate combination of images, video, audio and web-based work), work sample list, and application fee.
topApplication Form
Incomplete or inaccurately assembled applications will not be considered. If no SASE is included, notifications of acceptance or rejection will be sent via email. Please update your contact information if anything changes before you receive notification.
topArtist Statement
Each application should include a 250-word artist statement explaining the artist’s work and practice. Statements longer than 250 words will not be considered.
topSPACELab Statement
Another 250-word statement should be included that asserts specifically why the applicant is interested in the SPACELab program. Statements longer than 250 words will not be considered.
C.V.
Include a one-page C.V. listing the artist/curator’s birthdate (to verify that the applicant is 21 or older), education, significant exhibitions/events & bibliography.
WORK SAMPLES
Work samples should have been completed in the last two years. All submitted materials (CDs and DVDs) should be clearly labeled with the artist’s name and address.
- Images: 10-15 digital images should be submitted in JPG format, 72 dpi, no larger than 1MB each, burned to a CD-R. No DVDs or CD-RWs of still images will be accepted. Please do not submit images in PDF, Flash, PowerPoint, or Kodak picture format. Please label all images in the following format: number_artistslastname_title.jpg where “number” is in a two-digit format and refers to the order in which you wish the image to appear; “artistslastname” is the last name of the artist or name of the artist collective; and “title” is the title of the piece. All text should be lowercase with no spaces. Examples would look like this:
- 04_grosse_skrownorepap.jpg
- 09_guerrillagirls_dearestelibroad.jpg
- Make sure all CDs are readable on both Mac & PC.
- Video: Video should be submitted on a DVD as 2-3 segments of two minutes each. Please make sure material is Mac & PC compatible.
- Audio: Audio should be submitted on a CD-R as an audio CD, not a data CD, consisting of 2-3 tracks of two minutes each. Follow the filename format above.
- Web-Based: Web-based work should be submitted as a URL listed in the work sample list. Please only submit web-based projects if they have to live on the internet. A portfolio website that features audio/video art and still images doesn’t count.
- If you wish to submit work that includes multiple formats, you can calculate the appropriate amount of material to submit by using this equation:
- 2 minute audio/video clip = 1 website = 5 images
- Include a work sample list that corresponds to the submitted materials, indicating title, date, dimensions/duration, media corresponding file name and one explanatory note (if applicable) for each piece.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $10, payable to SPACES, is charged to cover handling and processing of applications. The fee must be submitted in the form of personal check or money order. Current SPACES members may apply for free. That’s right: free. If you are unsure of your current membership standing, please call SPACES.
topApplication Evaluation
Applications are evaluated by a rotating panel and the SPACELab Manager. In some instances, artists are invited to participate in the SPACELab program without submitting an application. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the review on the status of their application. Please do not call.
topApplicant's Responsibilities
Travel cost and all material costs are the responsibility of the applicant. SPACES expects SPACELab artists to participate in the workshop(s) and an exhibition, program or some type of culminating event as part of each program session.
Additional Information
Please visit www.SPACESgallery.org/apply/main before calling or emailing with questions. There you will find an extensive FAQ.
FAQ:
Q: So, wait. What exactly is SPACELab?
A: SPACELab is a workshop to encourage experimental processes that culminates in an exhibition or event, depending on the nature of the work produced.
Q: Will SPACES be staring over my shoulder the whole time?
A: Nope. After the workshop, The SPACELab Manager and SPACES Director will be available as resources. Artists can bounce ideas off of us, see if we have community connections that can help the artist realize their project, get feedback, etc.
Q: What does this do for me?
A: You will participate in an intensive art workshop at no cost to you. Since you will be in a "class" with three other SPACELab artists, you will get to meet and network with other local artists. You will gain more of a relationship with SPACES and its staff who will do what they can to help you further your career. You get an honorarium, exhibition and press. Sounds good to me.
Q: I have applied to SPACELab before, do I need to apply again?
A: Yes. Even if we retained your material for future consideration, we would like to see your more recent work. Also, this new application is an entirely different creature.
Q: I exhibited at SPACES in _____. Can I apply again?
A: Yes. Because of the nature of SPACELab, we assume the work you will create for SPACELab will be quite different in nature from the work exhibited at SPACES.
Q: I exhibited at SPACELab in _____. Can I apply again?
A: Give it a few years to let some other people enjoy the experience.
Q: You ask for digital images/audio/video of my work. If I won't be exhibiting any of that work, why am I sending it?
A: We just want to get a sense of your individual practice and weigh that in conjunction with your artist statement and SPACELab statement. We're looking for potential and a willingness to mix things up.
Q: I am a traditional landscape/figurative/still life painter/photographer/sculptor. Should I apply to exhibit in SPACELab?
A: You can, but you must realize that we will be asking you to alter your practice for the sake of experimentation. Our mission statement asserts our dedication to challenging, contemporary, experimental art. If you are not willing to take a different approach to thinking about and making art, we may not be a good fit.
Q: I am a traditional landscape/figurative/still life painter/photographer/sculptor but I make my work blindfolded/hanging upside down/some other schtick. Should I apply to exhibit at SPACES?
A: See previous answer.
Q: I am a landscape/figurative/still life painter/photographer/sculptor but I make my work as a examination of these histories and methods and my work is firmly based in contemporary theory. Should I apply to exhibit at SPACES?
A: Bring it on.
Q: In my artist statement, I really like to use phrases like, “My work is a de-contextualization of gender identities,” “My work fabricates a matrix that engages paradigms of beauty,” “Language as history,” “Body as text,” “My pieces function as the nexus of post-modern theories of consumerism and environment through the use of ephemeral materials that hint at the sublime.” Is that an appropriate way to talk about my work?
A: We have no problems with work that deals in those issues, but please find some other way of talking about it.
Q: It sounds like you’re not interested in older artists. Is that true?
A: That is patently false. We are interested in all artists, 21 and over, who are doing thoughtful experimental work. However, if you’ve ever sincerely used the phrases, “I will never alter my art practice,” “I can't wait for Murder She Wrote season 7 to come out on VHS,” or “Fiddlesticks,” you may want to reconsider applying.
Q: Will being a member of SPACES help my chances of getting an exhibition?
A: Nope. As a current SPACES' member, you can apply to our main programming and SPACELab for free, but it won't affect our decisions. We sincerely appreciate the support.
Q: What is dpi?
A: It stands for Dots per Inch and is often used synonymously with ppi or Pixels per Inch. It refers to the resolution of an image, or how many ink dots, or pixels appear inside one linear inch. The higher the dpi number, the more dots or pixels will appear resulting in higher resolution and a better picture. Most computer screens only handle 72 ppi, so anything higher than that creates larger file sizes without increasing the resolution.
Q: I don’t know how to format images/video/sound digitally for submission. What should I do?
A: Rely on the kindness of friends... and Google.*
Q: Digital images don’t do my work justice. Can I bring my work to the gallery for review?
A: Nope.
Q: What is a work sample list?
A: This is a list that the selection committee uses as a point of reference while viewing your work samples. A good work sample list includes the following information: artist’s name (usually listed at the top), filename, title, year, media, dimensions/duration and a brief explanatory note for each piece as needed. A good work sample list is easy to read and uses a legible typeface and font size. Keep in mind that these are often viewed in low-light situations and each image is up for only a short period of time. Overly verbose explanations of each piece will not be completely read before the image disappears from the screen.
Q: Should I send a contact sheet of my images for reference?
A: Please send only what we ask for.
Q: Should I send postcards/catalogs/reviews of my work along with my application?
A: Please refer to the previous answer.
Q: Can I drop off my application at SPACES in person.
A: Yes.
Q: Can I pay my entry fee online?
A: Not yet. Hopefully in the near future. And when I say “near,” I mean next year.
Q: When will I be notified of acceptance/rejection?
A: Reviews of work typically happen within a month of the deadline. We then have some clerical/boring things to do after that. Please don’t call or email SPACES to ask about the status of your application unless four months has passed beyond the initial deadline. If your work arrived after the deadline, we will keep the materials for the next review in six months. In that case, you’ll have to wait a longer time.
Q: Does SPACES have insurance that will cover my artwork?
A: Yes. The specifics can be discussed if your work is selected for exhibition.
*SPACES is not affiliated with, nor does it guarantee the services of any products or businesses mentioned herein.
SPACELab Committee
Jason ByersSerena Harragin
Michelle Murphy
Paul Sydorenko
Laura Vinnedge
Laila Voss