Trap\door Artist-Run Centre Call for Submissions – Gushul Studio & Collaboration Project 2012

Information: http://www.uleth.ca/finearts/departments/art/gushul-residency-programs

DEADLINE EXTENDED – February 29, 2012

Trap\door is announcing the seventh annual Gushul Studio Residency and Collaboration Project. We seek proposals from emerging visual artists working in any media.

The residency seeks to combine the skills, knowledge, histories and varied approaches of two emerging visual artists. At least one artist will be chosen from within Alberta. The other artist will be chosen from outside Alberta.

Artists will be chosen based on the strength and merit of their ongoing production as well as their collaborative abilities. Artists can apply individually and be paired with another artist or they may apply as a team. The two will do a residency together at the University of Lethbridge’s Gushul Studio. One goal of Trap\door artist-run centre is to help visual artists develop their practice by providing opportunities for creative research and exploration. We see the promotion of emerging artists as a vital role for our organization and an important contribution to the cultural richness of our community.

The Gushul is located in the scenic Crowsnest Pass in the town of Blairmore, Alberta. Trap\door chose the Gushul as the location for this residency because it is designed to accommodate two working artists and has been successfully utilized for two decades by professional artists and writers from across Canada, the United States, and Europe. It is an exceptional space which meets the requirements of the project and has the added extra incentive of allowing artists-in-residence to interact with and contribute to the vitality of the Crowsnest Pass community. Trap\door has scheduled the Gushul Studio for July, 2012.

Trap\door will arrange and advertise an open house during which members of the community can visit the artists in residence. In addition, we will publish a full-colour brochure featuring written and visual documentation of the project.

Trap\door believes strongly in providing adequate funding for participants. We will cover the rental costs of the Gushul studio and writer’s cottage as well as provide a living stipend and a $750 artist’s fee for each artist.

To apply, please submit the following:

CV (max 2 pages)
Artist Statement (please limit to 250 words)
Statement of Intent (500 words max.)
Up to 15 images (digital images, and/ or VHS or DVD documentation. max. 5 minutes duration)
Image list (artist’s name, title, date, medium, size)

For artists applying as a collaborative team, please include a maximum of 20 images (combined) and/or VHS or DVD documentation (max. 5 minutes), and ONE statement of intent along with a CV and an artist statement for each applicant. Please note that in the case of artist collaborators, one of the artists must be a current resident of Alberta.

Please mail printed applications to:

Trap\door Artist Run Centre
c/o 811 5 Avenue South,
Lethbridge, AB, T1J 0V2

Application Deadline: February 29th, 2012 (Applications must be received, not postmarked by this date.)
For more information on the Gushul Studio facilities, please visit: http://www.uleth.ca/finearts/departments/art/gushul-residency-programs

Marie-Lyne Quirion portfolio page

Trap\door artist-run centre is pleased to be hosting this year’s annual exhibition from October 17, 2011 to October 24, 2011. It features the exhibition and participatory art-works of Montreal based artist Marie-Lyne Quirion.

As a large segment of her work will be based on interacting with the Lethbridge public, we hope we can reach as many people to interact and participate with this exhibition. We will be featuring planned times and locations to meet and engage with Marie-Lyne (information will be on the website). We will be hosting an event, where we hope most people can attend. It will occur at the NAAG (255 12 C St. N) on Thursday evening, October 20t, from 7pm-11pm. There is also an exhibition of printed works which will be at the Blueprint Gallery (519 4 Ave S), and an online element which will exhibit, but also provide information for people to know what to expect when choosing to participate in her works. The website is www.controlloss.ca .

Following is her artist statement:

The artistic genre that particularly interests me within the field of photography is portraiture. My work focuses on the relationship of self-representation and the dual challenge of, on one hand, self-image projection, and on the other, the resulting perception. In our post-modern society where relations to others through social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are part of everyday life, we constantly define ourselves through image and self-image through excessive self-management. Challenging this idea of control is what interests me.

Because the model/viewer relationship occupies a crucial role in the decision-making process of how the model wants to be exposed and perceived through self-image, the status of this relationship plays a considerable role within the creative process of my work.

Most importantly, the photographic device acts as a social instrument. Within my work the camera creates an active dynamic between artist, model and viewer. Roles are not fixed, but fluid. The camera allows the freedom of active participation.

We hope you enjoy the show, we’re glad there’s now a reason to come to the site, there will be plenty of news and upcoming events posted on the trap\door homepage from now on. It’s a fact and 17 Bernadettes agree.///

For those that haven’t seen the blog that has been created by our Gushul artists, now is the best time to have a look back at their last 25 days. It’s been an awesome read, you can see the growth and development, as well as the ongoing spirit of collaboration these two have created. We at the trap\door couldn’t be more happy how this year’s residency has turned out.

A few of us were able to make it to the open house, and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. Strange how last year’s residency was in August, and the open house day was raining (snowing at the higher elevations); the end of September saw a temperature near 30 degrees above! During our visit, we were able to meet a few Crowsnest resident’s that dropped by, we have to thank Krisztina Wood from the CNP Art Gallery and Allied Arts Council for passing on the message to its member base, that was just great to see!

I’m really excited to see the unveiling of their finished piece, which will be from 7:30-10:00 pm on Thursday, September 29th at the Gushul Studio. They’ve worked really hard on this piece, and it will be amazing to see. For those that cannot make it to the Pass on Thursday, we are going to figure out a way of showing it during Arts Days at the Blueprint Gallery.

Anyway, it’s hard not to be totally stoked about how this residency worked out. We hope you can share in this either this Thursday or this weekend during Arts Days!

March 10th saw a new board elected during the trap\door AGM. We are excited to welcome so many new faces, and having a total of 9 board members is wonderful as well. We invite everyone to contact and get to know the new board, and find out how to get involved in this wonderful organisation.

Board members:
Mike Maguire- president
Arianna Richardson- vice president
Sarah Christensen- secretary/treasurer
Len Komanac
David Smith
Petra Mala
Katherine Bourke
Nic de Cosson
Justin Oborne

One of the most exciting things going on this year is the start of committees to help with marketing, fundraising, membership and buttons. If you’ve always wanted to be involved, but not at a board level, this is a wonderful opportunity to use your skills and help trap\door with it’s various operations. Contact us to find out more!

Thank you and we look forward to bringing you an amazing year of amazing things from trap\door!
Sincerely,

Mike Maguire

Submissions must include:

* a curriculum vitae
* an artist’s statement
* 10-15 digital images with an accompanying list identifying each work
* and/or VHS or DVD documentation (maximum 5 minutes)
* a project description including any special technical and/or
spatial requirements

Send your submission to:
Trap\door Artist Run Centre
Annual Submission
c/o 811 5 Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 0V2

Deadline: May 5, 2011 (applications must be received, not postmarked,
by this date).

If you have any questions please contact us. info@trapdoorarc.com