Preview Exhibition

From Key Arts

The Ip Art festival provides us with an opportunity for a representative preview of Visual Arts work. Such an event offers a platform for promotion of our proposals, and a means of engaging others in this activity early on to understand their needs and the contributions they could make.

Initially thought to be an introductory presentation of existing or debut artists in the Ipswich Artists group, the exact format of this exhibition is currently being finalised.

However, it is worth noting that this exhibition may not in fact accept general work from the Ipswich Artists membership, in favour of a more inclusive, community-oriented open invitation for people to submit work which satisfies a specific pre-defined format.

Rationale

The exhibition should preferably be

• Well attended
• Impressive to visitors
• Representative of Visual Arts work in Suffolk
• Invite work from members and non-members of the Ipswich Artists group

Suggestions

Whatever you can fit in a shoebox Annette Fry – IPSWICH ARTISTS’ GROUP – PROPOSAL FOR IPART

29th January 2006

THE SHOE BOX IDEA

This is an ‘inclusive’ idea, short of other suggestions I think we should go with this. It has a very good pedigree in artistic terms (Worlds in Boxes, historic exhibition of artists who do work in boxes at the Whitechapel Galleryand others).

Working with UNITS - Recycling

POSSIBILITIES

Name: On a shoe string Outside the Box Boxing Clever Mail Box Box Office The Box Room Pandora’s Box

The group felt ‘THE BOX ROOM’ was evocative.

Advertise: With WAG (or their current name), local papers, Arts Council Free Ads Artists Newsletter, First Site, Outpost etc, Arts Admin.

Significant Points

1. It needs to be inclusive exhibition to celebrate the beginnings of the group and most significantly to attract as large an audience as possible. It will gain the group much needed support and create a ‘feel good’ atmosphere. Very important in these early stages. We want everyone on our side and as many people coming to see it as possible.

2. It should be available to artists in the group, the town and the County and perhaps beyond.

3. It can incorporate a ‘community element’, e.g. work with different groups, e.g. schools , community groups, the university to have their work included. Publicise it specifically to the ART SCHOOL.

4. Schools could be invited to come to see it at specific times, given guided tours, to help initiate school art projects. Members act as artist guides.

5. How it is curated will show the professionalism of the group.

6. Physical possibilities could be laid in avenues on the floor which you have to walk through, or on wallpaper pasting tables, which go with the flimsy and temporary feeling of the shoe box itself. Leaving the main body of the church open (e.g. if work was displayed on the floors, if enough pieces were available) would be interesting, since nothing would then conflict with the simplicity and beauty of the church structure, arches etc. BUT it would also be an interesting focus, instead of looking up at the walls, you look down at the floor, alters one’s perspective. GROUND LEVEL. How it is displayed can be simple but a stunningly beautiful structure.

7. Curating the exhibition can be a ‘cementing’ opportunity for the group itself, or some members of it. A celebration and a doing task.

8. There could be interactive ongoing art projects to extend and inform the work.

9. to make it as accessible as possible everyone uses recycled shoeboxes from shops. We can specify a size (approximately) ADULT SIZE What people put inside it is up to them, i.e. they could build another structure inside it, another box. The group felt that artists should be allowed to display work out side of the box, However if so, I feel there should be a separate display area for these not to detract from the whole installation. All work should be delivered in sealed shoe boxes.

10. Artists could submit a number of pieces, to present a series of work, say up to 6.

11. There would need to be 2 days set aside ( I think) for delivery of the completed pieces. I don’t think Rebecca and Cara have space to collect them. I therefore think they should be delivered directly to the church.

12. We would need volunteers available to accept the work.

13. Need a disclaimer , i.e. we have no insurance, so if there is any damage, the artists will need to take out their own insurance to cover it.

14. The work could either be permanent pieces or temporary pieces. It could be returnable to the artists, in which case we would need to specify dates for collection of work, after which the work will be disposed of, OR the work could be more temporary, more ephemeral in its’ nature. A contribution which the artist would not require back.

15. If the work was temporary, I envisage we might have a huge auction at the end of the exhibition, and people could bid for work. This may or may not be a good idea. This would raise money for the group. Or people could come on the last day and take a piece of work.

16. Participants could specify whether they wanted their work back on the submission form.

17. On applying the participants receive lables possibly tie on luggage tags, to attach to their work, to add title and name. This unifies the work.

18. We could ask participants to paint the outside of the box white/black, or any other colour to unify the work. Or just leave them as they come.

19. There could be accompanying sound played, ambient, squeaking shoes, footsteps echoing around the church. Tap dancing.

20. We could specify we want them to use shoe boxes with a separate lid.

21. There could be a catalogue, although this might be difficult to arrange depending on how many enter.

22. The simpler the processes are the easier it will be to make it work.

23. We need a list of invigilators.

24. I think there is no electric light in the church, but it will be long summer evenings, so we rely on that.

25. Private view: Maybe get in a band, or music of some sort refreshments needed.

26. We could have a specific ‘shoe’ event, Cinderella etc. at selected times.

IPSWICH ARTISTS’ GROUP – Annette fry, first thoughts

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Exhibition name e.g

THE BOX ROOM

You are invited to submit art work in a shoebox to the Ipswich Artists’ Group first exhibition at St. Mary’s in the Quay church, Ipswich. (address)

Contact Ipswich Artists Group for a submission form, further information and your luggage tags at Rebecca’s address and phone number

Collect a shoe box with a detachable lid (adult size) from a local shoe shop. Paint it white ?

FILL IT WITH YOUR THOUGHTS, DREAMS, DESIRES, OR DESPERATION.

WHAT WILL YOURS CONTAIN?

YOU MAY SUBMIT UP TO 6 BOXES.

Exhibition dates:

Submission dates: …………………………………………… Work can be delivered to the church between …. And ….

Annette Fry : This is the form that Rebecca will need to send, email people.

FIRST THOUGHTS

The Shoe Box Thing at St Mary’s on the Quay, address

Criteria: The exhibition is open to those who live or work in…………………………

Name…………………………………

Address……………………………….

Telephone……………………………….

Email………………………………….

How many shoe boxes are you submitting?..................................................................

Do you want to collect your work at the end of the exhibition or donate it to the cause of Ipswich Artists Group collect …………… donate ……………….

Would you mind if you work was auctioned………………………………. (all proceeds to the artists group)

Work can be delivered to the church on……………………………………

Between…………………………………………………………………….

It can be collected on………………………………………………………..

Work may be refused if it is found to be offensive to any particular………..

You must take responsibility for the insurance of your own work.

Submission fee?

This could be delivered with the shoeboxes

Instead of sending out labels, they could be handed out and completed on the delivery dates, and for sale/sold/not for sale stickers could be attached.