November Art Papers

Hosted five months after the big River 3 International Artists Workshop, GALVANIZE was a rejuvenating experience for CCA7. After coming to a close on Thursday the 2nd of November, Mario Lewis and his advisors held a Post-Mortem discussion in the InterAmericas space at CCA. We also welcome 4 new artists-in-residence to CCA this month. We also have open studios this coming Thursday for Chemi Rosado (Puerto Rico), and Tessa Alexander (Trinidad).

Call to all artists – please read about some opportunities that are being offered through our network.

• Conversations – a foreword
• International Artists-in-Residence
• Open Studios
• Education Programme
• Exhibitions
• Opportunities
• Network News
• Studios

• Conversations - A Foreword

Conversations – noun meaning ‘the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words.’

GALVANIZE, apart from the exhibition aspect of it, is in its entirety a conversation. An instigation to bring existing dialogues to the surface of visible culture in Trinidad. Faced with praise and with criticism, the remaining question always lies - was it worth the effort? A six-week programme including a exhibition of nine visual artists, performances, literary readings, symposiums. Running parallel to Carifesta and focusing on emerging artists.

The Post-Mortem talk focused on the past six-week programme, looking at the ways in which GALVANIZE could be re-assessed using critical public feedback to develop itself in the future. At the Post-Mortem for GALVANIZE, Chris Cozier used the word ‘conversations’ repeatedly, so much so, that the audience laughed with him everytime he said it ......again.

Laughter aside however, I want to stress the importance of this word ‘conversations’ in our contemporary space, where the dialogue is essential, more so now when the exhibitions are over. It is not surprising either that it needs to be repeated constantly. The success of an initiative such as GALVANIZE, relies heavily on its ability to spark interest in wider public spaces, invading stagnant attitudes towards art, and mobilising creativity. Creativity without boundaries of gallery walls, a need to sell work, or censorship of content. Hopefully there was an increased consciousness as these artists challenged pre-conceived notions of what Caribbean art should look like and feel like. That when they spoke others spoke back.

I agree totally that we need to break away from the idea of the ‘Master Artist,’ and to recognize that art can exist or manifest itself in simple spaces such as on abandoned walls in downtown Port of Spain or in pieces of bamboo erected at the Savannah. And the responses? They were good, great, bad, biased, objective, and interestingly there were acts of vandalism. The anonymous vandals of Akuzuru’s piece for instance, reflect the society, the cultural, public and artistic space the artist works within, and becomes part of the piece- the conversation. Even though it was negative, it was a response, and a response that will get responded to.

GALVANIZE aimed to initiate a ongoing ‘discussion’ and a forum for artists, supporters, critics, and the public, to truly listen and speak to each other through contemporary culture. Admittedly these same reactions ranged between overwhelming praise and sometimes outrage at such a venture. The misunderstandings still occurred. True, Galvanize only now beginning in 2006 had some loose ends that needed ironing. But in essence the conversation happened, and happened loudly. For a first run it happened damn well. Hopefully it still happens. The improvments will also be made. And these improvements are facilitated through the very conversations we are speaking about.

This was not about the exhibitions, the readings, the concerts, and the performances. It was about the artists, the writings, the musicians and the performers. It was about claiming a space and ‘livening it up.’ About daring to ‘do so.’ I hope the artists continue on their own to make more work, and I hope some people who have never before heard of the word ‘contemporary’ or thought of art outside the box of landscape, - critically thought about the work and are thinking of it still. I hope that more and more artists come together rather than divide themselves further.

Art is a process, not a product. And thinking has a lot to do with it. Conversations are discussions not dictatorships. I hope the conversations are more prominent now. And prominent on both sides. - J Lee Loy

• INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Chemi Rosado Seijo

- Artist Talk : 9th November 2006 from 6 30pm
- Open studio and talk for students: 16th November 2006 at 10am
- Open Studio: 16th November 2006 6 to 8pm.
Please see ‘Artist Talk Series’ for information on Chemi’s project

Celia Gonzalez Alvarez and Yunior Perdomo
Celia and Yunior are a young collaborative pair of artists from Havana, Cuba. Visiting as a shared residency, they are proposing a series of projects that are site-specific. Celia and Yunior will be physically mapping Tobago while virtually mapping Cuba. As they travel to different locations in Tobago they will book reservations to hotels in Cuba at specific points, simultaneously mapping the two islands. As Cuban nationals they will be denied access to these bookings, and through photography, taping, and documenatation they will record each incident of refusal.

We welcome Paul Fortin from Vancouver, Canada to an eight month residency at CCA. Paul has just landed and we will update you on his project soon. Also, we would like to mention that Xu Zhongmin from China will be joining us at CCA at the end of the month.


• OPEN STUDIOS

Faces of the Revolution: Open Studios by Tessa Alexander
Thursday 16th November 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Studio #3 daily 10am-2pm Monday - Saturday till November 30th.
Please call 745 6816 for after hour appointments

Chemi Rosado Seijo: Open Studios
Thursday 16th November 6:00pm – 8:30pm

Chemi Rosado Seijo will be hosting a Discussion of his work on November 9th at 6 30pm in the InterAmericas gallery at CCA, and an Open Studio event on November the 16th. Chemi is in Trinidad for eight weeks supported by HIVOS – a funding body based in the Netherlands. HIVOS will be supporting three visiting artists from Latin America and Asia to visit and develop their work in Trinidad for 2006.

Chemi is a site-specific artist who purposefully works with his immediate environment. Based at the Fernandes Industrial Compound where CCA is housed, he has incorporated found materials from the site for his new project. Steel drums generously donated by Natstar, and over 2000 bottle caps collected over the years will fill his studio in an unconventional setting, with sculptures that question the local culture. He has collected wood scraps from the surrounding factories and with this he is building a skateboard ramp in his studio. “Skateboarding is performance art to me” he says, and indeed it is, as he uses this practice as a form of ‘alternative awareness’, a different spin on urban planning, and a playful interjection into everyday architecture and spaces.

He rubs away at the stubborn edges of white walls, pristine floors, marking territory with common objects that hold subtle commentaries on the social and political situation of the space his work inhabits. His larger project whilst in Trinidad is the construction of a prototype for a vehicle that could aid street protests as an aspect of expression. This indoor/outdoor construct would resemble a ‘pan rack’ on wheels, which could be pushed through the streets with megaphones, that like its body, made from the steel drum. Chemi has taken the pan – a local icon that is widely recognized as part of Trinidadian culture, and the physical container for oil, and has transformed it into a public comment on culture, on economics, on the government.

Chemi is intrigued by galvanize sheeting, as a material widely used in Trinidad for shelter. GALVANIZE, the contemporary programme hosted by CCA has also left a mark on his consciousness, igniting a search for the new, and encouraging him to continue the programme’s initiative – its public voicing. Chemi will also be inserting temporary “shed spaces” in downtown Port of Spain by placing foam-padded sleeping cushions on the pavements, with mounted galvanize roofing.

Studios #4 – If you are interested in viewing this studio after the 16th please contact Jaime or Chemi at CCA.

• EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Drawing Master Class at CCA
Caribbean Contemporary Arts’ Education and Outreach Programme presents a drawing master class with esteemed artist Eddie Bowen. During the three intensive practice sessions, participants will explore issues and formal relationships in the drawn image using the human figure. The following elements will be addressed during sessions: line, tone, texture, volume, weight, mass, and space.

Dates: Wednesday 6th December,
Thursday 7th December, and
Friday 8th December.

Times: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost per Participant: $750

• EXHIBITIONS

Phil Coy's Portraits at City Projects
In the first in a new programme of exhibitions at City Projects’ gallery space, Portraits is a new series of paintings by Phil Coy, who took on a fellowship in Trinidad organised by Gasworks and CCA7 in 2004. Themes and concerns of the work in Portraits include the links between traditional genres of art and the new media, industrial and cultural processes of digitisation, and the efficacy of different forms of the artistic employment of serial production methods.
Dates: 3 Nov-10 Dec
For more information: http://www.cityprojects.org/

Chinese live art festival at CAC, Manchester
Chinese Arts Centre is hosting an international festival of Live Art in Manchester to raise awareness of the diverse, exciting and challenging work being made by artists of Chinese descent from across the world. The festival will be an opportunity to see new work, share ideas and meet key live artists.

The festival will contain Live Art performances, film screenings, and artists’ talks and presentations.
Dates: 2-5 Nov
More information: http://www.vitalfestival.org/index.html

Latin American Film Festival at Movietowne
The First Latin American Film Festival was launched last week at the Mexican Embassy. The event organised by the Latin American embassies with diplomatic accreditation to Trinidad and Tobago will showcase movies from nine Latin American countries from a range of categories including comedy, action, romance, and documentary. The festival will be held at Movie Towne from 9th to14th November, 2006 and admission is $15.

See http://movietowne.com/latin/index.htm for the movie schedules

Necessary Arts presents the 10th Cycle -EVOLUTION -
written and directed by Penelope Spencer

Evolution highlights the 'misconceptions and prejudices associated with HIV-AIDS by the youth of our society '. Staged mostly in a classroom, this story underscores the biases, discrimination, and ignorance whichcontribute to negative stigma surrounding this critical disease.

Central Bank Auditorium on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of November. Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm and Sunday Matinee at 6:30pm
Tickets are $80.00 and are now available at Necessary Arts, d orange building at #44 Dundonald Street, And at the Central Bank Box Office from Monday
November 20th .
For more ticket info or reservations call 627 8130


• OPPORTUNITIES

Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts
The Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts (MFA) was recently established through the World Premiere of 'Fresh Water' by choreographer Makeda Thomas at CCA7. The premiere was part of GALVANIZE, a series of arts programmes aimed at offering a collaborative, investigative platform for the development of Caribbean art.

The Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts was established by Makeda Thomas in honor of Thomas' late father, Hanson Malcolm. The Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts will support Trinidad artists and art projects that promote art as education and places culture in the middle of consciousness . All artists and projects (including, but not limited to the fine, performing and carnival arts) are automatically considered and there is a strong emphasis on the artist's impact on their local community. Fellows are selected through special invitation. The Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts comes with a $7,000 cash award and an endorsed Plaque of Recognition. The inaugural Malcolm Fellowship for the Arts will be awarded in November 2007.

Further information may be obtained by contacting MFA Coordinator via email: mgmtarts@gmail.com.


Radical Designs’ Exhibition for Charity – Open Call
‘Jeans Art’ - 2007

Radical Designs is launching ‘Jeans Art’- an exhibition for charity during Carnival 2007. Jeans Art is a new and exciting art project and exhibition opened to young and establish local contemporary artists. Jeans Art is an opportunity for everyone to experiment and create innovative ideas in any media to express artistic concepts on Radical Designs – 2007 limited edition denim jeans.

A maximum of twelve artists will be selected through a selection process. Artists’ selected for Jeans Art - 2007 will be provided with Radical Designs denim jeans to produce a work of art to be exhibited in a public space in Port-of-Spain, from Wednesday 10th February – March 14th, 2007. The work(s) on show are offered for sale, which a percentage will go to The School for Holistic Action for Young People’s Empowerment (SHAYPE) and the ‘Artists’.

Guidelines for Exhibition
Artists’ are responsible for the production and presentation of their work(s). This can take the form of painting, sculpture, performance, installation art, video, etc. Radical Designs will provide a contribution of ($500.00) to cover some art material costs. Additionally, Radical Designs will provide the location for the exhibition and the promotions of the event. Any artwork, which left unsold, will remain the property of the artists’.

Radical Designs retains the right to publish photographs and text(s) from the show for promotional material relating to the event. Such content will not be used in any other form, unless specifically authorized by the artist as in the case of a publication.

Application submission
Please provide a portfolio of examples of your work in the form of six images (photographs). We will not accept original work. Also provide a brief statement that describes you work and your process in general (300 words maximum).
All documents should be labelled with your name and contact information. Applications must be in Radical Designs Outlet, 3 Fredrick Street Port-of-Spain (Excellent Mall) by FRIDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2006 no later than 5:pm.

Notification: Will be posted on the GALVANIZE Blog site: www.projectgalvanize.blogspot.com on Tuesday 21 November 2006

Art Omi International Artist Residencies
Art Omi offers a three week Residency Program for visual artists in upstate New York in the month of July. Art Omi provides artists with a studio, living quarters and meals at no cost to the artist. Artists pay for their travel and art materials. Artists may apply for one of the Fellowships to help with costs for travel and art materials. Each year, a different critic-in-residence is on hand to lead discussions and make one-on-one studio visits.
For more information: http://www.artomi.org/

EAST International 07 call for entries
CLOSING DATE Friday 24 November 2006
Exhibition 14 July to 25 August 2007
Application available at www.norwichgallery.co.uk

Bridget Jones Travel Award: Call for applications

Arts researchers or practitioners living and working in the Caribbean are eligible to apply for the Bridget Jones Travel Award, the deadline for which is the 15th December 2006. The winner will receive a travel bursary of £650 plus full conference fees and accommodations and will present their work at the Society for Caribbean Studies Annual Conference, 4th-5th July 2007 at London Metropolitan University.
http://www.scsonline.freeserve.co.uk/carib.htm

Bag Factory residencies, Johannesburg: Call for applications

The residency programme at the Bag Factory is open to international artists from for a period of three months in downtown Johannesburg.
Deadline: ongoing
For more information : http://www.bagfactoryart.org.za/html/resident.htm




• NETWORK NEWS

big River 3 catalogue
After a long process of gathering text and working through the post-mortem of big River 3 hosted earlier this year, the catalogue is almost complete. Soon the writings from the fourteen artists will be published here.