Thematic Call for Submission

Wednesday, March 23, 2016 to Saturday, April 30, 2016

Deadline: April 30th 2016 at 5 PM

Forest City Gallery invites Ontario-based artists to submit proposals for inclusion in a thematic-exhibition (title TBA) taking place Friday, September 16, 2016 – Thursday, October 20, 2016. An opening reception for this exhibition will be hosted on Friday, September 23rd from 7 – 10 PM. This call is medium specific, we are accepting submissions in new media, video and photography only.

About the exhibition:

If identification is to go anywhere, it has to be with this material aspect of the image, with the image as thing, not as representation. And then it perhaps ceases to be identification, and instead becomes participation. -Hito Steyerl

At its simplest, portraiture might be understood as a representation of one's likeness, whereby the artist attempts to discern and distill the essence of their sitter. Embedded in this definition of portraiture is the notion that authenticity is certain. For exhibition at Forest City Gallery we are looking for submissions that acknowledge the futility of attempting to portray identity through static figurative representations. Instead, we are looking for submissions that investigate constitutions of identity outside of external representations.

In these instances, portraiture can be understood as an embodiment of self, of one's actions over a duration of time—a participatory enactment. Further to expanding and complicating traditional notions of portraiture, we are asking artists to focus on how these representations can often be disingenuous. How might external pressures shape identities (the performing of gender roles), how has social media facilitated fetishization of these images and promoted misrepresentations and embellishments (online dating profiles, cvs, etc.). This call is medium specific, we are accepting submissions in new media, video and photography only.

We are interested in proposals that address this topic in a creative and thoughtful manner. Artists are paid in accordance to CARFAC fees. This group exhibition will include 4 – 6 artists. Please submit 1 – 5 works for inclusion in this show, with a maximum of 8 images. Images should be no larger than 5 MB and titled: 01artworktitlelastnamefirstname.jpg All submissions must be emailed to programming@forestcitygallery.com

Submissions must include: · Artist Statement/ Relevance to Portrait Theme (500 words maximum) · Artist Bio in 3rd Person (200 words maximum) · Artist CV (2 pages maximum) · Image List · Technical Requirements List · Above documents merged into a single PDF titled (lastname,firstname.pdf) · 1-8 images of proposed work

Submissions (excluding images) should be merged into a single PDF. Notification can be expected in early June 2016. Only successful candidates will be contacted. If you have any questions concerning the application process, contact us at director@forestcitygallery.com Image Caption: Lucas Cabral, Ardent Hunter, 2015, Still from video