SAVAC Call for Submissions

Paper Planes A SAVAC Juried Members Exhibition
Deadline for proposals: June 17 2009

This summer, SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) will present its juried members exhibition at the VMAC Gallery.

The Exhibition will take place from August 27- September 10, 2009 (TBC) and will be juried by guest jury Su-Ying Lee, Nicole Neufeld and member of SAVAC's Programming Committee Frances Ferdinands.

SAVAC invites submissions for a juried group exhibition that responds to the multifarious and changing nature of the South Asian contemporary experience.

The subcontinent of South Asia comprises of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. As one of the most densely populated regions in the world all kinds of multinational companies from GM to Disney want a share of some of the largest markets. Globalization has tied all the economies of the world inextricably. A recession in North America has repercussions on the South Asian stock markets and visa versa. The notion that we live in a “global village” is perpetuated and endorsed by the media with non-stop coverage of global events by news channels. Google Earth lets the viewer fly to any part of the world to view satellite imagery, maps, 3D buildings and neighborhoods. Despite these innovations of technology and access to copious amounts of information, fear and suspicion of foreigners, migrants and immigrant workers have only increased. Security at borders and airports has heightened immensely. The paradox of the 21st century enables products from different parts of the to world travel more freely than people. And even then, many South Asians are on the move for lucrative jobs and higher education, they travel back and forth more easily than their previous generations, while the number of political and economic refugees have risen dramatically. Many South Asian artists have explored and responded to the impact of globalization in their societies and popular culture.

How does the interconnectedness of our societies, through the media, internet and popular culture, impact contemporary art practices?

Submissions: SAVAC encourages artists to submit proposals for work in all formats (painting, drawing, print-making, sculpture, photography, monitor- based new media, etc).

Deadline for proposals: 17 June.
Artists announced: 28 June

All submissions must include: 1. Your name, address, telephone number and email contact.
2. A short artist's statement outlining the general themes of your artistic practice.
3. A half page proposal describing the work you intend to submit for the exhibition and how it relates to the exhibition theme.
4. 6-10 images of previous work. Please send 72dpi jpegs on CD or DVD. No slides. Please do not send originals.
5. Biographical information or CV.
6. Artists must be SAVAC members to submit proposals.

For more information on membership and details to join, please visit our website;
www.savac.net All work accepted for the exhibition must be submitted ready for display (i.e. properly framed or mounted; media based artists must submit screening quality DVDs etc)

For enquiries contact Srimoyee Mitra, Programming Coordinator at SAVAC [South Asian Visual Arts Centre] 401 Richmond St. West, Suite #450 Toronto, ON Canada M5V 3A8
Telephone: 416.542.1661
Email: info@savac.net Website: www.savac.net

SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) is the only nonprofit artist-run centre in Canada dedicated to the development and presentation of contemporary visual art by South Asian Artists. Our mission is to promote excellence, professionalism and innovation in visual arts programming that critically explores issues and ideas shaping South Asian identities and experiences.