AN EXCITING, CHALLENGING, VALLEY-WIDE, ALTERNATIVE, ART EXPERIENCE
Dear Artist,
ArtFarm PHX invites you to participate in a group art exhibition, Roadside Attraction – Challenging Reality Now. We’re very excited to launch this 4th iteration of Roadside Attraction! Although we are no longer living under pandemic restrictions, the spirt of radical accessibility of Roadside Attraction and the mission to expose art in all communities prevails. We hope that this version is bigger and broader, more experimental, and can be presented in even more locations!
This year, we are thrilled to be partnering with Phoenix Art Museum and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. In conjunction with Phoenix Art Museum’s new exhibition, Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s–1980s, we will celebrate the kickoff of Roadside Attraction – Challenging Reality Now, by presenting an artist video night in the Museum’s Dorrance Sculpture Garden. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will also host a video night as well as outdoor installations and projections. We’re honored to be partnering with both museums in promoting Arizona artists through Roadside Attraction!
We hope that you will want to participate in this “Valley-wide gallery space.” Powerful, boundary-defying work needs to be seen, so we are inviting you to try that project you’ve been meaning to create. How can you explore the boundaries of our realities here in the desert? We are inviting you to exhibit your work in this self-directed exhibition, presented in accessible, public/private outdoor or storefront locations in the greater Phoenix metro area and beyond. The main requirements: the work needs to be visually accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, or car/bus/public transportation passengers. The success of the previous three Roadside Attractions was the result of the enthusiasm of the artists and the public. Let’s make this an extraordinary event!
What is ArtFarm and Roadside Attraction?
ArtFarm Phoenix is an artist collective with goals of creating exhibition opportunities for artists and supporting initiatives that make art accessible to everyone and attract those who might not regularly attend a gallery or museum. ArtFarm is focused on providing opportunities for artists representing different viewpoints and diverse voices. Roadside Attraction encourages artists to think about creative ways to bring art directly to the public.
Where will Roadside Attraction be exhibited?
Participating artists show their work in self-selected outdoor locations, such as front yards, on fences, on garage doors, windows, walls, store fronts, etc. Anywhere that is accessible for viewing by car, bike, on foot, or viewable to visitors from a public street or public walkway. It is your responsibility to determine an appropriate location and install your work. Artists are encouraged to contact business owners to install in store windows, patios, roofs, etc… While it is your responsibility to select the location that does your art justice, we may be able to offer suggestions of art friendly businesses.
The artist is responsible for installing (and deinstalling) their work in a safe and timely manner. It is important to acknowledge the possibility that your work could be stolen, confiscated, damaged, vandalized, or impacted by the elements. Neither ArtFarm Phoenix, its members, Phoenix Art Museum, nor SMoCA is in any way responsible for damage to or theft of your work.
Limited Stipends Available
We have a small fund for project stipends. To be eligible for a stipend, please submit your entry, on the google doc on this site, and check the box for stipend consideration. Fill out the line below with a project description. This is a small fund and will go quickly! Artists who wish to be eligible for the stipend need to submit by March 16th.
How will people find my work?
The location of each piece will be posted on a special color-coded Google map showing all Roadside Attraction projects. Practical Art gallery is supporting this exhibit by hosting a webpage with links to the artworks. Go to practical-art.com/artfarm-phx-roadside attraction for additional information and to view the map. See more below.
When will Roadside Attraction be exhibited?
May 1st through May 31st (Dusk – Dawn). Depending on the type of work you do, you may choose to exhibit your work for the entirety of the exhibition (we hope you will), or if your work requires special circumstances for viewing, (darkness, supervised interaction, or tech support for ex.) you may choose to participate during the weekend dates listed below, or indicate particular dates on your submission and we will add them to your location info.
Advertised Evening Hours: 7 pm - 10 pm on the following days:
Wednesday, May 1st, Kick-off celebration and video night at Phoenix Art Museum
Saturday, May 11th
Friday, May 16th
Friday, May 31
These dates will be advertised as evening hours designed for viewing video and film that require darkness. You may choose to present your video at your own location or participate with other artists at the curated artist video night, on May 1st at Phoenix Art Museum. Only a limited number of curated videos will be shown at the Phoenix Art Museum event, so if your video is not accepted, you may still show your video at a location of your choice or at our closing reception at The Rocking S Art Ranch. The closing will be in June, specific date TBD.
Exceptions and scheduled performance or specially scheduled installation:
TBD, based on participating artist schedules
We will advertise specific dates for performance or for works that will only be available to view for limited amount of time. This would apply to artists who cannot leave their work outside and unattended for the entire month, or whose work may require supervision or special circumstances, who are presenting ephemeral work, or other forms that require an audience.
How is the work promoted?
- ArtFarm PHX will host a web page dedicated to Roadside Attraction on practical art gallery’s website. Along with a list of participating artist’s names, a thumbnail of the work, there will be a link to each artist’s art page. You are responsible for submitting this information in an accurate and timely fashion. The web page will feature a link to a specialized Google map which will show the specific location of your work(s). The map will feature a color-coded key referring to the type/media of work exhibited, the date and times it is available for viewing, instructions for interaction if required, as well as general safety instructions to the public (i.e: a request to be socially responsible for their safety and the safety of others, a request to be respectful of the work and the environment around the work), and a request to hashtag the work crediting the artist and #RoadsideattractionPHX.
- Any contact between the artist and interested parties is up to you. ArtFarm PHX is providing a platform for interested people to find your work, and we will promote the event via multiple platforms and invite you to do the same.
- A downloadable placard for you to print and fill out. The placard will include the title of your piece, date and materials, and a link to your website or IG. We ask that you place it in a visible location, adjacent to your work.
- The event and artist work displayed will be promoted on ArtFarm’s IG and Facebook page. Past Roadside Attraction’s received press and radio coverage.
What kind of work do we hope to see?
Any of the following (all work must be installed with the public’s safety paramount):
- New work that particularly addresses Challenging Reality Now
- Older work of an experimental nature related to the theme.
- Temporary or ephemeral work. including performance.
- Liminal or earthworks.
- Socially engaged or interactive work
- Sound installation
- Writing and poetry.
- Video and projection work. The artist may present projections/videos in a location of the artist’s choosing (your driveway for example) or be a part of the May 1st video night. The videos at Phoenix Art Museum will be curated. There will be an opportunity to present all videos at the closing reception at the Rocking s Art Ranch, TBD.
- We will not include previously installed public art or murals that pre-date this exhibit as there are already resources for the public to find and visit those locations.
IMPORTANT Details
TO SUBMIT WORK:
To participate, all artists must fill out the submission form.
Please send information by midnight, April 24th or sooner. If you have your location but not an image, please get as much to us as early as possible. Artists who wish to be eligible for the stipend need to submit by March 16th.
The form requires:
- jpegs of your work, preferably after it is installed, or a mockup. Our audience uses the images on the map to plan their route. - Exact location (an address and if no address available, include the cross streets and a clue as to how to find your work i.e.: 100 paces due north of 36th Ave and Thomas. Look for a tall saguaro… or GPS coordinates.)
- Artist contact information
- Title of piece
- Medium
- Description
- Dates the work is viewable (i.e. for the duration of the exhibit, or only on scheduled days/times)
- Any other considerations
- Artist website and social media handles
Installation:
Please have your work installed and visible by the opening time. If you can install earlier, please do so and send us an image of your piece.
Opening: Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
On view: May 1st-May 31st, 2024
You are responsible for installing your work, maintaining it (if necessary) and removing your work at the end of the exhibit. We will contact you if we receive a message that your work has been damaged or tampered with.
By agreeing to participate in this exhibit, you agree to allow photographs taken of your work and allow us to publicize your work. We hope to include artist interviews on the website.
We are excited to make this happen and hope you can participate!
If you are interested, please contact us with any questions. If you plan on participating, please let us know as soon as possible, so we can start compiling the list of participating artists!
Thanks!!
Patricia Sannit
Jen Urso
Chris Jagmin
Lisa Olson
instagram.com/artfarmphx
#roadsideattractionphx
