CALL FOR ART: MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART

MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART
“EXQUISTE GORGE” COMMUNITY WOODBLOCK PRINT PROJECT
PROJECT: APRIL 2019 THROUGH AUGUST 24, 2019
CULMINATING “STEAM” ROLLER PRINT EVENT: AUGUST 24, 2019 AT MARYHILL MUSEUM, GOLDENDALE, WA

OVERVIEW:

The Exquisite Gorge Project was conceptualized by the education department at Maryhill Museum of Art to engage, excite, educate and connect the diverse communities along the Columbia River through the artistic process of printmaking. This large-scale project takes inspiration from the Surrealist practice of the “exquisite corpse” uniting each selected artist’s unique block of the Columbia River—which is the unifying element—and culminating with a “steam” roller print event at the museum on August 24, 2019.

The Exquisite Gorge Project involves 10 selected printmakers and pairs them with a community group for the creation of a 4’ x 6’ woodblock carving. The length of the Columbia River from the Willamette River to the Snake River will be divided into segments and communities associated with that segment will work with a central artist in a way that unites the communities’ experience of the river to the artist’s vision.

The river will act as the unifying device from plate to plate. Each portion will be assigned measurements for the river to appear on the left side of the page and to leave the right side of the page. Each block will line up with the next and will be printed in one event by using a road “steam” roller, thus creating a unique woodblock print of about 60’ in length.

It is desired that the print have 10 unique segments of high artistic quality with the possibility of being accessioned into the collection of Maryhill Museum of Art. This final print will be exhibited at Maryhill Museum of Art through the month of September, and traveled to other locations (possibly including the state capitals of Washington and Oregon).

Applicants must have a BFA in Visual Arts or five years of relevant professional experience, and must be available for the purpose of community collaboration for a minimum of two weeks during the months of May-July of 2019. Accommodations for artist having to travel will be provided by local partner institutions, however artists may be required to secure their own travel for the purpose of this project.

Artists with a direct geographical or cultural link to the Columbia River (and the states of Washington and Oregon) will be given priority in the selection process however we encourage every interested artist to apply. The submission process is free. See the details below.

Documentation of the process will be maintained from start to final print through video and a final publication.

ORGANIZERS:
Maryhill Museum of Art is the principle organizer through an ad-hoc EXQUISITE GORGE PROJECT committee of its Board of Trustees. The committee will be headed by Dr. Matthew Johnston, Associate Professor of Art History at Lewis and Clark University
Committee Members:
Louise Palermo, Curator of Education at Maryhill Museum of Art
Dr. Steve Grafe, Curator of Art at Maryhill Museum of Art
Colleen Schafroth, Executive Director of Maryhill Museum of Art
Dylan McMannus, Assistant Director, The Dalles-Wasco County Library,
Lisa Commander, Executive Director, The Gorge Veterans Museum
Charlotte Van Zant-King, Artist, Printmaker, Goldendale, WA
Greg Archuleta, Artist, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, OR
Erin Krake, Branch Manager, Fort Vancouver Regional Library
Nicole Pietrantoni, Associate Professor of Art at Whitman College
Chris Pothier, Painter, Artist, The Dalles, OR
Shelley Toon, Executive Director, Arts in Education of the Gorge

These staff, artists and community leaders will be advised through the duration of this project by Karl Davis, Executive Director of Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts.
Thank you to artist Lillian Pitt for her advice and direction.

Artists Criteria for Submission: The submission process is free.
• This call is open to artists with a BFA, Graduate students, or any artist with relevant professional experience with a minimum of 5 years professional practice
• Artists must be willing to available for the purpose of community collaboration for a minimum of two weeks during the months of May through July 2019
• Artists may have to secure their own travel. Accommodations for artists will be provided by local partner institutions
• Artists must be willing to work with the community in a meaningful way

Submission Process:
• Submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. PST on January 31, 2019
• Submissions review will be completed by February 22, 2019
• Artist must submit a formal letter of acceptance no later than March 25, 2019
• Artists should be willing to allow community collaboration to guide their process and, at times, to be willing to surrender creative control in a way that empowers all participants
• Follow this link to fill out the submission forms and upload images:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe70I4dcbxEybpRlGkhm_suCXB06Ilb8T59bxmrp9ef5Tt2Ag/viewform?usp=pp_url
o Submit a resume
o Submit an artist’s statement of up to 250-words describing your body of work as an artist
o Submit a short statement of how you envision collaborating with a community
o Submit JPEG images of 5 finished works (or a link to a website)
Selection Process & Notification:

• The committee will review all submissions and contact each selectee by or before March 1, 2019
• All decisions of the jurors are final
• If you are accepted, you give this project permission to publish your image and process for publicity purposes

Questions? Please contact Louise Palermo at 509-773-3733 x 25 or louise@maryhillmuseum.org

Google Submission Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe70I4dcbxEybpRlGkhm_suCXB06Ilb8T59bxmrp9ef5Tt2Ag/viewform?usp=pp_url