Major Exhibition Open Call : Humorgous Smorgasbord
Letterpress image by Josh Dannin at Directangle Press
Exhibition Dates: September 6-19, 2017
Application Deadline: June 15, 2017
APPLY HERE
Flux Factory invites you to submit to a humongous art exhibition, Humorgous Smorgasbord. The aforementioned humongous exhibition solicits the artist as humorist. We welcome proposals that utilize incongruity as a tactic in their work. This humongous exhibition celebrates the playfulness of humor as an end in and of itself, to liberate the artist, disrupt familiarity and make people laugh. All artists will receive humongous stipends. Humorgous Smorgasbord is one of Flux Factory’s Major Exhibitions and curated by artists in residence, Sarah Dahlinger and Danny Crump.
What’s Funny? A truly reactive laugh is a perfect collaboration between mind and body, fusing intellect and instinct. We are looking for artists who intentionally use incongruity to disrupt the status quo or slip through social constraints and embrace humor as a powerful means of communication. The aesthetics of humor exercise the imagination and shift understandings of familiar objects and ideas. Humor is often marginalized from critical dialogue due to the simple fact that it is, among many other things, pleasurable. Well no shit Sherlock? The pleasure caused by humor undeniably influences social behavior and shifts public opinion and yet, humor remains a complex enigma. How do we explain humor? Why do we find things funny? How do we understand its effect on us? The Incongruity Theory of humor recognizes that incongruous objects or ideas are often funny because we accept their leads and suddenly arrive at a resolve contrary to our expectations. We are looking for artworks that resolve in challenging, surprising, and humorous ways.
Humorgous Smorgasbord will culminate in a public exhibition of accepted works at Flux Factory as well as public programming for performances and interactive artworks including an opening reception and Flux Thursday potluck/artist presentations. Proposals of any kind including all two and three dimensional artworks, installations, video, performance, dance, clowning, music, theater, comedy, puppetry, workshops, panels, etc., are all encouraged to apply. Listed resources for the proposals are below, including gallery dimensions and timeline.
Please send all inquiries to: humor@fluxfactory.org
Things left unsaid, or said differently:
Exhibition Dates: September 6-19, 2017
APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 15
Please include:
- Contact Info
- Description of proposed work (max 500 words – include images, sketches, or any supporting media links)
- Artist statement or bio (max 200 words)
- Work samples (up to 10 images of previous works, video or sound links)
- Image List (work sample file names including title, medium, dimensions, year for each work)
- CV
Tentative Timeline
Deadline for submissions: June 15
-Notification of acceptance status: July 1
-Installation: Wed. 8/30 – Wed. 9/6
-Opening reception: Friday 9/8
-Gallery Hours: Saturday 9/9 & Sunday 9/10, 12-6pm
-Flux Thursday: Thursday 9/14 (performance/talks)
-Gallery Hours: Saturday 9/16–Sunday 9/17, 12-6pm (closing)
-Deinstall: Monday 9/18 – Tuesday 9/19
This exhibition is a Flux Factory Major Exhibition made possible in part by in-kind support from Materials for the Arts; the New York State Regional Economic Development Council; the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Consider donating to Flux Factory’s quarterly Major Exhibition program, which compensates artists to produce free public events – visit fluxfactory.org/donate for details.