This week is making up for last weeks failure in the opportunity department.

The first notable Internet-y thing though is the fact that Google is taking applications for a professional “Doodler” which could be really awesome. Did you see the Eadweard Muybridge radness the other day? Apply, apply, apply!

More info here:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/uslocations/mountain-view/product/doodler-mountain-view/index.html

Otherwise there is about a thousand things to look at internationally speaking, as well as something going down at Harvard Museum if you’re fancy. The last few posts have been NYC-heavy and I think we need to scale that back a bit. If, for whatever possible reason, you do live in New York and you’re reading this, I’d suggest joining the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) email list like everyone else on the planet.

We occasionally like to feature our friends when they’re in the midst of their Kickstarter fundraising and this week we heard about a weirdo abandoned amusement park in Berlin that must be changed into Kulturepark – a magical site as a place for creative exchange, site-specific art, urban design, historic memory, social connection, and public imagination.

Fund it.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1353197694/kulturpark/

 

Chicago-centric updates:

- Acre extends residency application by 2 days?! What? Why did I stay up late stressin’ last night…

- Firebelly design is inviting the brightest and most talented design students + recent grads to join forces inside their Chicago studio for Camp Firebelly 2012

 

Everywhere Else:

 

Now for an all encompassing insane list of crazy opportunities of everything from Houston’s Lawndale residency (hi guys!) to something called “VIDEOHOLICA” in Bulgaria. Hopefully your German is better than mine.

 

 

JOBS (ACADEMICS, ARTISTS, CURATORS):

Director at artworks-mk, UK, England, Milton Keynes.
Deadline: April 19, 2012
http://www.artworks-mk.co.uk/home/jobs-and-opportunities-2/ 

Zum nächstmőglichen Zeitpunkt ist an der Hochschule für Bildende Künste Dresden die Position des/der Rektors/Rektorin zu besetzen. Germany.
Deadline: April 19, 2012
http://www.hfbk-dresden.de/hochschule/offene-stellen.html

Milton Keynes MK Gallery: We’re currently seeking an ambitious and capable person to join the Gallery team and work closely with the Director on the organisation and delivery of the exhibitions programme. UK.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.mkgallery.org/information/jobs/

The National Gallery: Assistant Conservator – Band 5 JOB REF: CON/05 – UK, England, London.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://login.amris.com/wizards/nationalgallery/viewAttachment.php?attachmentId=11420&filename=AssistantConservatorCON05Mar12.pdf

Der Regierende Bürgermeister von Berlin, Senatskanzlei – Kulturelle Angelegenheiten: Leiter/in der Kulturabteilung – Kennzahl 08/12 – Berlin, Germany.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.berlin.de/sen/kultur/stellenmarkt/subindex4.html

Assistant Professor, Digital Humanities, Eugene Lang College, The New School for Liberal Arts, USA
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.newschool.edu/hr/staffing/

AKADEMIE DER BILDENDEN KÜNSTE IN NÜRNBERG: W3-Professur KUNSTTHEORIE UND KUNSTVERMITTLUNG (LEHRSTUHL). Germany.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.adbk-nuernberg.de/

The Trustees of The Cooper Gallery and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council are seeking to appoint a fine art researcher for a short-term contract. For further information and a full brief, please contact Natalie Murray at Natalie Murray per e-mail. UK.
Deadline: April 23, 2012
nataliemurray@barnsley.gov.uk

Die Stadt Schwäbisch Gmünd sucht zum frühestmőglichen Zeitpunkt eine/n Museumsdirektorin / Museumsdirektor. Germany.
Deadline: April 24, 2012
http://www.schwaebisch-gmuend.de/116-Service.html

Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst: Vizedirektion/Forschungsleitung. Switzerland.
Deadline: April 25, 2012
http://www.hslu.ch/d-st-ins_vizedirektion_b176_web.pdf

Michigan State University, MATRIX: The Center for the Humane Arts, Letters, and Social Sciences is seeking an experienced, creative, and talented individual to fill the position of Assistant Director. USA.
Deadline: April 25, 2012
http://www2.matrix.msu.edu/2012/01/job-assistant-director/

The Skirball Cultural Center seeks a dynamic and imaginative curator to develop temporary exhibitions as a member of the Museum curatorial team. USA.
Deadline: asap.
http://www.skirball.org/get-involved/jobs#curator

Deputy Dean: Faculty of Art, De Montfort University, Leicester. UK.
Deadline: April 26, 2012
https://jobs.dmu.ac.uk/webrecruitment/Default.asp?Section=Vacancy&VacID=7239

Museum für Kommunikation Bern: Projektleiterin / Projektleiter Dauerausstellung. CH.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.kulturmanagement.org/fileadmin/user_upload/redaktion/Stellenausschreibungen_2012/10_4_12_MfK_Bern.pdf

Dulwich Picture Gallery: Exhibitions Officer. The holder of this post will report directly to the Head of Exhibitions (HOE). UK.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/the_gallery/vacancies/exhibitions_officer.aspx

Dulwich Picture Gallery: Assistant Curator. The holder of this post will assist the Chief Curator with the care and display of the Gallery’s paintings. UK.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/the_gallery/vacancies/assistant_curator.aspx

BCA Center Curator – Burlington City Arts – USA.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/HR/Job-Postings—DMS-Documents/Curator—BCA-Center/

Research Associate: UCL, London. UK.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/jobs/

The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) launches the Young Curators Program and the Power Corporation of Canada Curatorial Internships Program.
Deadline: April 27, 2012
http://www.cca.qc.ca/curatorialopportunities

Program Director, Artisphere Cultural Center, Arlington County Government (Arlington VA). USA.
Deadline: asap.
http://goo.gl/Vfomc

Binghamton University is seeking a Director of the University Art Museum. UK.
Deadline: Open until Position Filled
http://binghamton.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=31138

Volkswagen Fellows at MoMA PS1: Call for applications for year-long fellows to work on a large scale international exhibition at MoMA PS1. USA.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.momaps1.org/vwfellows

Das Festival CULTURESCAPES sucht per sofort eine/n ProduktionsleiterIn Bildende Kunst & Musik: 80-100%. Basel, CH.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.kulturmanagement.org/fileadmin/user_upload/redaktion/Stellenausschreibungen_2012/10_4_12_Culturescapes.pdf

Galerie Thomas: Assistent/in der Geschäftsleitung – München, Germany.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.galerie-thomas.de/Galerie-Thomas-Modern/en/home_en/the-team.html

La Haute école d’art et de design – Genève met au concours le poste de :
Chargé-e de cours HES en Arts visuels / Orientation WORK.MASTER. Pratiques artistiques contemporaines. Taux d’activité : 40-50%. Entrée en fonction : 1er septembre 2012. Switzerland.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://head.hesge.ch/-LA-HEAD-GENEVE-RECRUTE-#IMG/jpg/wrist_watch_03-3.jpg

Chargé-e de cours HES en Histoire et théorie de l’architecture, de l’architecture d’intérieur et du design. Taux d’activité : 40%. Switzerland.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://head.hesge.ch/-LA-HEAD-GENEVE-RECRUTE-#IMG/jpg/wrist_watch_03-3.jpg

La Haute école d’art et de design – Genève met au concours le poste de :
Chargé-e de cours HES en photographie technique/pratique. Taux d’activité : 50%. Entrée en fonction : 1er septembre 2012. Switzerland.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://head.hesge.ch/-LA-HEAD-GENEVE-RECRUTE-#IMG/jpg/wrist_watch_03-3.jpg

Die HPZ-Stiftung sucht eine(n) Mitarbeiter(in) mit kunsthistorischer und medienwissenschaftlicher Vorbildung zur Assistenz und Sekretariat des Vorstands. Düsseldorf, Germany.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.hans-peter-zimmer-stiftung.org/kontakt/info/

Mount Holyoke College – Five-College Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship
in African Art 2012-2015. USA.
Deadline: May 3, 2012
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/about/employment.html

Die Kulturdirektion der Landeshauptstadt Erfurt sucht 1 Kurator/in: Forum Konkrete Kunst/Kunst im őffentlichen Raum/Aussermuseale Kunst. Germany.
Deadline: May 4, 2012
http://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/beruf/stellen/print_42359.shtml

Renke B. and Pamela M. Thye Curatorial Fellowship (Joseph Beuys) at Harvard Art Museums. Busch-Reisinger Museum. Inquiries may also be directed to the Human Resources Office (telephone - +1 617.495.3555. USA.
Deadline: May 4, 2012
http://employment.harvard.edu

Stefan Engelhorn Curatorial Fellowship at the Harvard Art Museums is
designed to broaden the experience of persons embarking on professional
and scholarly careers in art history who are considering the museum
profession. Cambridge, MA, USA.
Deadline: May 4, 2012
http://employment.harvard.edu./

Volkswagen Fellows at MoMA PS1

Deadline: April 30, 2012

The Volkswagen Fellows will assist various museum departments in research, writing, correspondence and other tasks required to produce a large scale international exhibition at MoMA PS1 in 2013, which will be made possible by a partnership with Volkswagen of America.

http://www.momaps1.org/news/view/83

EUNIC is delighted to present the Curatorial Exchange Programme 2012 for internship in European museums and galleries. Young Russian curators will get internships (from 3 weeks to 2 months) in the leading museums and contemporary art galleries in Europe.
Deadline: May 4, 2012
http://www.eunic-online.eu/node/534

The British Museum Africa, Oceania and the Americas is looking for a Curator: American Collections, Full-time, Permanent. London, UK.
Deadline: May 9, 2012
http://goo.gl/ON0Y7

Museum Folkwang: Freie Mitarbeit / Werkvertrag, Kunst- / Kulturvermittlung. Germany.
Deadline: May 13, 2012
http://www.museum-folkwang.de/de/information/team.html

Heart of Brooklyn, a nonprofit cultural consortium, seeks a dynamic self-starter and highly motivated individual as Director to manage the partnership activities. NYC, USA.
Deadline: May 15, 2012
http://www.heartofbrooklyn.org/jobs.htm

Toledo Museum of Art Fellowship Program in collaboration with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation invites applications from candidates who completed their doctoral studies within the last five years in art history or a related discipline. USA.
Deadline: May 15, 2012
http://www.toledomuseum.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Position_MellonFellowship2013.pdf

 

 

STUDIES & SCHOLARSHIPS (ACADEMICS, ARTISTS, CURATORS & CRITICS):

 

Lynne Newman Foundation scholarships: Master’s Degree programmes at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London and New York
Deadline: as long as space is available. Programmes begin in September
http://www.sothebysinstitute.com/Admissions/Overview.aspx

ERSTE Foundation offers four fellowships for young artists and four fellowships for emerging curators from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to take part in a course of their choice at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg 2012.
Deadline: April 30, 201
http://www.erstestiftung.org/blog/fellowships-for-curators-and-artists-at-salzburg-summer-academy/

maHKU (Utrecht, The Netherlands) offers one-year Master of Arts programs in visual art or design. maHKU Master degrees are internationally acknowledged and accredited by the Open University Validation Services in London (OUVS).
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.mahku.nl/application/index.html

École du Magasin, Curatorial Training Program Session 22 (2012–2013): Call for applications. Grenoble, France.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.ecoledumagasin.com

BIAA Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship 2012/13 in Turkey. Applicants must have a demonstrable connection with a UK University.
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://biaa.ac.uk/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=93

Kingston University London: Masters studentships for 2012/13. UK.
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research/funding/ahrc-studentships/

Master programme Arts in Public Spheres at Ecole Cantonale d’Art du Valais ECAV. Switzerland.
Deadline: May 11, 2012
http://www.ecav.ch/en/

Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa 2012-2013: call for Applications for Admission to PhD Programmes (art history) – Academic Year 2012-2013. Reserved to Citizens of European Union Nations – Faculty of Arts, Italy.
Deadline: August 1, 2012
http://www.sns.it/en/didattica/corsodiperfezionamento/lettere/

 

 

RESIDENCIES (ARTISTS):

 

 

The Cornaro Institute, Cyprus

 

Deadline: 1 August 2012

 

The Cornaro Institute (formerly the Cyprus College of Art) is an international cultural organisation located on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. We invite applications for our programmes and artists residencies starting in September 2012.

 

http://blog.re-title.com/opportunities/2012/04/cornaro-institute-cyprus.html

I-Park/Expressiones Residency Program for Latin American Visual Artists, East Haddam, CT, USA.
Deadline: April 29, 2012
http://www.i-park.org/residency.html

Artist in residence program at Triangle, Marseille, France.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.trianglefrance.org/en/residence/

Artists-in-residence program of ARCUS Project 2012 IBARAKI has been opened. Japan.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.arcus-project.com/en/residence/

The Harvestworks New Works Artist in Residency Program, NYC, USA.
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://www.harvestworks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28:new-works-residency&catid=21&Itemid=53

The Distillery Residency is an 8 week free workspace-only residency running from June 18th  to August 17th  at The Distillery, a former rum distillery and arts building in South Boston, MA, USA.
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://distilleryresidency.org/

The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Arts & Literary Arts Residency Program. Italy.
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center

Residency program, Art Foundation of Schloss Plüschow (Germany)
Deadline: May 3, 2012
http://www.plueschow.de/

Fire Island Artist Residency (FIAR), the first artist-in-residency program in the United States exclusively for GLBT emerging artists, is now accepting applications for its 2012 Summer Residency Program in New York.
Deadline: May 4, 2012
http://www.fireislandartistresidency.org

McColl Center for Visual Art’s residency program: UNC CHARLOTTE ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE. USA.
Deadline: May 7, 2012
http://www.mccollcenter.org/artists-in-residence/submit-materials-for-residency-programs

McColl Center for Visual Art’s residency program: Carolinas Healthcare Artist-in-Residence. USA.
Deadline: May 7, 2012
http://www.mccollcenter.org/artists-in-residence/submit-materials-for-residency-programs

Artist Residence “The Old School”, Gorna Lipnitsa, Bulgaria.
Deadline: May 9, 2012
http://www.gornalipnitsa.com/

From the beginning of the year 2012 offers Art Center Haihatus in Central Finland an opportunity for artists practicing any art form to work temporarily in its Utopia house.
Deadline: May 15, 2012
http://www.en.haihatus.fi/

Interacciones urbano_rural provides periods of residence in Terra UNA (Brazil), Residencia en la Tierra (Colombia) and CENTRO RURAL DE ARTE(Argentina).
Deadline: May 15, 2012
http://www.terrauna.org.br/urbanorural2012/

Big Bang Projects: Art at Zero KM Summer Residency Workshop, Italy.
Deadline: May 20, 2012
http://www.bigbangprojects.org/

2013 AIR Taipei Open Call for Arts-in-Residence. Taiwan.
Deadline: May 20, 2012
http://www.artistvillage.org/Residence/Residence

Lawndale Artist Studio Program Call for Applications, Houston, USA.
Deadline: May 25, 2012
http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org/studio-program/application12-13.shtml

ComPeung Grant 2012 – Call for applications, Thailand.
Deadline: May 31, 2012
http://www.compeung.org/_images/cp_grants/grants.html

Lademoen Kunstnerverksteder residency: Lademoen artists’ studios are in the centre of Trondheim, Norway.
Deadline: June 1, 2012
http://www.lkv.no/eng/guest-recidency.htm

Amsterdam OAZO-AIR call for 2013: OAZO AIR invites artists of all disciplines, curators and cultural producers to live and work temporarily (1 – 3 months) in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Netherlands.
Deadline: June 1, 2012
http://www.oazo-air.com/

The SIM Residency is an international residency located in Reykjavík and run by SÍM, The Association of Icelandic Visual Artists.
Deadline: June 5, 2012
http://www.sim.is/sim-res

Klaustrid (the Monastery) is a residence for artists, writers and scholars, Icelandic or foreign. Iceland.
Deadline: June 15, 2012
http://www.skriduklaustur.is/ensksida/klaustrid/klaustrid.htm

Residency at 33officinacreativa: a small but active cultural association based in an old church/theatre. Toffia, Italy.
Deadline: June 25, 2012
http://33oc.wordpress.com/

ISLAND Hill House Artist Residency Program, East Jordan, MI, USA.
Deadline: July 2, 2012
http://artmeetsearth.org/artistresidency.html

IAAB (International Artists Exchange Program) is an exchange program for artists and curators. Basel, CH.
Deadline: July 8, 2012
http://www.iaab.ch/

Residencia Corazón Casa de Artistas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Deadline: August 1, 2012
http://www.residenciacorazon.com.ar/

Applications to Nes Artist Residency may be submitted at any time (open call). Iceland.
Deadline: Anytime
http://neslist.is/application/application-form/

McColl Center for Visual Art’s residency program: ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE + ENVIRONMENTAL ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE. USA.
Deadline: Anytime
http://www.mccollcenter.org/artists-in-residence/submit-materials-for-residency-programs

Artist in Residency Program, Shanghai @ The Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China.
Deadline: Anytime.
http://www.swatch-art-peace-hotel.com/apply

 

 

RESIDENCIES (CRITICS, CURATORS):

Air Celeia: Open Call – International Curatorial Residency, Slovenia
Deadline: May 1, 2012
http://www.celeia.info/program_umetnik_na_delovnem_obisku

Amsterdam OAZO-AIR call for 2013: OAZO AIR invites artists of all disciplines, curators and cultural producers to live and work temporarily (1 – 3 months) in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Netherlands.
Deadline: June 1, 2012
http://www.oazo-air.com/

Klaustrid (the Monastery) is a residence for artists, writers and scholars, Icelandic or foreign. Iceland.
Deadline: June 15, 2012
http://www.skriduklaustur.is/ensksida/klaustrid/klaustrid.htm

IAAB (International Artists Exchange Program) is an exchange program for artists and curators. Basel, CH.
Deadline: July 8, 2012
http://www.iaab.ch/

 

 

COMPETITIONS, EXHIBITION PROPOSALS (CURATORS):

 

ERSTE Foundation offers four fellowships for young artists and four fellowships for emerging curators from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia to take part in a course of their choice at the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg 2012.
Deadline: April 30, 201
http://www.erstestiftung.org/blog/fellowships-for-curators-and-artists-at-salzburg-summer-academy/

Főrderprogramm *KURATOR der Gebert Stiftung für Kultur, CH.
Deadline: August 31, 2012
http://ausschreibung.kurator.ch/Ausschreibung/Idee/tabid/54/Default.aspx

Open Society Arts and Culture Program for individuals and organizations: the Call is open to applicants from and activities in one or more of the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. 
Deadline: December 31, 2012
dbolganschi@osi.hu

 

 

COMPETITIONS, EXHIBITIONS, FESTIVALS & PUBLIC ART PROPOSALS (ARTISTS):

 

Wirksworth Festival invites high quality, ambitious and engaging work from national and international artists as well as artists in the locality and the region. UK.
Deadline: April 18, 2012
http://www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk/home/trails-applications-for-2012/curated-programme-applications-

Maria Jose Jove Foundation – 5th International Visual Arts Prize 2012 for artists aged under 35,  Spain.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.fundacionmariajosejove.org/

Without Walls invites artists and companies from any discipline to propose ideas for the development of new outdoor work for presentation in 2013, UK.
Deadline: April 20, 2012
http://www.withoutwalls.uk.com/news.php

ANGELIKA OPEN 2012: an award of £1,000 will be made to one selected artist and the winner will be offered an exhibition in the  Gallery program. High Wycombe, UK.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.angelikastudios.co.uk/Angelika_Studios/Angelika_Open_2012.html

The International Ibsen Scholarships: For Henrik Ibsen related projects worldwide.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.ibsenawards.com/scholarship/news/announcing-the-ibsen-scholarships-2012/

The Cynthia Corbett Gallery announces the Young Masters Art Prize 2012 call for applications, London
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://youngmastersartprize.wordpress.com/

Kernel Festival (ELECTRONIC MUSIC / AUDIOVISUAL MAPPING / INTERACTIVE & DIGITAL ART / TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE) launches an international open call addressed to young talents under 35. Italy.
Deadline: April 30, 2012
http://www.kernelfestival.net/en/open-call-012-2/

The Department of Visual Arts, Weber State University is requesting artist, landscape architect or team qualifications for the redesign of the Ora R. “Dick” & Edna Ione Hall Sculpture Garden. USA.
Deadline: June 1, 2012
http://departments.weber.edu/dova/indexpdfs/HallRFQ.pdf

VIDEOHOLICA Video Art Festival in Varna, Bulgaria is accepting now video art submissions for its 5th anniversary edition.
Deadline: June 30, 2012
http://www.videoholica.org
Open Society Arts and Culture Program for individuals and organizations: the Call is open to applicants from and activities in one or more of the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. 
Deadline: December 31, 2012
dbolganschi@osi.hu

Call For Submissions, The New Gallery, Calgary, Canada.
Deadline: Anytime
http://www.thenewgallery.org/submit

 

1. The Kipper + the Corpse at Robert Bills Contemporary

Work by Jessica Labatte, Mike Andrews, Montgomery P Smith, and Lauren Anderson.

Robert Bills Contemporary is located at 222 N. Desplaines. Reception Friday 6-8pm.

2. Hairy Blob at Hyde Park Art Center

Curated by Adelheid Mers, with work by Becky Alprin, Nadav Assor, Deborah Boardman, Lauren Carter, Sarah FitzSimons, Ashley Hunt in collaboration with Taisha Paggett, Judith Leemann, Kirsten Leenaars, Faheem Majeed, and Emily Newman.

Hyde Park Art Center is located at 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Reception Sunday 3-5pm.

3. The Last Image at Tony Wight Gallery

Work by Sreshta Rit Premnath.

Tony Wight Gallery is located at 845 W. Washington Blvd. Reception Friday 6-8pm.

4. The Near and the Far at Devening Projects + Editions

Work by Jin Lee.

Devening Projects + Editions is located at 3039 West Carroll. Reception Sunday 4-7pm.

5. Set Theory at ACRE Projects

Work by Angela Jerardi and Samantha Rehark.

ACRE Projects is located at 1913 W 17th St. Reception Sunday 4-8pm.

A quick note — more of an observation, really, or a re-directing of attention, but I was looking at my blog reader today and found a wonderful thematic coincidence on the Art Asia Pacific blog and Granta. Today, Art Asia Pacific reflected on Global Art Forum 6, remarking in particular:

There’s something about the immediacy and urgency of writing against the present that can be panic-inducing; paralyzing even. 

It feels as if we should be quicker than we are.  We should be able to respond more efficiently.  It should be easier by now.  Our brain’s functionality should be in sync with the latest social media apps on our Blackberrys, tablets and Mac books—so that we can not only multitask, “double-screen” and consume information (both virtual and real) at the rate of several giga-Hertz per second—but also analyze it, digest it and produce a meaningful reaction to it immediately.  Except that’s not exactly how our cerebral cortex works; there is a lot more complexity involved—and maybe there is a saving grace in that somewhere. 

The pressure to keep up with, and contextualize the arts within, the most up-to-date socio-political happenings was cited and critiqued at the recent discussion series, Global Art Forum_6. Part of the titan that has become Art Dubai and its collateral programming, this year’s forum was titled “The Medium of Media,” and for this second installment writers Rayya Badran, Rijin Sahakian, Shahira Issa and myself were invited as “forum fellows” to reflect on issues in the fair. Art critic and forum fellows mentor Kaelen Wilson-Goldie talked about an almost expected reflex to situate art within contemporary politics (or politics within contemporary art), with particular reference to Lebanon and Syria. Such a reflex has been intensified by two things in recent times: the conflicts and uprisings of the Arab Spring, and the penetrating and shifting role of instant online media in news reportage.

The post goes on to question the capacity of art to respond, quickly and critically on its own contemporary times, particularly when our times are mediated at such a rapid pace. Author Jyoti Dhar suggests that perhaps art’s function is to slow us down, to demand a pause.

Seemingly to that point, Granta posted an article by Mishka Henner about the censorship of google earth — particularly in regards to the Dutch government:

When Google introduced its free satellite imagery service to the world in 2005, views of our planet previously accessible only to astronauts and professional surveyors were suddenly available to anyone with an internet connection. Yet the vistas revealed by this technology were not universally embraced.

Governments concerned about the sudden visibility of political, economic and military locations exerted considerable influence on suppliers of this imagery to censor sites deemed vital to national security. This form of censorship continues today, and techniques vary from country to country with preferred methods generally including use of digital cloning, blurring, pixelization and whitening out sites of interest.

Surprisingly, one of the most vociferous of all governments to enforce this form of censorship were the Dutch, hiding hundreds of significant sites including royal palaces, fuel depots and army barracks throughout their relatively small country. The Dutch method of censorship is notable for its stylistic inventiveness compared to other countries: imposing bold, multi-coloured polygons over sites rather than the subtler and more standard techniques employed elsewhere. The result is a landscape occasionally punctuated by sharp aesthetic contrasts between secret sites and the rural and urban environments surrounding them.

There is something so stunning about these images (there are more on Granta’s site) — seemingly crude and colorful, as in a decorative obliteration: A kind of purposeful withholding. But it creates a pause, demanding time from the viewer as it presents something unexpected. It looks like a painting in gouache!

All of us at Bad at Sports are deeply saddened to learn that Donald Young has died at the age of 69. Since its original launch in Chicago in 1983, the Donald Young Gallery has been among the premiere U.S. contemporary art galleries.  Prior to this, Young partnered with Rhona Hoffman in the Chicago gallery Young Hoffman (1976-1983); both Young and Hoffman subsequently struck out on their own to create two of the city’s most successful and long-running commercial art venues. In the early 1990s, Young and his family left Chicago for Seattle, where he opened Donald Young Gallery on Pike Street. They returned in 1999 because Young missed living in a large urban center. “When you live in a big urban city, at a certain point you think you want to move out, to go somewhere else,” Young told the Seattle Times in 1998. “Then you move, but after a point you realize that urban life is in your blood. You miss it. You miss the grittiness, the human contact, the abrasives of the big city. You miss the more outspokenness of the big city.”

Donald Young Gallery is one of a select few Chicago contemporary art galleries that exhibits and represents artists of international renown. The gallery has exhibited the work of Tony Cragg, Anne Chu, Dan Flavin, Rodney Graham, Bruce Nauman, Rosemarie Trockel, Josiah McElheny and many, many others. Most recently, Young himself curated a critically-lauded series of exhibitions at the gallery titled “In the Spirit of Walser” that is inspired by the short stories and “microscripts” of Robert Walser. In his curatorial statement, Young notes his fascination with Walser’s microscripts, which he had first seen in a 2008 exhibition in Berlin, and his interest in exploring the connections between Walser’s writings and contemporary artists like Fischli & Weiss, Tacita Dean, and Thomas Schütte, rather than produce an exhibition devoted to Walser himself. “Hundreds of artists have made work in homage to Walser, many of a highly personal and sometimes romantic and sentimental nature,” Young explained. “This is not an area that interests me personally and I am confident that the artists who have agreed to work on this project will produce work that is as original as its inspiration.”

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Mr. Young’s family, as well as to his longtime gallery staff. Donald Young has made an indelible mark on Chicago’s cultural landscape, and his presence here will be sorely missed.

 

UPDATE :

The trib did a great job with their obituary for Donald. Check it out here.

This week was sort of weird. No one sent us much about opportunities – locally, nationally or otherwise. I did manage to catch a few things with highlights including Texas awesomeness, your daily ACRE reminder, performance –centric things and a prize opening at Gold Star Bar.

 

Calls for Entry

 

National:

 

New American Paintings

West deadline: April 30^th

Juror: Bill Arning, Director, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston

New American Paintings is a juried exhibition-in-print. Each edition results from a highly competitive juried competition and presents the work of 40 painters. Working closely with renowned curators such as Lisa Philips of New Museum of Contemporary Art and James Rondeau of the Art Institute of Chicago, in order to select those artists whose work deserve to be seen by a wider audience. From post-modern pastiche to the landscape, recognized artists to recent M.F.A. graduates, New American Paintings does not discriminate against style or yield to art world trends.

http://www.newamericanpaintings.com/competitions.html

 

Chicago:

 

Synapse Arts – New Works open call for creators

Deadline: May 1

New Works is an annual program that supports emerging artists by providing the resources needed  to make an original piece.

For the first time, Synapse is offering one position to a new creator by way of application. This creator (choreographer, director, deviser, etc.) will be an independent artist who requires resources such as rehearsal space and performers in order to explore their work. The creator need not be entirely new to Synapse, but applicants who have not worked within the New Works program previously will be a priority.

The selected creator will receive:

-Paid performers (up to 4)

-Free rehearsal space

-Free weekly company class

-A costume budget

-A place on a fully-produced final concert (including public performance(s), tech time, lighting design, stage management, box office management, public relations, and marketing) in October, 2012.

See more about the company at www.synapsearts.com or contactlauren@synapsearts.com

 

Texas:

 

Auora Picture Show

Early deadline: 11:59PM April 16, 2012

Late deadline: 11:59PM May 1, 2012

Started in 1998, the Extremely Shorts Festival is a juried competition of adventurous three-minute or shorter films and videos from around the world. Each year a different juror (esteemed filmmaker, film programmer or arts curator) selects 20-25 mini-masterpieces to be shown at a two-day screening event in June. Audience Choice cash awards are given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The short format of the festival encourages innovative approaches to filmmaking in a range of genres including narrative, art, experimental, documentary and animation. Started in 1998, the Extremely Shorts Festival is a juried competition of adventurous three-minute or shorter films and videos from around the world. Each year a different juror (esteemed filmmaker, film programmer or arts curator) selects 20-25 mini-masterpieces to be shown at a two-day screening event in June. Audience Choice cash awards are given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The short format of the festival encourages innovative approaches to filmmaking in a range of genres including narrative, art, experimental, documentary and animation.

http://aurorapictureshow.org/pages/extremely_shorts_film_festival_154.asp

 

Residencies

 

Midwest:

ACRE Reminder!

Deadline is April 20^th

http://www.acreresidency.org/

 

Harold Arts & threewalls

SURVIVAL III: August 10th – 24^th

Survival is a three-year collaborative residency project between Harold Arts and threewalls. Held each summer at Harold Arts in Morgan County, Ohio near the town of Chesterhill, Survival is an ongoing discussion about the continuation of existence, in spite of obstacles or advantages in the landscape, economy or community, in public or private that hinder or facilitate endurance.

The project combines long-term relationships with commissioned projects and returning visiting artists, writers and curators with short-term residents and temporary visitors to create a collaborative program facilitated by its participants. Over the last two seasons residents have produced films, embarked on research projects and conducted workshops on themes relating to survival – whether physical, psychological or social. Past residents Sara Black and Conrad Freiberg are both working on new commissions for the Hub & Tack program, part of The Placemaker Foundation, our sister organization which seeks to invigorate Morgan County through arts and culture with a focus on site-specific works in architecture, earthworks, performance, sculpture and sound. We invite your proposals to cap off the third year of Survival with a special invitation to those who would like to conduct workshops or make presentations in conjunction with the theme. Of course, we still invite individual research and private exploration.

This session is open to musicians and artists working in performance, film/video, architecture and three-dimensions. This year, residencies at Harold Arts are awarded by invitation only. However, if you would like to invite yourself, we encourage you to submit a letter of inquiry to info@haroldarts.org

http://haroldarts.org/

 

New York:

 

Watermill Center Residency

Applications are due June 1, 2012

The Watermill Center Residency Program began in 2006, when the Center officially opened as a year-round facility. Over the course of the program, up to twenty collectives or individual artists take up residence at the Center to create collaborative works that critically investigate, challenge, and extend the existing norms of performance practice. By June of 2012, the Center will have hosted over 89 residency groups.

The Residency Program, which runs from September  to June, gives young artists the opportunity to utilize the Watermill Center as a home and a workshop to create and develop their own work.

http://watermillcenter.org/programs/residencies

 

On another note, an entire B@S email thread from was dedicated to how great this press release was…

 

In the early part of 2010, Mike Rea and I were drinking in a relatively empty Gold Star during a winter storm. As usual, we were a bit bored with each other so Susan, our favorite bartender, asked if we wanted some paper and markers to draw. It reminded me of drawing sharks from a book that my dad had while I was growing up so we started casually doodling some sharks. It quickly began spiraling out of control. Mike drew a shark sniffing cocaine alongside a fighter jet and I drew one with a dick and three balls attached. I believe the first night produced around ten drawings which Susan hung on the refrigerator. The next time we came in Susan said people loved them but unfortunately some were stolen off the refrigerator by people waiting in line to piss. She asked if we wanted to draw more.

 

For months we kept adding more filth trying to shock each other. We decided they should be made quickly with little attention to skill and great emphasis on vulgarity. Other patrons started coming in when we weren’t there and asked if they could draw them too. Susan kept collecting them, eventually accruing around 400 drawings in addition to all the ones people kept stealing. Many artists participated while Mike and I heckled them for being pussies. We met a lot of people we didn’t care to meet and a few whose company we really enjoyed. Most people asked, “Why sharks with dicks and drugs?” Mike just thinks it is a stupid question. I always answer by saying they are three things from our childhood that movies and media taught us to be afraid of.

 

One night Susan introduced us to her mother Maryann, who owns Gold Star and picks artists for the walls. She said she normally doesn’t like nudity or violence in the work they show but asked if we would like to show our sharks because she thought they were funny. We agreed but only if we could pick the best ones (our own drawings) and blow them up to large poster size. “Sharks, Dicks and Drugs” opens Saturday, April 14th at 6:00 p.m. at Gold Star Bar.