OPEN CALL: BROOKLYN UTOPIAS: ALONG THE CANAL

bkutopiaATC
National
All Disciplines
Organization Arts Gowanus and the Old Stone House & Washington Park (OSH)
Deadline March 1, 2022

OPEN CALL: BROOKLYN UTOPIAS: ALONG THE CANAL

Arts Gowanus and the Old Stone House & Washington Park (OSH) are currently accepting submissions for Brooklyn Utopias: Along the Canal, a gallery and public outdoor exhibition inviting artists to consider what a “utopia” would look like for the communities of the neighborhoods bordering the Gowanus Canal. These include Gowanus, Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill, and Red Hook. Artists may comment on existing “utopian” endeavors in these communities, or imagine their own. CLICK HERE to read more about the history and current rezoning of the Gowanus Canal.

The project will include both a gallery exhibition at the Old Stone House, and a public art exhibition of printed banners hung on the nearby fence surrounding J.J. Byrne Playground and around Coffey Park in Red Hook. The exhibitions have separate open calls; artists may submit to one or both of the open calls, open to artists of all media and career stages.

Artists must comment on one of the above neighborhoods and address the following questions:

  • What does a “Brooklyn Utopia” look like for you, specifically in the neighborhoods bordering the Gowanus Canal?
  • How can this area’s unique history, as well as current developments, inform its future?
  • What is the role of artists in creating a more “Utopian” Neighborhood?

Artists have long been drawn to the idea of utopia, defined as an ideal place or state,  or any visionary system of political, social, environmental, or moral perfection. The idea of utopia is more relevant now than ever as the covid-19 pandemic, climate crises, gentrification, and financial instability are playing out in very local ways in our communities. Artists may respond to the unique history, communities, organizations, environmental needs and cultural landscape of the Gowanus area. While the notion of utopia is often a speculative one, we are curious about the ways in which your personal experiences in these communities may help shape a broader vision of utopia, with both local and global implications. In a rapidly changing Brooklyn, we seek to highlight the resilience and joy we experience as we look towards creating a more equitable and inclusive future.

FOR MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATION TO THE OLD STONE HOUSE EXHIBITION (DEADLINE 1/31), please CLICK HERE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION/APPLICATION TO THE OUTDOOR BANNER EXHIBITION (DEADLINE 3/1), please CLICK HERE