Call for Entries: Artist Program--Ah, Motherland! A Wonder Women Project at _gaia

“In a land of immigrants, one was not an alien but simply the latest arrival.”-Rudolf Arnheim

With the passing of time, advances in technology, transportation and an ever homogenizing economic global market, the world is a seemingly smaller place. Emigration and immigration have become less arduous, less final andless difficult - technically. However, the issues of identity, home, family, culture and politics are ever present and ever more complex. As conflicts change landscapes and relationships and economies grow with enticing opportunity and fail with devastating consequence, people are forced to make decisions of place and home that have lasting effects on their identity and the identities of their descendants.Wonder Women invites 10 artists to reflect on notions of home and identity addressing emigration and immigration. We invite artists who have chosen to make the US their new home or who are descendents of immigrants to participate in a residency program that will focus on exploring immigration through the lens of feminism and social change. Weekly discussions will address issues related to art, identity, migration, economy, war,displacement, opportunity, government and policy. Each participant is encouraged to contribute to the discussion and to the source materials. Every Sunday, beginning January 17th [through February 21st] accepted applicants will meet as a group at _gaia studio to discuss current social issues and topics brought forth by participants. There will be a potluck lunch each Sunday with group discussion and critique of works in progress. All accepted applicants must commit to all Sunday meetings (see schedule below).  At the end of the program there will be a group exhibition (to be announced).

History: Wonder Women is a residency program in its fifth year presented by _gaia at their studio in Jersey City, NJ. The Wonder Women mission is to engage practicing, yet underrepresented artists who are eager to participate in a collective dialogue about migration and identity. _gaia, an environment for creative process is dedicated to fostering women’s activism, art practice and study. This year the Wonder Women project is being organized and curated by Doris Caçoilo and Renata Moreira.

Submission Guidelines Eligibility: Wonder Women is currently accepting proposals and portfolios from individuals working in all media and disciplines from the NJ/NY area. Artists are required to attend weekly meetings to take place at _gaiastudio in Jersey City NJ. Portfolio: All media are acceptable.  Artists should submit 5 to 10 images/samples of current works either by email submission or by slidesheet/CD/DVD. [Please submit images at 72dpi, and approximately 700 pixelswide.] Proposals: 2-3 paragraphs describing a project you wish to complete during the residency.  Please include any visual documentation of proposal ideas. Proposals should specify why and/or how this project or your work considers the themes of the residency.  Projects can change as the residency progresses. Additional Materials: A resume/CV and short biography are required.  An artist statement is recommended. Please include your name and contact information on each page.

Deadline: Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Residency Meeting Times:  Meetings will take place on Sunday afternoons from 1pm to 6pm from January 17th, 2010 through February 21st, 2010. Participation Fee: Upon acceptance to the residency, artists will be asked to donate $35 to cover the costs of promotion and facility fees.

Calendar:

December 13th, 2009 by 5pm EST………..…………...………………….…..Submission Deadline

December 19th, 2009…..………………...……………………………….Notification of Acceptance

January 17th, 2010 1-6 pm……………………………..……..…………………….......First Meeting

January 24th, 2010  1-6 pm...……………….……..…….....…..…………………...Second Meeting

January 31st, 2010 1-6 pm……………….……………………..………………………Third Meeting

February 7th, 2010 1-6 pm...…………………………..…..…….……………….......Fourth Meeting

February  14th, 2010 1-6 pm...…………………………..…..…….………………..…..Fifth Meeting

February 21st, 2010 1-6 pm...…………………..……….....………………...…….......Final Critique

(Early March TBD)…………………………………………..….…………………...Exhibition Opens

The deadline is December 13, 2009. Accepted applicants will be contacted by December 19, 2009. Discussion sessions will begin January 17, 2010 at 1pm. Please contact us with any questions or for more information.

wonderwomen@gaiastudio.org

Send completed application and submission materials via e-mail to: wonderwomen@gaiastudio.org or mail to _gaia at:

Doris Cacoilo c/o _gaia315 3rd Street

Jersey City, NJ 07302

Application:Ah, Motherland!a Wonder Women project at _gaia

Name:Address:Contact information: (phone, e-mail)Webpage/URL:Brief statement of interest (2-3 paragraphs):Artist Checklist:Deadline for submission is December 13th, 2009•       Completed Application (form attached)•       Proposal•       Portfolio: digital materials/slides (5-10)•       Resume/CV and Bio•       Artist Statement (recommended, not required)If you are submitting non-digital materials, please include SASE for returnof materials._gaia, an environment for creative process315 3rd Street, garden level                                                               www.gaiastudio.orgJersey City NJ, 07302                                                           wonderwomen@gaiastudio.org201.386.0486