Please join us at our new website and blog

To go along with our move and rebranding we've also redesigned our website and blog.  You can find all our blog posts here: http://xpace.info/blog/

Quilting Workshop, Photos of April Exhibitions, Submissions and Upcoming Events!

This weekend we have a quilting workshop with artist Brette Gabel!!! Register quick, only a few spots left!!

Quilting is a process of sewing three layers of fabric together, a backing, a fluffy center, and a patchwork ‘quilted’ top. The Quilting Bee is a gathering of people who are all working to hand sew a quilt on a ‘quilters frame’. In the tradition of a quilting bee, this workshop will cover the basic steps involved in making a quilt starting with a pile of fabric scraps and finishing with beautiful patchwork quilt. Hands on elements of the quilting workshop will include how to build a quilting frame, stretching a quilt and hand sewing. Basic sewing skills will be helpful but not necessary.

Workshop is free but rsvp to alicia@xpace.info to reserve your spot.

After the workshop, we will also be screening a documentary on the incredible quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabama.

Brette Gabel is a graduate of the University of Regina with a B.A. Honours in Theatre Studies and a minor in Visual Arts. While in school Brette began embroidering, quilting and watching horror movies. Following school, Brette moved to Toronto where she participated in the Toronto School of Art’s Independent Studio Program where she investigated her interest in the both the macabre and textile crafts. After which she became a contributing member to the White House Studio. Recently Brette has lived in Regina, Saskatchewan where she has participated as the University of Regina’s artist in residence and Windsor, Ontario where she was an emerging artist in residence. She has exhibited nationally and internationally. Brette’s work strives to connect love, fear, heartache and the grotesque with craft and social interventions. Brette is currently an MFA candidate at OCAD University.

Ok so, last weekend our April exhibitions opened at XPACE. Here are some photos of the event.

Window Space with VSVSVS Collective "The Shelf"

Main Space: An Illuminated Identity, Curated By David Hanes.

Work by: Emilie Gervais, Olivia Erlanger, Mary Kidd & Sarah Butterill, Jennifer Chan, Matthew Jarvis Wall, Sarah Wong, Jenna Crook and Connor Crawford.

Project Space "William Christopher Ellis is Dead" 
Artists: Jordan Tannahill and William Christopher Ellis.

THINGS TO SUBMIT TO!

Hartcourt House Artist Run Centre, Edmonton AB
Residency to commence November 1, 2013

2014 Artist in Residence must be submitted by May 31, 2013.

Residency to Commence November 1, 2013

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre is now accepting submissions for our 2013/2014 Artist in Residence (AIR) to commence November 1, 2013. Awarded to artists annually through a peer jury selection process, this program is committed to providing one artist with a year-long, dedicated studio environment at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre to research, develop and exhibit new work. This program allows for the Artist in Residence to engage and interact with the local visual arts community, encouraging shared ideas, expression and discourse.

This one-year residency includes a studio space, access to our art education courses and facilities, teaching opportunities and a $150 monthly art supply stipend. The AIR will be given a solo exhibition in the centre’s Main Gallery at the end of the one-year term to conclude their residency. The AIR will receive CAR/FAC fees for the presentation of this final exhibition.

They invite artists who are Canadian residents to submit a proposal before May 31, 2013. All disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applicants will be selected by the quality of work submitted, their demonstration of commitment to serious practice, community engagement and how the residency will meet their objectives at this crucial juncture in the development of their practice.

-10-15 digital images of recent work
-CV
-Artist Statement
-Plan of activity for residency
-Demonstration of at least 2 years commitment to studio work outside of a post secondary institution
-2 letters of reference from professionals in the arts community
NOTE: Curriculum vitae (C.V.), artist statement, plan of activity and slide list must be submitted in hard copy AND digitally as a writable Word or Open Office document. Files must be Mac compatible. NO PDFs.

Incomplete proposal packages or unreadable files will NOT be considered.

Should you have further questions, please contact Brittney Roy at 780.426.4180.

Please mail submissions by May 31, 2013 to:

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre
3rd Floor, 10215 – 112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 1M7

E-mail inquiries to: harcourtexhibit@shaw.ca

http://harcourthouse.ab.ca/

Island Mountain Arts, BC
Tony Onley Artist Project Scholarships

Island Mountain Arts School of the Arts is pleased to announce scholarship opportunities for visual artists to the juried 2013 Toni Onley Artists’ Project for Professional and Emerging Artists. The 2013 program features two senior mentors over the course of the program, which runs over nine days from Saturday, July 13 – Sunday, July 21, 2013 (with a day off in the middle). Participants will be provided studio space and direct and peer group mentorship with daily one on one critiques with the mentor artists and peers. You do not need to specify which scholarship you are applying for, your eligibility will be determined by the jury.

Based on a review of the application materials and the following considerations, Island Mountain Arts will select individuals to receive scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded through a juried process based on the following criteria. Island Mountain Arts reserves the right to change these criteria if the submissions warrant.

Applications must include the following:

•  Show a commitment to their art practice.
•  A letter stating what they hope to gain from this experience
•  Provide a current CV and artist statement
•  Provide 6 – 10 images of artwork created in the last year either as slides or digital images.
•  A commitment to attend the course if accepted

For more information on Scholarships and how to submit, visit: http://www.imarts.com/courses-and-training/toni-onley-artists-project/

Deadline for submission is May 1, 2013

Email media@imarts.com for any additional questions.

Ladies Lugging Gear

LADIES LUGGING GEAR is a monthly (mostly) all-female media-storytelling symposium in Toronto.

Ladies Lugging Gear hosts and creators Molly Willows and Britt Wray decided that they wanted to see a centralized social community hub exist in Toronto for emerging female producers/makers/broadcasters/media tinkerers/media artists/researchers/scriptwriters etc. They thought it would be nice to host some casual meetings where all those who are interested could come out to get to know one another, demo their projects and get feedback, bounce ideas around for collaboration, divulge in some skill sharing, and generally poke at the fire to see what new creative relationships might arise for all.

They are currently seeking ladies to present their projects at future meetups! 

PLEASE SUBMIT:

- examples projects you have worked on 

- tell them about the passions you pursue

- include a 200-500 word write-up about your experience as a digital storyteller, artist, creator or general person who "lugs gear" 

Send Submissions to Molly Willows (mollywillows@gmail.com) and/or Britt Wray (hello@brittwray.com)

For more information about Ladies Lugging Gear visit their website.

SMALL TALK

Small Talk is a summer interdisciplinary lecture series, now back and better-than-ever in its second season! Last year they hosted 7 events featuring 14 speakers and now, they're doing it all again!

Small Talk is open to any and all subject matter. Teach us how to identify and make dinner from wild urban edibles, examine the aesthetic underpinnings of architecture in China, rewrite Beowulf as a rap and perform it, what would Walter Benjamin say about tumblr? 

Does it involve talking? Yes? Then send them a proposal. They are interested and open minded. 

Events will take place through June, July, and August. To submit, please email a brief proposal, 200-300 words, to smalltalksubmissions@gmail.com before May 31st. Be sure to include a summary of your talk, any dates you will be unavailable, and any requirements of the space, technological or otherwise. 

Small talk is curated and organized by artist Sarah Friend.

EXHIBITIONS and EVENTS

14 Forgeries - OCADu Printmaking Thesis Exhibition

Gallery 1313

Opening April 18th 7-10 PM

Runs April 17th – 25th 

The OCADU Printmaking department is proud to present the work of fourteen talented young thesis students. The show is presented by Gallery 1313, located at 1313 Queen St. West between Lansdowne and Dufferin. The show includes but is not limited to a breadth of work utilizing traditional etching, lithography, screen, and relief processes. Join us for the opening on April 18th starting at 7:00PM to meet the artists and enjoy a casual bite and refreshments.

Artists: Kayla Devito, Kristina Dillon, Miles Ingrassia, Iris Karuna, Sydney Kent, Joanna Labriola, Vicki Martinovic, Emily Pennacchio, Franny Rutchinski, Maxi-Ann Smith, Lennard Spokowski, Alex Thompson, Charity Tjoe-A-Long, Julia Van Bommel

OPEN SESAME: A Series on Criticism, Two Events

Zeesy Powers "I Will Tell You Exactly What I Think of You

LUFF art + Dialogue, 688 Richmond Street West

Saturday April 20th, 1 - 5 PM

LUFF art + dialogue is pleased to present the third installment of OPEN SESAME: A Series on Criticism

In "I Will Tell You Exactly What I Think of You", Zeesy Powers offers viewers the opportunity to have their worst fears and greatest desires confirmed or denied. Accepting the notion that nothing comes for free, the artist provides an honest assessment of her opinion of you. In exchange, the participant offers themselves as a mirror for the artist's own preoccupations. The entire proceedings, while offered at no monetary cost, are made public under the guise of a body of artistic work. Influenced by talk television and therapy culture, I Will Tell You Exactly What I Think About You is for entertainment purposes only, and does not reflect on who you are as a person.

Zeesy Powers is an interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto. Her performance and video work has been exhibited in festivals and galleries around the world, with her project “I Will Tell you Exactly What I Think of You” making people cry, and then ask for a hug, and then want to hear more. She is a past resident of CCA Kitakyushu (Japan), The Banff Centre (Alberta) and Palomar5 (Berlin). Zeesy is currently working on treating video and film as painting, and expanding her fake Reality-TV-empire.

A temporary Library of books on criticism, curated by Art Metropole, will be on display for your perusal or to buy. 

CLOSED SESAME: Window Shopping with Xenia Benivolski

April 22nd, 2013

2 pm to 4 pm

For the final public event in OPEN SESAME: a series on Art criticism, everyone is invited on a monday afternoon gallery hop of closed gallery spaces led by Xenia Benivolski. They will tour the Queen st. and Dundas strips  and talk about how galleries present themselves from the outside. There will also be 1. Gossip 2. Free coffee 3. Sunshine.

2 New Calls for Submissions at Xpace: Yahoo! Answers and Residency for Graduating Artists

CALL FOR PROPOSALS (Yahoo! Answers TITLE TBA)
Exhibition dates: July 2013, Main Space at Xpace Cultural Centre
Curated by Alicia Nauta
Deadline: May 31, 2013

Xpace is currently accepting proposals from student and emerging artists responding to to the theme of the internet Q&A forum Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! Answers is a community-driven question-and-answer site or a knowledge market launched by Yahoo! on June 28, 2005 that allows users to both submit questions to be answered and answer questions asked by other users. Users can collect points and levels, although these have no real world value, cannot be traded, and serve only to indicate how active a user has been on the site. A strange quality of the points/level system is that it encourages people to answer questions even when they do not have a suitable answer to give to gain points. At the same time, many questions are posed by the asker without any real desire to gain knowledge.

Work proposed could explore Yahoo! Answers in some of the following ways: 

-as an example of peer to peer/horizontal methods of communicating and sharing information
-as a means to convey presence/state of mind
-a relatively anonymous place to ask questions that are felt to be too embarrassing, mundane or existential
-a consideration of why people ask questions they already know the answer to

Proposals should consider the space the artwork occupies, the media used and its relationship to the subject in question. New works in response to the call are encouraged. Proposals for all media will be considered. Some examples may include, but are not limited to:

Online or web specific art, videos, live performance or performance video/image stills, digital (or non digital) images, screen shots or animated gifs, bookworks of collected themes/questions from Yahoo! Answers

Deadline: May 31, 2013
Electronic Submissions only can be sent to: alicia@xpace.info

Include in your submission:
1. Images of the proposed work (or relevant work) or a link to a website/youtube/vimeo. Maximum of 10 images or 5 minutes of video.
2. Description of the proposed work, including technical requirements (maximum 300 words).
3. CV (maximum 3 pages)

For additional questions, contact Alicia Nauta: alicia@xpace.info

RESIDENCY FOR GRADUATING ARTISTS
Xpace Cultural Centre is seeking applications for the opportunity to participate in a two-week residency on Toronto Island. At this time the residency is only open to applications from students graduating spring 2013 from OCAD University.

The residency is intended to provide exceptional graduating students dedicated time to make a new body of work for exhibition in Xpace, September 2013. The residency consists of a two-week stay at Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island, and a small materials budget. The deadline for application is May 31, 2013. Please mail or drop off applications: 2-303 Lansdowne Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 2W5 c/o Residency for Graduating Artists.

If you are interested in applying please provide:
1. An artist statement (250-500 words): The artist statement should give a description of your overall practice as it relates to the project you plan to undertake during the residency.
2. Curriculum Vitae (Max 3 pages): Your CV should include education and exhibition history, as well as any relevant experience, reviews, etc.
3. Visual Support Material with accompanying Support Material List (5-10): All work included in the visual support material should have been completed over the 2012-2013 year. Please maintain consistent labeling of your image files. We do not accept Power Point files for image submissions. Video and audio files should be a maximum of 3-5 minutes in total. Please make sure that all files are Mac compatible.

It's Spring!!

Hello everyone! We have an exciting event coming up this weekend! The release of the the publication SWAP by OCADu First Generation Students at XPACE, 303 Landsdowne Ave. There will be food, drinks and music by DJ BJ (Sarah D'Angelo) and Playful PetchaKucha presentations by the artists begin at 6:30 p.m.

The First Generation Program at OCAD University delivers programs designed to enrich the academic experience for students whose parents have not attended university or college, and for the entire OCAD U student population. 

Through this publication, First Generation Art and Design students were invited to produce works within the theme of ‘SWAP’, considering any exchange of giving and getting and the act of reciprocity. This theme could have been interpreted anyway the participants wished, and be expressed in any medium, resulting in a vibrantly diverse range of reflections. 

The publication is printed as a limited-edition risograph bookwork, to be launched at this event. The night will also feature a PechaKucha where interested publication participants will have the opportunity to speak about their work, their inspiration and anything else they choose! PechaKucha is a fast paced and fun presentation style in which each participant talks about 20 slides, which are each shown for only 20 seconds - six minutes and 40 seconds in total.

Participants:

Bryan Alberto Bermudez
Katelyn Gallucci
Pilarica Fernandez
Wayne Tang
Charlie Young
Sarah Ferreira
Min Jin Song
Ashley Lo Russo
Rui Jin
Chechi Liu
Juli Kim
Phuong Nguyen
Haley Polinsky
L.E. Frost
Sayeda Akbary
Mehr Naz Rohbakhsh
Annie Patino King
Wayne Tang
Nazanin Khani
Jennifer Ramses
Chinmoyee Debnath
VikkiMarie Baez 

The publication was printed by Colour Code Printing and looks beautiful!

SUBMISSIONS

PULP PAPER ART PARTY - Toronto, ON

PULP is an Art Party organized by Toronto Architecture and Design students at Metropolis Factory (50 Edwin Ave.) on April 27th 2013. They are looking for designs for installations and furniture (and cloth too) made of reclaimed material, mainly paper. Video art submissions are also being accepted to be projected on a screen and/or on the paper installations. Anyone can submit a design. Materials: A team of volunteers is collecting paper and cardboard. A generic material we will have available are (printed) 11/17 sheets. We will appreciate artists who come up with reclaimed materials by themselves. Clean the streets, make it into art! Designers are asked to provide a short text description and any conceptual drawings and models (photos or 3D images) conveying the intention and plausibility of their designs. Type and number of images are up to the design teams. Please provide JPGs or PDFs. 

They will only have the day of the event to set up. Designs must take this into account and be constructed quickly, or created in studio and assembled on site. Designs must be free standing, unique temporary spaces.

Submission Deadline: April 14th, 2013
All submissions and further inquiries should be directed at
submissions@pulpartparty.ca.PULP Paper Art Party
Architecture For Humanity Toronto
http://pulpartparty.ca/

Blue Mountain Fondation for the Arts, The Arts Centre Gallery - Collingwood, ON

The Arts Centre Gallery is now accepting submissions from Ontario-based artists, artist groups and independent curators for 3-4 week exhibitions in 2014. Artists are encouraged to offer their work for sale but the primary purpose of these exhibitions is public education and enhanced awareness of current art practices as well as to offer artists an outstanding opportunity to exhibit their work to a new audience.

Exhibitions may feature single artists, duos or small groups. Group shows may be created at the discretion of the Exhibition Committee from individual artist applicants.

The Arts Centre Gallery is located on the ground floor of a restored, Victorian brick storefront on the main street of Collingwood's historic downtown, approximately 2 hours north of Toronto. The Arts Centre is owned and operated by the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that has been actively promoting the arts across the South Georgian Bay region for 35 years.
Information and submission application forms are available at www.bmfa.ca
Deadline to receive completed submissions is April 30, 2013

White Rabbit Open Air Artist Residency - Lower Economy, NS

White Rabbit is a week-long artist residency in which emerging and established artists live, work and collaborate in community. The residency culminates in a public celebration, performance and exhibition of individual and collaborative works that have emerged over the course of the week. The residency runs from August 11 to 18th in Upper Economy Nova Scotia. The residency encourages artists from a broad range of disciplines to push the boundaries of their practice collaboratively and individually in response to the unique landscape. Red Clay is a land of organic gardens, medows, ponds and forests looking out over the extreme tides of the Bay of Fundy. During the week, two senior mentors will guide resident artists through workshops, presentations and one-on-one engagement. 2013 mentoring artists will be Reinhard Reitzenstein and Michael Waterman.

The cost for participants is $285 and covers 8 days including workshops and presentations by senior artists, field trips and use of site facilities, all meals and accomodation (camping or lofts). White Rabbit seeks to achieve culinary excellence: food is locally-sourced and prepared by qualified chefs.

For more infomation visit: whiterabbitarts.ca

Deadline for submissions: May 15, 2013

Neighborhood Spaces, Socially-Engaged Artist in Residence Program - Windsor, ON

Arts Council Windsor & Region (ACWR), Broken City Lab (BCL) and The City of Windsor are pleased to announce the launch of Neighbourhood Spaces: Windsor & Region Artist in Residence Program, a new initiative that will locate ten chosen artists in community sites throughout Windsor and Essex County in Ontario, for 4-6 week artist residences. Supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, this new program will allow artists to
pursue research and/or create work(s) that engage, explore and connect with local communities. The program is inviting applications from Canadian artists of all disciplines including visual, performing, literary, music, interdisciplinary and media arts.

Neighbourhood Spaces will embed artists in community sites such as parks, nature reserves, libraries, health or community centres. These sites will provide a “home base” for each artist to work during their residency, while also allowing the artist to take on diverse roles, engaging with community members in various ways to animate, explore and inspire the specific stories, curiosities, challenges and triumphs of the local community.

Curated by Broken City Lab, residencies will begin in summer 2013 and be staggered throughout the year, concluding in August 2014. There is no application or residency fee. Each artist will receive $4750, which includes an artist fee and funding to assist in covering travel, housing (for the duration of the residency), material and per diem expenses. While housing is not provided, Neighbourhood Spaces is available to assist
artists in finding accommodations. A final exhibition and symposium will be held in the fall of 2014 and an online publication will be created documenting the program.

For more information visit: www.acwr.net/ns and http://www.brokencitylab.org/apply

Application deadline: May 6th, 2013

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Loop Gallery - Toronto, ON

Loop gallery is seeking a university/college student or recent graduate of fine arts, art history, or a related field to join our team for a 6-week summer internship. The successful candidate will spend 1 day per week at the gallery and produce one 300-word blog post per week. This volunteer opportunity is geared at students looking to pursue a career in cultural management or arts writing and offers first-hand experience in an established artist-run centre in Toronto’s vibrant Dundas West community. The incumbent will work with the gallery director and have the chance to hone his/her writing skills as loop’s summer web correspondent, blogging and tweeting about a new show each week.

Deadline: April 19th

For more information visit: http://www.loopgallery.ca

Papirmasse - Toronto, ON

We are looking for a bright and dedicated culture lover (with excellent written and oral communication, natch) to help us out with promotions, press kits, web stuff, social media, and production. This internship is part-time for 16 weeks and pays. Your time will be spent in the company of two full-time artists (Kirsten McCrea & Jp King) with extensive experience in exhibitions, illustration, printing, and DIY culture.
Papirmasse shares space with Paper Pusher, an exciting small publishing house and risograph print shop located in Little Italy in the heart of Toronto. This is a great opportunity to learn how to thrive as a small press producer and pick up tips on making it in the art world post-school!
Full details and application form are at the link below. Questions can be directed to Kirsten McCrea at kirsten@papirmasse.com

Deadline: April 20th, 2013

For more information visit http://papirmasse.com

Struts Gallery - Sackville, NB

Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre is seeking an individual to fill the intern position Technical Associate and work as a team member as we further develop a media arts
centre in New Brunswick.

Under the supervision of the Faucet Media Arts Centre Manager, the Technical Associate will develop as the Centre’s principal technician, manage and deliver introductory level
media arts workshops, oversee the Centre’s equipment inventory and its membership. During the course of the internship the Technical Associate will have the opportunity to conceive and manage a new programme initiative for the Centre.

The position is for 12 months, 30 hour a week
June 17, 2013 – June 13, 2014
Salary $18,720 plus billet with two weeks paid vacation 

Deadline for application is: April 19, 2013

More information can be found at www.strutsgallery.ca