Bumpkin Island Art Encampment Request for Proposals Submission Deadline: May 4, 2009 Island Alliance and Studio Soto, in partnership with the Berwick Research Institute, invites proposals for the Bumpkin Island Art Encampment, a five-day art experience in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Starting Thursday, July 30, 2009 and continuing though Monday, August 3, 2009, eight artists/artist groups will each be awarded one plot of prime, arable land. As “homesteaders” for five days, they will: • Build some kind of “home” on the land, • Live on the land for five days, and • “Improve” the land via a site-specific, temporary project or installation. This is a unique opportunity to live and work in a temporary artist community in Boston’s largest national park area. Artists will: • Develop projects that respond to the environment, as defined in the broadest sense. Projects may reflect the island’s natural resources and human history (see background below), the cultural context of homesteading, the theme of artistic community, or other themes. • Use the resources/elements they find on the island for their projects. Rocks on the shore, fallen branches, shells, seaweed, and washed up debris are all fair game. As a starting point, artists may only bring the basic tools and supplies they can personally physically carry on to the island, including everything needed to sleep and survive for five days. Everything found and used on the island must stay on the island at the end of the project. Installations that are not within the tent sites and which are made exclusively from found materials may remain intact on the island. • Spend two days developing projects, two days meeting the public, and one day moving off the island. Artists are encouraged to interact with day visitors, other campers, boaters, etc while creating projects. Artists will receive: • A five day “land grant” with full campsite access and ferry transportation • A $100 stipend to cover basic expenses, and a supply of shared drinking water • Support and critical feedback from project curators Timeline: Mon, April 6: Call to Artists released Mon, May 4: Proposal deadline Mon, June 8: Artists notified Sun, June 28: Mandatory Information Session in Boston Thurs, July 30: Artist boat departs from Hingham to Bumpkin Island Fri, July 31: Works-In-Progress Day (open to the public) Sat, Aug 1- Sun, Aug 2: Public Visitation Days Mon, Aug 3: Breakdown, Artist boat departs to Hingham To apply: In one page or less, please provide: • Names and contact information for every person in your group • How you would "improve" your land, and why • And a description of your artistic process. Up to two images of past work or sketches are encouraged but not required. Email proposals on or before May 4, 2009 to: bumpkinlandoffice@gmail.com About Bumpkin Island : Bumpkin was used by Native Americans as a fish camp prior to European contact. During the colonial period, the island was leased to tenant farmers. The island hosted a fish-drying operation in the early 19th century and a fish smelting operation in the early 20th century. In 1900, a Boston philanthropist named Clarence Burrage founded a hospital for children with physical disabilities. During World War I the island was taken over for use as a United States Naval training camp, which was dismantled after the war. The hospital reopened briefly in about 1940 for polio patients but closed during World War II and burned in 1945. Today, plants have reclaimed the physical landscape of the island - about half are non-native species, including various fruits and berries, shrubs, vines, field plants and trees. Wildflowers grow along the trails that lead visitors to the ruins of the children's hospital and a stone farmhouse. The island is 35-acres with slate and shell beaches and open fields. About Homesteading: In 1862, the United States recruited civilians to aid in its movement west. The Homestead Act offered any U.S. citizen or head of household, including people of color and women, free or low-cost 160-acre plots of land. In return, "homesteaders" promised to build a 12' x 14' house, cultivate and "improve" the land and live on the plot for five years. The project resulted in the creation of over 372,000 farms west of the Mississippi, continuing as late as 1976-- when the Homestead Act was officially dissolved. Frequently Asked Questions: How many artists can work on each project? “Land grants” accommodate up to five artists per campsite. Think about how you might incorporate the island’s “human resources”—curators, other artists, and day visitors. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to stay on the island all five days? Can I leave? All artists must live on the land for 5 days and 4 nights to keep their claims. I don’t want to apply, but I would like to volunteer during the Encampment. Where do I sign up? Look for a volunteer application on the Berwick Research Institute and Studio Soto websites in May. Where can I find general information on visiting the Boston Harbor Islands? More information is at www.bostonharborislands.org. Will work created during the Art Encampment be available for people to see after the event? Bumpkin Island Art Encampment artists, curators and respondents will publicly exhibit their findings during Fort Point Open Studios in October 2009. Can I get to the island early to start my piece? Project installation will start no earlier than July 30, 2009. Visiting the island beforehand is not required. I have more questions. Who can I contact? Megan Dickerson, Carolyn Lewenberg and Jed Speare curate the Bumpkin Island Art Encampment. Send them an email with your questions to bumpkinlandoffice@gmail.com. |
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Bumpkin Island Art Encampment Request for Proposalsposted Apr 6, 2009 7:15 PM by Jed Speare |