Arquetopia Showcase Art Exhibition Residency - Puebla, Mexico - 2013

 

Arquetopia is a nonprofit foundation run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through contemporary art with a non-traditional, culturally diverse and multidisciplinary approach. Arquetopia offers artist residency programs of the highest quality, making its staff available and creating a community among staff and resident artists. Arquetopia’s resident artist backgrounds are diverse in all aspects. As part of Arquetopia’s mission is to promote diversity, artists from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East are especially encouraged to apply.

 

Puebla, known as the "City of Angels,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies 136 km (84 mi) from Mexico City and has approximately 5,000 colonial buildings. Puebla is famous for a deep cultural identity, delicious cuisine, Talavera ceramics, and traditions rooted in the 16th-century Baroque and enriched by a blend of five pre-Hispanic/indigenous cultures, Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish influences. Accessible via two international airports in Puebla (PBC) and Mexico City (MEX), Puebla lies east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving the residents a magnificent view of their snow-topped peaks. At an elevation of 2200 m (7200 ft), Puebla features a temperate subtropical highland climate, resulting in an average of only three days a year seeing temperatures rise above 29°C (84°F).

 

 

A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s historic district and Zócalo accommodates Arquetopia’s office, production spaces, and residency space for up to seven artists.

 

The Showcase Art Exhibition Residency offers, through the Arquetopia Showcase program, important international exhibition opportunities in Mexico for emerging and mid-career national and international contemporary artists age 25 and over.

 

Arquetopia continuously collaborates with prominent and diverse institutions to present exhibitions.  Recent and past collaborations include Gobierno Municipal de Puebla (Puebla Municipal Government), Fototeca Juan C. Méndez (Photo Archive and Museum Juan C. Méndez), Galería de Arte Contemporáneo de Puebla (Contemporary Art Gallery of Puebla), Museo Taller Erasto Cortés (Printmaking Museum Erasto Cortés), Museo Textil de Oaxaca (Textile Museum of Oaxaca), Complejo Cultural Universitario (Cultural Center of the University of Puebla), GARCO Gallery, among others.

 

Arquetopia Showcase is committed to engaging contemporary art with local visual culture and supporting contemporary movements and experimental contemporary art practice through exhibitions, a public program, community and regional projects and partnerships.

Arquetopia Showcase is a new model for a gallery, one where traditional and nontraditional spaces for art are available for exhibition and experimentation for contemporary art practices.   The program aims to support the cultural growth of the city by engaging a greater community in the discussion of international contemporary art at museums, cultural institutions, arts organizations and general public spaces around the city.

 

Our programs are oriented to promote social consciousness, and artists are strongly encouraged to address social themes through their exhibit. As Arquetopia’s mission is to promote social transformation, engaging in dialogue with the local context and considering Mexico’s cultural complexity, is key for a successful exhibit. Since our approach is contemporary, we welcome artists from diverse disciplines (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation, photography, digital media, performance & time based work, etc.) who are interested in the intersection international social issues with Mexico, addressing local aesthetics and/or cultural expressions. All proposals are welcome. Exhibits and projects addressing social issues, with experimental cutting-edge work engaging public space will be given priority. Each exhibit project is unique, based on the type of work and the artist’s proposal. Residents are chosen on the basis of artistic merit and evaluation of the proposed exhibition project.

 

• Selection decisions are based on artistic work. Candidates at all stages of their careers (emerging and established) must display a demonstrated sense of potential. The residency is for artists who want to display or exhibit their work. Submissions are reviewed by an Exhibition Review Panel assembled by Arquetopia.

• The exhibition/residency pool is diverse in all aspects.

• Arquetopia Showcase Program is an opportunity for artists to exhibit their work internationally, especially work that would normally be difficult to exhibit.

• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.

• Each approved proposal is assigned an exhibit start date based on the exhibition calendar. The duration of exhibits is up to 4-6 weeks depending on the nature of the exhibit.

 

Residents enjoy comfortably furnished bedrooms and use of Arquetopia’s residency space including computer access, wireless Internet, lounge with TV/DVD, kitchen, dining room, outdoor terrace, and private bathroom with modern fixtures, shower, and hydro-massage tub. Housekeeping and most meals are also included.

Roomy art studio is provided with personal workspace, large tables, tools, materials and supplies.  Our foundation will work with the artist to provide options in terms of exhibition space, traditional or non-traditional, that best suits the work.  Exhibition design, mounting of the art work, press and publicity, as well as opening expenses (food and drink reception) are included.

 

This Showcase Art Exhibition Residency term is for 2 to 4 weeks at Arquetopia (Puebla) during 2013.  The Showcase Art Exhibition Residency is currently not offered at Arquetopia Oaxaca.

 

The fee per person is  USD $1395  for 2 weeks, extendable at  USD $495  per week.  Payment of  USD $200  Residency Deposit due within 1 week of selection notification.  Payment of Total Residency Fee due by 45 days before residency start date.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013.
Complete and submit together online/via e-mail to info@arquetopia.org all of the following:
1. The Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence Program Application (completed and scanned)
2. Resume or curriculum vitae
3. Five sample images of your artwork and a signed statement attesting that all works are your own
4. Complete contact info (name/title/organization/address/phone/e-mail) of two professional references
5. Non-refundable Application Fee of USD $35.00 via PAYPAL to account address: “fguevara@arquetopia.org”

 

• Independent jury comprised of three curators and/or practicing artists who reflect independence, diversity in artistic fields, gender, race, etc. and knowledge of Arquetopia’s programs meets for in-person panel review and selection.

• Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.

 

Arquetopia on the Web:  www.arquetopia.org

Arquetopia on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Arquetopia

Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca

Arquetopia Blog:  www.arquetopia.com