A Handmade Assembly
We invite Artists and Writers from across Canada and abroad to submit proposals for an upcoming publication exploring the theme of the Handmade.
Deadline for submissions: January 5, 2021
The origins of this publication are rooted in a long-running annual event hosted by Struts Gallery and the Owens Art Gallery that brought together artists, curators, and makers from the region and beyond to lead discussions, facilitate workshops, initiate projects, exhibit work, and share in a common thread—the handmade.
A Handmade Assembly originated in response to an increased interest in the handmade, deskilling, and DIY aesthetics that emerged in contemporary art practices near the beginning of the decade. The topic continues to appeal to artists exploring the extraordinary potential of craft processes, materials, and techniques, both for their capacity to speak directly and viscerally and for their political and historical potency.
For its tenth and final iteration, the long-running programme will be re-envisioned as an ambitious, bilingual book project that parlays nine years’ worth of inquiry into a comprehensive volume, with the goal of providing a multi-faceted view of the role of the handmade in contemporary art, while also extending these discussions to a new format.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Artists Projects in Print
Deadline: January 5, 2021
A Handmade Assembly has always encompassed a wide range of artistic practices and areas of research, including photography, performance, mending practices, food culture, collage, printmaking, flower arranging, and the intersection of new technologies with traditional craft approaches. We invite artists working in all disciplines to consider how the broad theme of the “handmade” might translate to a project on the printed page. Artists may document existing projects or produce new works. We encourage play within the format of the book, including handmade tactile elements, instructional works, creative writing, printed cut-outs, pull-out and tipped-in materials (bearing in mind cost, labour and edition size), etc.
Submission Format for Artists:
Please submit the following materials via WeTransfer to info@strutsgallery.ca with the subject heading: A Handmade Assembly
- One-page (max.) description of the proposed project and the themes addressed
- Up to 10 images of past work
- Descriptions for each image including: title, date, materials, dimensions, etc.
- A brief biography (250 words)
- A brief artist statement (250 words)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages), including contact information.
Artists will be paid fees consistent with the current CARFAC fee schedule. We encourage applications from IBPOC, LGBTQ2S+, disabled, and neuro-diverse artists.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Critical Texts, Essays, Interviews, Creative Writing, etc.
Deadline: January 5, 2021
A Handmade Assembly has dedicated nine years towards pushing back against dominant art narratives that marginalize craft practices and has worked to foster and support an appreciation of the myriad art forms encompassed by the term handmade. We invite writers to interpret the topic of the “handmade” broadly, with the aim of presenting a multi-faceted view of the role of the handmade in contemporary art. Writers are encouraged to propose critical, historical or interpretive essays, interviews, creative writings, and so forth that address the intersection of contemporary art and the handmade. Ideally, we are seeking texts ranging from 500 to 1000 words.
Submission Format for Writers:
Please submit the following materials via WeTransfer to info@strutsgallery.ca with the subject heading: A Handmade Assembly
- A brief one-page (max) proposal for an essay, interview or other text work
OR - A completed piece that has not been previously published (max. 1000 words);
- Two writing samples which demonstrate your style and interests;
- A brief biography of no more than 250 words;
- Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages), including contact information.
Writers will be paid $1.00/word for a word count of up to 1000. We encourage applications from IBPOC, LGBTQ2S+, disabled, and neuro-diverse writers.
A Handmade Assembly is made possible through support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.