This fall, ARTS.BLACK is taking up residence at The Luminary in St. Louis, MO and will organize it’s firstpop-up exhibition, Empowerpoint. The exhibition aims to reflect the way humor is used by contemporary artists as a form of social critique, with a specific focus on new media and digital art, video, and social media channels such as Snapchat, instagram, and Vine.

ARTS.BLACK is now accepting submissions for artwork for this show! They are open to new forms of media that is experimental, yet easily transferable through digital channels. In addition to the exhibition, ARTS.BLACK will publish a limited edition chapbook of humor writing so if text is your material, we want to hear from you too!

Curatorial Statement:
Often times humor serves as a way to address traumatic experiences perpetuated by societal inequities. The result of this dichotomy manifests itself through various modes of social critique. In the Black American community in particular, there is a long history of artists, entertainers and public figures using humor as a device to address the politics of race and the consequences of its social construction. We have seen this often through notable stand-up comedians like Richard Pryor — whose work served as the springboard for Glenn Ligon’s recent exhibition “We need to wake up, cause that’s what time it is.”  And more recently comedian Kevin Hart’s “Laugh at My Pain,” who addresses intergenerational drug abuse, economic hardship, and trauma through stand-up performances, which has yielded a successful career for the entertainer.

Empowerpoint reflects the way humor is used by contemporary artists as a form of social critique, with a specific focus on new media and digital art, video, and  social media channels such as snapchat, twitter, instagram, and vine. We are inspired by the social commentary and critique of artist Jayson Musson’s alter ego Hennessy Youngman, a virtual performance that is kindred to the upbringing of the main character in Paul Beatty’s novel The Sellout.

Empowerpoint is a pop-up exhibition that explores the uses of humorous as a form of criticism by highlighting media that transforms disparity into common euphemisms and entertaining anecdotes.

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EXHBITION/EVENT: “EMPOWERPOINT” POP-UP EXHIBITION

Work Media: We are looking to focus on exhibiting works that are new media and digital art, video, and social media channels such as snapchat, instagram, and vine

Work Size: Nothing larger than 500GB

Entry Requirements: We ask that you submit video, new media, digital art, and/or moving image that is in aligned with the Empowerpoint curatorial statement. We are open to new forms of media that is experimental, yet easily transferable through digital channels. We will be exhibiting works on walls with projectors, and TV screens.

Submission Requirements :
1. Cover letter describing how your work(s) align(s) with the curatorial statement.(500 words max).
2. Your portfolio; Ten to twenty (8-10) digital images, or moving image works. Please send through dropbox. [Images should be presented in JPEG format with image size set to 300 dpi resolution. Videos should be no larger than 500 GB]
3. Artist CV/Resume including biography, educational background, and exhibition record.

Timeline: Exhibition will run during the month of September 2016 (9/2 – 9/30)

Entries Due: July 20, 2016

Delivery: Please “deliver” work via dropbox to team@arts.black

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EMPOWERPOINT CHAPBOOK

In addition to the pop-up exhibition, we will produce a limited edition chapbook of humor and satire writing. Fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, jokes, and other experimental forms are welcomed. Writers are able to submit up to 3 pieces per submission.

Submission Requirements: Please send submissions to team@arts.black

Entries Due: July 20, 2016

Stipend: Stipend of $100 per visual artist // $50 per writer

Contact: Jessica Lynne and Taylor Renee at team@arts.black

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To read the full curatorial statement and submission guidelines, click here.