More is More

I suppose my fascination for less, revolves around my fascination for more. More as in repetition, redundancy, reiteration, restatement, recurrence, replication, reproduction, repeat, rerun and redo. We are a culture or many, our consumption drives us, a desire to collect, to rinse and repeat, to buy now and save later, to order while supplies last and to buy one get one free. It is genetically hard wired into our reproducing cells, to get it while you can, to nest. This hardwiring exists even though the majority of the western world has more than its share, more than it needs, myself fully included. Evident by my muffin top that currently is making my jeans a wee to tight this morning.


My search for less is balanced by my search for more. I am curating a national juried exhibition here in Lexington, Kentucky titled More is More. The exhibition is hosted at the Lexington Art League. Below is the call or click here to be directed to the website.

More is More

Exhibition Dates: July 22 – September 10, 2011

Entry Deadline: April 22, 2011

More is More examines a common tendency towards multiples and repetition in contemporary art. Our love and worship of multiples takes on many forms, including both repeating objects and images. Are we responding to an influence from industry, technology, materialism and consumerism? Or is this exponential growth from a more abstract desire or compulsion? Regardless where the pattern originated, these serial acts have profound implications about the society that created them. This national juried exhibition offers artists’ exploring the concept of multiples, repetition or abundance, in any media, a chance to exhibit the results. LAL invites artists to openly and creatively interpret this theme.

Artists may submit images and/or videos of their work along with an entry form, exhibition statement, and resume for consideration.  All media will be considered.

Eligibility and Media

All artists and designers, age 18 and older, are eligible to enter More Is More. All media and styles will be considered. No reproductions will be accepted.  All works must have been completed since 2005 and not previously shown in any LAL gallery.

More Is More Calendar

Final postmark deadline to receive entries: April 22, 2011

Email notifications sent to artists no later than: May 22, 2011

High-res images due for catalog: June 1, 2011

Work must arrive at LAL: July 13, 2011

Opening Reception: Fifth Third 4th Friday: July 22, 2011

Exhibition dates: July 22 – September 10, 2011

Pick-up or shipping of artwork: September 12 - 16, 2011

Curator/Juror

Melissa Vandenberg, Assistant Professor of Art & Design at Eastern Kentucky University, in collaboration with LAL will select artwork for More Is More. Vandenberg earned a BFA in studio art from Center for Creative Studies (Detroit) in 1999, and an MFA in sculpture from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2005. Prior to relocating to Lexington in 2009, Vandenberg served as Director of the University Art Galleries at Indiana State University from 2007-09, organizing 10-12 exhibitions annually. To her record, Vandenberg has curated Re(Search): Exploring the Relationship Between Science & Art with works by Steve Aishman, Ronald Leax, Sara Mast, Brian Nelson, and Kathryn Refi (2009), Building Futures, a Solo Exhibition by Scott Ingram and Bloodline: A Quilt Exhibition featuring 20 national and international fiber artists (2008).

Entry Fee and Procedure

There is no entry fee for this exhibition.  April 22^nd, 2011 is the postmark deadline. Review will be by digital images or videos only (no slides).  To submit by mail, send all materials to: More Is More, Lexington Art League, 209 Castlewood Drive, Lexington, KY 40505. To submit by email, send all materials as attachments with the subject line “MIM entry” to LAL Exhibitions & Programs Director Becky Alley at balley@lexingtonartleague.org.

To submit an application please include:

                  •                  Up to 10 digital entries (images must be in “JPEG” format and videos must be in “MPEG-4” format)

                  •                  Entry form (available at http://www.lexingtonartleague.org/calltoartist.htm)

                  •                  Resume (optional)

                  •                  Artist statement (optional)

Final notification emails will be sent on or before May 22, 2011.

Installation Art Criteria

If artwork requires extraordinary installation, the artist is responsible for installation and removal of artwork before and after exhibition.  Please contact LAL Exhibitions & Programs Director Becky Alley at balley@lexingtonartleague.org or 859-254-7024 to discuss the specifics of a particular piece.

Exhibition

The selected works will hang in LAL’s Loudoun House Gallery from July 22 – September 10, 2011. The opening reception will be held at the Loudoun House Gallery on Friday, July 22^nd, 6-9pm, and additional reception on Friday, August 26^th from 6-9pm.

Absolutely no early removal of artwork is allowed for any reason.

Sales

Not all works need to be for sale, but LAL retains a 30% commission on the retail price of all works sold in the gallery. The artist must determine retail price, which is sent with the application materials.

Insurance and Liability

Work will be insured while on LAL premises to the limits of the insurance carrier’s contractual obligations. The LAL will not be responsible for insurance of work in transit or work that is not claimed by last date for pick up. On-site insurance value will be computed as 70% of the retail price, but does not guarantee that the insurer will agree with the value assigned by the artist.

Shipping

The artist is responsible for all costs related to shipping and insurance of artwork while in transit to and from LAL. Artwork should be shipped in a substantial, reusable container. LAL will not be responsible for damage due to incorrect packing or an insufficient container. Due to the sheer volume of images and objects expected in this exhibition, LAL asks that participating artists pay special attention to packing and installation instructions included with shipped works.

Conditions

An entry to this exhibition constitutes full agreement on the part of the artist to all conditions outlined in this prospectus, and guarantees that work entered will be available for exhibition. Accepted work that is not delivered or is withdrawn may prevent the artist from future eligibility in LAL exhibitions.

All entries must have been conceived and created by the artist submitting the work.

Accepted artists are required to sign the LAL contract for Exhibition & Sale of Artwork that will be sent upon acceptance to the exhibition.

The LAL Exhibitions and Programs Director has final authority to define what constitutes an acceptable entry.

The LAL reserves the right to eliminate (upon receipt) any entry that:

                  •                  Differs from the submitted images

                  •                  Is presented in a substandard way

                  •                  Requires extraordinary installation beyond what is evident in the original application (Please contact LAL Exhibitions & Programs Director Becky Alley at balley@lexingtonartleague.org or 859-254-7024 with any questions regarding this policy.)

Any single piece or portion of an artwork must not exceed 120 lbs.

2D works must be strongly framed, wired on the back for hanging, or otherwise prepared for installation.

The artist grants permission to the LAL to reproduce entries for the purposes of publicity and education unless otherwise noted on the entry form. Please include photo credit where it differs from the artist’s name.

Contact

Becky Alley, Exhibitions and Programs Director, balley@lexingtonartleague.org, 859-254-7024.

Pop goes the...

Giving up soda for a month, so far, has been a breeze. It was, and is, a great way to start my campaign for less. My hope is to let abstaining from soda turn into renouncing coffee - next month, for a month, and only a month. The idea of foregoing coffee is painful, very painful. My car pool companion is already teasing me about visiting Starbucks every morning, were I will get to watch and smell the most useful of brown liquids from a distance. It is just not nice. I suppose the real victims in all this will be my students, to whom I will provide advance warning. Honestly, I do not drink that much coffee: 1-2 cups daily. However, those 1-2 cups are the only protection against a larger contemporary blight known as "Morning Melissa".

Solace will be discovered in tea, because for one month, beginning March 18, I will reject coffee for 30 days. Now you may see tea as cheating, and you would be correct. In my defense though, Topical Fast is meant to be process of self discovery. Finding mindfulness and new aspects of consumption to appreciate through trying something different, or simply going without.

If you would like to give up something and/or be a guest contributor to Topical Fast, just drop me a note.
Come give up with me.
Thank you.

The following link, a documentary on American tea pioneer Davis Lee Hoffman, All In This Tea (2007):

Give Up This

Thanks to some good discussions from friends and students here is some options to get this party started.

Can I do without _______ and for how long?
meat, sugar, dairy, wheat, salt, alcohol, caffeine, soda, music, television, cellular phone, computer, email, electricity, technology, cussing, new clothes, gas, rushing, typos, water, laundry, heating/cooling, talking, sleep, money, cleaning, and even blogging.

I haven't decided what to begin with yet, let alone what durations of "give up" I will be comfortable with. For example a day without my cell phone seems easy, a week may prove more problematic with work. The important thing is to be realistic and to take baby steps. I will give up options in day, week or month intervals.

The concept of abstinence if nothing new to me having been a vegetarian once for over a decade (then I met Memphis). I even gave up talking for two days once, to my significant others delight, although he said it was "really really weird". Last summer for a "whole" three days I skipped sugar, caffeine, wheat, meat, dairy and alcohol, a purge I do not recommend concurrently unless you are sadistic. Oddly, after 24 hours the sugar addiction headaches left me, but the desire for cheese was everlasting.

ITEM 1 - SODA (Pop if you are from Michigan...)
I will give up soda for one month, and I am not talking about the Perrier either. I am referring to the good stuff, loaded with sugar and caffeine. A week would be easy considering I do not drink much soda, but a month may be slightly more difficult, but still very reasonable. If you give up soda with me, select an interval that best works for you. I think I will only miss Orangina, a soda I cannot usually afford, but very very tasty. Oh geez, I am thirsty.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1357787/Coca-cola-Pepsi-ingredient-cancer-risk-Call-ban-colouring-agent.html

Minimal Me

I am not a journalist, certainly not a writer, but an artist and teacher. However, I have found it fitting to start a second blog. Apparently one web based venue for public typos was just not enough. Seriously though, as my Middleland project evolves towards completion later this year, writing about that series becomes less crucial.  I suppose Topical Fast is related to my studio projects, projects that have a lot to do with consumption, and my/our addiction to it. In essence, this blog is a small social experiment to see how much I/we can do without. I have been feeling somewhat spoiled lately having a good job, abundant food, a warm house, caring friends and a great man. These gifts should not be taken for granted.

Topical Fast will explore a series of completely voluntary states of self denial. I will forego different creature comforts and privileges related to life in the 21st century. Some options to give up relate to diet, the environment, entertainment, technology or anything that may improve one's health and spirit. I expect to both succeed and fail, as any recovering addict may do. It is not about winning as it is not a contest, but more about gaining discipline, power, mindfulness and health.

I want to invite any reader to submit ideas for abstinence, related readings or links, and to join me as I attempt this public journey of self-improvement. Additionally, I want to welcome guest contributors to write for the blog, topics can be submitted via blog comments or emailed to movanart@gmail.com.

Come give up with me.
Thank you!

Detail image of Meditation Device
fabric, drain and polyfil, 2005