Dear Friends of VISA,

When I tell people that I am an artist, one of the first responses is often 'do you paint?'. The truth is I do paint, but I also draw, make sculptures and installations. I see all these activities as a seamless series of activities that I do to work out ideas and interact with materials. Sometimes I long to have a curriculum at VISA that is similar to that of Goldsmiths University of London (a school that came to international fame with Damien Hirst and YBA's -Young British Artists). Goldsmiths' only offers two courses at the undergraduate level: Critical Studies and Studio Art. Think of the registration process: you wouldn't have to spend hours deciding what course to take, and then once the decision is made, how to fit the course into your schedule. You would just have to sign up for two courses and that would be it. This structure allows the flexibility of having one discipline flow into another, drawing into sculpture, photography into painting and so on. My undergraduate work was mostly in drawing and painting so whatever I do, two- or three-dimensional, is informed by that language. An artist I always have had an affinity for is Frank Stella. From the beginning with his black paintings in the 1960's he recognized the canvas as a sculptural form. Here is a review of a recent exhibition of Stella's early work. He was one of the first artists to physically 'shape' the rectangle of the painting and his worked spanned from the minimal to the baroque with his large scale sculptures. In a recent interview with Eleanor Wachtel, Stella goes into detail about his life and the evolution of his work. After listening to this interview, I went on-line to find more and I came across a panel discussion with Stella from 2011. Its worth watching this just to see Stella at the blackboard. As John Luna says, there is always something humbling about seeing a person at a blackboard. Here is a New York Times Review of his work in 2007.  Stella's recent work is on display in New York. You can see from the example below how his work represents a culmination of drawing, painting and sculpture in one work. I love that Stella is 85 and is still taking his work in exciting new directions.

Wendy

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)