OPEN CALL: Pansy Craze
Exhibit Statement:
In reference to the increase of LGBTQIA+ visibility, we see in our current day in age a fierce revolutionary wave of trans people who rebuke the current social climate, creating discussion about freedom to be and expression of self. The Pansy Craze exhibition highlights the individuality of each artist through whimsy storytelling that creates disarming conversations of grief, what could have been, and eccentric experiences that shaped the artists to their core. With surrealist concepts and abstracted views, we display images of love, melancholy, and pleasure that speak to the life of each trans artist.
We seek to engender the spirit of the ‘Pansy Craze’ through this show. A space that’s shared, yet intimate and safe. A sanctuary standing juxtaposed to a sociopolitical landscape that grows increasingly more contentious towards queer bodies everyday. They call on joy, and in turn grief, situate the work not only within contemporary contexts, but grander historical and personal narratives. We acknowledge the importance of Chicago as a landing ground and haven for the BIPOC lgbt artists seeking autonomy over their work, identities, and bodies. ‘Pansy Craze’ recognizes that fight still persists today.
This is a show about story telling, and change. Each piece is a curated annotation, a creative footnote. When selecting artists, we took great care to emphasize themes of whimsy and prioritize ‘play’. We want to push back against the much too common marginalized artists have to be sad all the time mentality. ‘Pansy Craze’ is a site for reconciliation, a space for community, connectivity and catharsis. It’s also an invitation. Equal parts diaristic and didactic.
The artists of Pansy Craze speak to each other, creating work on the complexities being beyond grief but in relationship to joy and celebration. The origin of the Pansy Craze created community amongst queer people and in replicating that, we hope to create a pointed dialogue between the spaces that speaks on that rejoice and expression without commodifying the trans experience to be of one note. The artists create signifiers on their encounters through the realm of whimsical surrealism and narrative building.
Exhibit Logistics:
With this statement in mind, this exhibition has a prerogative to demonstrate the art of the most affected community and display the art of BIPOC trans artists only. There is a need for more art focusing on the experiences of black and brown people: highlighting the intricacies of daily life of underserved communities and demonstrating strength in the face of adversity. Curated by two trans artists of color, it is imperative that the art selected demonstrates not only strength but also the moments of trans joy.
HOW TO SUBMIT
3-5 samples of your work
Artist Statement with how it relates to the theme
Artist Bio
Submit to submissionsforart1@gmail.com
SUBJECT EMAIL: Pansy Craze_Artist Name
Chicagoland artists only***
DEADLINE: FEB 27th
Location: Fulton Street Collective
Date of Show: March 27th
