THE PROJECT
Keepsake boxes have long served as decorative objects intended to safeguard possessions held precious by their owner. Their nostalgic and traditional characteristics serve as a counterpoint to works contributed by a generation of artists fluent in today’s contemporary forms of expression. From audio recordings of a series of birthday greetings, to editions of digital prints, silk-screens and zines, WE-ARE-FAMILIA’s artists contribute works reflective of their experiences and impressions on the concept of family today. In addition to their keepsake contributions, each artist was asked to respond to family-based questions which will be documented in slam books to be included in the keepsake boxes. The books invite the artists to elaborate on their contributions and share personal views on the meaning of family. Each book is hand made by professional artists from the Booklyn Artists’ Alliance, with slip covers hand made by WE-ARE-FAMILIA artists. By offering a tactile, sensory experience through its keepsake boxes, WE-ARE-FAMILIA’s objective is to engage viewers into our family dialogue. The boxes retain their function as invitations to peruse into those personal mementos which are meant to be shared.
THE EXHIBITION
It was Edward Steichen’s “Family of Man” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in 1955 that brought global attention to images that vividly portrayed the universality of the human experience. We continue today as that global community revealed in Steichen’s exhibit. We are the global family of more than 6.5 billion individuals who do not get along, yet share in our struggles, fascinations, rituals and achievements. Everyone is born from a family, but how we interpret “family” is where WE-ARE-FAMILIA’s stories begin. Illustrator Seb Jarnot has been making art with his daughter since she was first able to hold a pencil and our keepsake boxes contain lithographs of their most beloved collaboration. Peter Kienzle on behalf of Superette presents us with an editioned digital drawing based on a classic Velazquez painting which incorporates 4 human versions of the PacMan ghosts; Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. Composer Mike Skinner (Venice Biennale, WPS1) has created a series of 8-track tapes containing overlapped soundscapes of birthday greetings which were left on his cell-phone, while Ana Strika re-creates family memories with complex papercut pop-ups. Also included in our keepsake boxes are digital prints from Geneviéve Gauckler, featuring her unusual cast of lovable characters (a portrait of close friends whom she considers to be family) and drawings from Jake Williams in which wholesome children’s television personalities are revealed in often explicit sexual positions. By gathering this eclectic mix of individual voices out of the billions, WE-ARE-FAMILIA seeks to collectively share with viewers our ad hoc family of artists who are willing to question what they have inherited, what they will pass on, and what it is from their own experiences that they treasure enough to reveal.
We-Are-Familia (Original Submission Guidelines)
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
All work submitted must be inspired by or related to the concept of “family”. Interpretations are entirely up to you.. they may be literal, abstract or metaphorical. Please RSVP ASAP to let us know you will be submitting a proposal. You may submit proposals for an edition of (25) flat pieces, (5) dimensional pieces, or a 60-min audio piece. Please send proposals to art(at)we-are-familia(dot)com with the word “proposal” written in as the subject. Your e-mail should include a low-res image and/or short description. Proposal files should be 150 DPI / JPG / and no larger than 4MB. PLEASE NOTE: If you have been personally invited to contribute by Jennifer or Christian you have already been accepted to the we-are-familia project. Proposals are however still necessary because we will customize each box according to the kind of submissions we receive and we’ll need to plan ahead for production. If you have not been personally invited to contribute you are still welcome to submit a proposal.
FLAT SUBMISSIONS (EDITIONS OF 25)
Upon acceptance, you will be asked to create 25 high-quality, signed editions of your piece. Editions may be created by silk-screen, letterpress, c-print, high quality digital print or other approved media. No xeroxes will be allowed unless crucial to your piece (i.e. for a fanzine based on family). Your 25 editions may also be created by hand or include some form of collage, making each piece unique. If you do not live in New York City, we will arrange for shipping of your signed original art plus editions to We-Are-Familia.
- All artwork should be inspired by or related to the concept of family.
- All final artwork should be new, unpublished and specifically created for We-Are-Familia.
- All final artwork should be 8.5″ by 11″ in size.
- Artwork larger than 8.5 x 11 should fold comfortably to 8.5″by 11″ size.
- Pieces smaller than 8.5″ by 11″ are permitted upon approval.
- Every piece should be signed and numbered (1/25, 2/25 etc.)
3-D SUBMISSIONS (EDITIONS OF 5)
Upon acceptance of your proposal, you will be asked to create 5 high-quality, signed editions of your piece. If you do not live in New York City, we will arrange for shipping of your signed editions to We-Are-Familia.
- All artwork should be inspired by or related to the concept of family.
- All final artwork should be new, unpublished and specifically created for We-Are-Familia.
- 3-D works should fit into these dimensions (but can be smaller than): 8″ Width by 10″Height by 4″ Depth.
- Every piece should be signed and numbered (1/25, 2/25 etc.)
- We will create a special division in (5) boxes to protect your (5) 3-D editions.
SOUND SUBMISSIONS (EDITIONS OF 5)
All artwork should be inspired by or related to the concept of family.
- All artwork should be inspired by or related to the concept of family.
- Sound submissions are any type of audio including but not limited to music,
experimental sound, interviews and/or or spoken word.
- All final sound work should be new, original and specifically created for Familia.
- Please submit wav/aiff/high-end mp3-files for duplication onto (5) cassette tapes.
- Your (5) tapes will be placed inside of (5) vintage cassette players, supplied by We-Are-Familia.
- Your high-quality sound-file can use up to 2 sides of a 60 min. tape (each side is 30 minutes).
- The face of every casette will be titled, signed and numbered (1/25, 2/25 etc.)
we-are-familia.com
art {at} we-are-familia {dot} com
