Dear Friends of VISA,
As I think about the state of the world, in particular the state of the world's environment, I wonder what role can an artist or art play. Just the other day I read in the Guardian that almost all the arctic ice will be gone in four years. News such as this is so dire its hard to know how to process this information. I've done a lot of reading on the impact of the ice melt on the environment and it could prove to catastrophic because the ocean temperature will drastically heat up with a lack of ice. Heat from the sun gets bounced back into the atmosphere as it reflects off the white of the ice caps, with out the reflective power of the arctic ice, the suns rays will inevitably (and more quickly than most people believe possible) heat up the ocean. For most of us this information is hard to believe because we have never seen an iceberg so it becomes harder to 'picture' the effect of such a disastrous turn of events. And we also feel somewhat powerless in terms of these immense forces of nature rapidly changing because of human energy use. The artist Maya Lin provides an excellent answer to my question about how can an artist address such issues in her current work called 'What is Missing'. This is an interactive site where anybody can upload stories of what they noticed to be 'missing' in the natural environment where they live or lived.  I put the City of Victoria on Maya's map by writing about two beautiful dogwood trees that were cut down from the apartment I used to live in on View St above Cook. Maya Lin has a promotional video for her project that asks us to imagine what it would be like if the city parks we love would be cut down at the same rate as the rainforest. The 'What is Missing' site is very moving and powerful, yet too overwhelming to absorb fully, as is the news of the rapidly melting ice. However I do feel that art, and in particular design, can play a powerful role in terms of helping us 'picture' the state of the world perhaps making the incomprehensible, comprehensible.

Wendy

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Photographs of back spaces in Victoria

The Slide Room Gallery will be hosting a large group exhibition of photographs under the theme of Backspace from November 9-December 3, 2012.

We are looking for new work that explores local backspaces: these could be undefined spaces such as the borders of public and private lands or spaces that explore the ideals of sanctuary or retreat within rural, suburban or urban green spaces. 

Artists are are asked to submit up to work as jpeg files (max 5/person). Work will be juried with up to two images per person to be chosen. Selected images will need to be printed in 8x10 or 11x14 sizes for exhibition. No framing is necessary (prints will be installed on wall with magnets).

All artists selected will receive a small honorarium of $50 to help cover print costs.

Backspace will provide a showcase for emerging artists as well as highlight new work from some established artists whose photographic practice explores notions surrounding 'backspace' and the contemporary landscape.

Submissions should be emailed to:

with 'backspace' in the subject line.

For more information contact:

Tara Nicholson (curator)