Polyvocality: Solidarity in the Time of Political Rupture (OPEN CALL)
Announcing an International Open Call to Iranian artists for a virtual ceramic exhibition with the support of The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Artaxis and the Middle Eastern Program in the Department of Art at Vanderbilt University
Spring 2023
Polyvocality: Solidarity in the Time of Political Rupture
In times of social and political upheaval, art can stimulate ideas and create spaces for multiple perspectives to collide and interact. Artmaking has the power to raise questions, evoke responses and stand as evidence and artifact of a historical period or event. It can also foster solidarity among people and become a collective for a common purpose. Clay has always been a fundamental medium in art. From the words impressed in the Cylinder of Cyrus, the Great, to the pots of Grayson Perry, ceramic objects have been platforms for social criticism, mutual understanding, human connectivity, and divine inspiration. Polyvocality: Solidarity in the Time of Political Rupture is built on such fundamental roles and is intended to bring together the voices of Iranian contemporary artists and the diaspora. Clay can express contemplation on the current uprising and be an agent for change insisting on human rights, social justice and freedom and acknowledge the contribution of Iranian ceramic art throughout history.
This international open call will encourage and consider artworks in different mediums such as a multimedia installation, performance, sculpture, etc. as long as clay is central to the work. Originality, creativity, skill and conceptualization of the exhibition’s theme of social justice and activism in Iran are the requisite factors for the work to be considered for inclusion. The exhibition is virtual; therefore, submission of high-quality images or video is extremely important for the jurying process.
This virtual exhibition will have many phases in 2023 and travel to different locations in the United States. Each event consists of two sections, one featuring works from invited ceramic artists, and the other from artists selected through this open call.
Submission Details:
The submission is FREE. Artists can submit either for phase 1 or phase 2, with respect to the deadlines listed. Those who have been accepted in the first phase do not have to resubmit again and will automatically be included in the successive events.
In order to be considered, please send one email with attached images of the works to Iranianceramics@gmail.com .
You may include up to three images and/or videos. Images should be saved and sent as jpeg, 1000px minimum in any direction. Videos should be saved and sent as MP4 file format and with highest resolutions.
Relevant information to be included:
-Title, date, medium and dimensions must be included in the email. For the video the duration also, must be included.
-Biography (150 words or less)
-Statement about the work (150 word or less)
-The deadline for the first submission is January 20th, 2023, to be considered for the first phase of the virtual exhibition on the Artaxis platform February 1st, 2023.
-The second deadline is March 3rd, 2023, to be considered for the second phase at the NCECA conference’s exhibition March 15th -19th, 2023.
Other deadlines and exhibition opportunities will be announced in future.
The exhibition aims to provide a safe space for artists who live in Iran. Therefore, their wish to enter work anonymously is respected and their identity will be protected by all the parties involved.
For more information, please contact: Raheleh.filsoofi@vanderbilt.edu
Document Downloads:
PDF – Exhibition Submission Information