International Fiber Collective

I just talked to Jennifer Marsh on the phone--so exciting! She runs the International Fiber Collective, you may have heard of her gas station wrapping project which she got a lot of press for, including a feature in FiberArts Magazine. Jennifer's current project is Interdependence. Participants will create a full-sized tree for display in April 2009 in Huntsville, Alabama. The concept is, "much like a live tree is interdependent on its leaves and roots for survival, societies are interdependent on the greater whole, family units, communities, and countries."

Participants from around the world are invited to create leaves to contribute to the creation of the tree. In total, up to 30,000 leaves may be used. For more information on how to participate, click here. This is open to all age groups and levels of artistic ability.

Jennifer's next, highly ambitious project after the tree is wrapping a NASA rocket! But she needs help raising the money to rent the expensive crane required to install the artwork. Click here to see how you can help and become involved. She needs your help!

Jennifer will be representing Alabama and Community-based medium for my 50 Artists, 50 States, 50 Medium exhibition at The Eclipse Gallery in October 2009. I am still accepting submissions from artists, crafters, and designers. Click here for more info.

I am also working with her to plan a solo show for her amazing sculpture.

i left this here for you to read

This is a great project by Tim Devin, a Boston-based conceptual artist and writer.

From the website:

About this magazine
Each month or so, we release a new issue of "i left this here for you to read." We then leave them in public places (such on park benches, on buses, in airports and dentists' offices...) for anyone to take--free of charge.

Currently, we distribute our magazine in Boston, New York, and LA. We only print about 50 copies of each issue, and don't reprint any past issues. Sorry, we can't mail you any copies--we only send them to contributors.

Email us at i.left.this.here@gmail.com

They accept submissions of writing, art, and even objects. And they automatically include every single thing they receive. Of course I sent them something! Go here for more info.

Fiber Love

Postcards by Marty Calhoun (left) and Carol Tamasiunas (right)

Make a Fiber Postcard for Valentine's Day (yeah, I know it's a little early to be thinking about it but hey...) for the post office of Loveland, Coloardo who has been re-mailing valentines from around the world since 1947, adding its own special cancellation and poem. Loveland is the hometown of Fiberarts Magazine, one of my faves. There are some guidelines so make sure to check those out before you mail! Deadline January 15th, 2009.

genericZINEexchange

g e n e r i c Z I N E e x c h a n g e

Anyone is welcome to participate, including international artists. Please feel free to invite others.
THEME - Generic. Do whatever you want!
MEDIA - Hand-printed cover in any media. Any paper/ printed media is acceptable for the interior pages (for example: screen-printed cover with photo-copied interior pages, etc)
PAPER SIZE - No larger than 8.5” x 11” and no smaller than 4.5” x 5.5”
EDITION SIZE - 25. Please sign and number the zines individually 1/25 through 25/25.
DISTRIBUTION - One portfolio of 20 zines to each participating artist. One complete edition will be retained for exhibition and one complete edition will be donated to the zine collection at The University at Buffalo. The remaining editions will be donated to various international and domestic collections, at the discretion of the organizers.
FEES - 10 (USD) per participant to defray the cost of postage. Please include in your package of zines; packages sent without the 10 (USD) fee will not be included or returned to the artist.
DEADLINE - November 15, 2008 (postmark date). Please include your mailing address in the package with your zines.
QUESTIONS - Email Abbey Hendrickson at hownowdesign@yahoo.com
MAIL ZINES TO - Abbey Hendrickson / Print Media Visual Studies 202 CFA, UB North Campus, Buffalo NY 14260, USA

This looks like a great opportunity for all you zine makers out there. I found this via Eleanor Cardwell's amazing blog A Good Idea on Paper and her link to University of the West of England's Book Art Newsletter (which is a wealth of information!!)

I am really going to push myself to make a new, special edition of The Wandering Uterus Zine for this deadline!! I'm thinking of a dreams really do come true topic, because that is how I feel right now--so happy!

Wouldn't it be great to get 20 zines in the mail for only $10?!

Update: I found out that Abby has a great blog! Visit Aesthetic Outburst.

Exhibition Opportunity

I thought of a great idea for an exhibition the other day, and now that I am opening The Eclipse Gallery I can make it happen! So this is a call to all you artists, designers, and craftspeople out there.

50 States, 50 Artists, 50 Mediums

One artist or designer from each state in the USA will represent a different medium, bridging the gap between the traditional fine art world and other arts disciplines, including craft, design, architecture, performance art, etc.

Open to all professional artists living or working in the United States. Open to any and all mediums in the art, craft, and design communities. See below for examples of accepted mediums.

How to submit: Send a short biography (including your address & e-mail), artist statement, a few words about why you want to be in this show, 10-20 images & information (including medium, dimensions, & price), and any links to your work on line to sarah@theeclipsegallery.com. Important: You must write “Submission for 50 Show” in the subject line of the e-mail or I will think it is spam. Attachments are fine. E-mail submissions are preferred.

Deadline for submissions: April 15, 2009. Show is scheduled for October 16, 2009 – March 8, 2010 at The Eclipse Gallery. Location: 507 Fourth Street (Hwy 42), Algoma, Wisconsin, 54201.

Mediums accepted, but not limited to:
Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Digital, Ceramics, Mixed Media, Knitting, Jewelry, Metals, Found Object, Glass, Plastic, Photography, Crochet, Paper, Quilting, Felt, Wearables, Architecture (such as models, plans, photos), Graphic Design, Film/Time Based, Installation, Furniture, Baskets, Typography, Sand, Rock, Performance, Music, Spoken-Word, Text, Artist Books, Zines, Mail Art, Encaustic, Watercolor, Sewing, Mosaic, Fresco, Graffiti, Illustration, Altered Book, Printmaking, Silk Screen, Product Design, Wallpaper, Textiles, Etc.

Any questions, feel free to e-mail me. Thanks :)