Call Description

nCall for Artists
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n“Artship Olympia”
nJune 25 – September 25, 2016
n301 S. Columbus Blvd.
nSpruce Street Harbor Boat Basin
nPhiladelphia, PA 19106
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nSubmission Deadline: January 5, 2016
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nOverview
nDuring Summer 2016, Philadelphia Sculptors, in collaboration with the Independence Seaport Museum, will use contemporary art as a means of activating an historic ship. “Artship Olympia” will contain an exhibition of site specific installations on the battleship Olympia. The oldest floating steel warship in the world, the Olympia is moored in the boat basin next to the Seaport Museum on the central Delaware River waterfront  in Philadelphia. Fifteen artists will install artworks in designated locations on the ship’s interior and exterior decks. Artists will have the opportunity to provide new perspectives with which to approach the ship and its history and to create works that engage a wide range of visitors. The Olympia, and its sister ship the submarine Becuna, are pieces of living history located in proximity to the newly created Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River Waterfront and enjoy a great deal of attention during summer festivals and Seaport Museum events.
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nThe Independence Seaport Museum serves as the steward for the Olympia, retaining responsibility for its maintenance, repairs and preservation. Under the Museum’s new leadership, increased attention is being paid to the Olympia and the possibilities for new exhibits and opportunities to interpret both its past and present. “Artship Olympia” will use art and the vision of artists to create alternative lenses through which the ship can be viewed. By renewing attention to its place in history, as well as its identity as a container of stories, the show will place the Olympia in new contexts and make it accessible to a wider range of visitors.
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nIn addition to the installations, a variety of educational experiences will be provided for children, teens and adults. Artists will provide lectures, classes, workshops and demonstrations over the course of the summer. These will be tied in to the artworks themselves, as well as to the artistic techniques and skills demonstrated by the artists in the creation of the works. The relationships of art to science and history will be emphasized. The different modalities will be customized to the needs of the participants, i.e., groups of students, families, campers, or the general adult public.
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nAncillary events include artist-conducted tours, maritime concerts, dramatic performance, public receptions, and coordinated events with other local groups.
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nHistory of the Olympia
nLaunched in 1892, the Olympia has a solid place in U.S. naval history. She is the sole surviving naval ship of the Spanish-American War and served as Admiral Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay, which marked the U.S.'s emergence as a world naval power. She also played significant roles in World War I, including having the honor of bringing the Unknown Soldier home for interment in the United States. The Olympia was decommissioned in 1922 and has been part of Independence Seaport Museum since 1996. The Olympia is a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is part of the Save America's Treasures program.
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nMore information on the history of the Olympia, as well as about the Museum’s collections and archives, is available at: http://www.phillyseaport.org/olympia.
nAdditional resources are available on the “Artship Olympia” web site, www.philasculptors.org/olympia.
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nDescription of Venue
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nSites on the main deck, berth deck, and exterior deck of the Olympia (as well as on the exterior deck of the submarine Becuna) have been designated as available for artists’ use. Spaces range from small rooms (shower room, officer’s cabin, sick bay, etc.) to open crew spaces to narrow passages to large deck and overhead possibilities on the exterior decks. More information about the specific identified spaces can be found in the Video Tour on the “Artship Olympia” web site, and in the photos in the same location. Artists are also highly encouraged to visit the ship itself. (See “Visiting the Olympia” below for more information.) Schematics of the ship’s decks and additional photos are also available on the  “Artship Olympia” web site. It may also be possible to make use of additional locations, but only with permission from the ship’s director.
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nArtists may request specific locations for their proposed installations, but should remain flexible since changing priorities aboard the vessel may necessitate changes in the spaces available for artists’ use. All the installations must respect the restrictions necessitated by the ship’s physical condition and Historic Landmark status and be equally respectful to the needs of the ship’s visitors.  This means that all artworks must be reversible – nothing may permanently alter the ship, and nothing can be screwed, drilled, nailed, glued, welded, painted or in any other way attached or applied to the ship in a way that affects any of its existing physical qualities. Artists must also be aware that there is no temperature or humidity control, and occasionally there are leaks. There is also the possibility that an installation, or parts of it, might need to be temporarily moved if circumstances or events aboard the ship require it, especially since the ship undergoes ongoing repairs and maintenance. The Olympia is open to the public for a good part of the year, and is also used for events, parties, tours, and other occasions where groups of people will be onboard.
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nVisiting the Olympia
nAll artists within driving distance are encouraged to visit the Olympia prior to creating their proposals. The admission charge to the ship will be waived for all artists identifying themselves as applying to the Philadelphia Sculptors “Artship Olympia” project. For directions and Museum hours, go to http://www.phillyseaport.org/visitor-information. The Olympia is a short walk away from the Museum. Tours may be arranged for groups of artists if there are enough people interested in visiting at the same time. Anyone interested in getting a tour of the ship should contact Leslie Kaufman at lesliekaufman@verizon.net. Note that the ship may be closed due to inclement weather.
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nJurors: 
nCraig Bruns – Chief Curator, Independence Seaport Museum
nJesse Lebovics – Director of Historic Ships, Independence Seaport Museum
nPepón Osorio – Professor, Tyler School of Art; Community and Installation Artist
nSara Reisman – Curator, Artistic Director of The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation       
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nEligibility:  All artists and artist teams working in media that include 3-D elements are eligible to apply.  All work must be original. Artists with background in site-specific installations are especially encouraged to apply, but any artist may submit a proposal. 
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nSelection Criteria:  Due to the site-specific nature of the exhibition, artists will submit proposals for new work appropriate for the project. The works will respond to such things as the Olympia’s naval history; living and working conditions on board ship; naval and maritime culture; personal stories of the crews; the effects of long sea journeys on family life; relevant international, national or local events; information from the ship’s newsletter the “Bounding Billow” or the Lieu Tisdale’s chronicle “Three Years Behind the Guns” (both available online with links on the “Olympia” section of the “Artship Olympia” web site ); physical attributes and layout of the ship; environmental issues; and the theme of “man and the sea.” Practical consideration will also be paramount – due to the many restrictions involved with presenting art on the ship, proposals that successfully address or work around the limitations will be viewed most favorably.
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nDimensions:  Artists will have access to a variety of spaces and should plan their installations to be as site specific as possible. Artists will be able to request specific sites, but are not guaranteed that they will receive their first choice. Complete descriptions of the available sites, along with photos and videos, are on the “Artship Olympia” web site. Since all works that will be sited on the interior decks would need to be transported through the existing doorways on the ship, large scale works must be able to be broken down into manageable components or modules. Some of the available spaces on board the ship are also in relatively small rooms with doorways that might also possibly restrict the sizes of the installations and their components.
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nMedia:  Artists may work in any media that will best communicate the intent of their piece. In some locations, on-site artifacts may be combined with other media to create mixed and multi-media works. Artists must provide all equipment that may be required as components for their work. Any works that incorporate electronics should be protected as well as possible from humidity and changing temperatures.
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nInstallation:  Artists should expect to create the major components in advance of the installation. During the period between May 15 and June 22 artists will be able to access the ship to install their works.   Artists will be primarily responsible for their own installations and for bringing their own equipment and materials, although some help will be provided. Artists will be responsible for monitoring their work areas for safety and security.  Attention must be paid to Museum visitors during installation and de-installation.   Once artists are selected, Philadelphia Sculptors and Independence Seaport Museum staff will work with each artist to determine how best to accommodate their needs.
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nAdditional Considerations:
nA primary purpose of this project is to provide an educational experience to a wide range of visitors, especially children (K-12). Artists who are able to make themselves available to present workshops, demonstrations, classes and/or lectures may receive an additional stipend. The stipend amount will be identified and determined based on the scope of the offered program. Artists are not required to include an educational program in their applications. 
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nHonorarium:  Selected artists will each receive an honorarium of $1,000.
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nSales:  Philadelphia Sculptors will receive a 20% commission on any work sold as a result of the exhibition.
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nInsurance:  Artworks will be insured, less a deductible (amount TBD), for the duration of the exhibition.
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nCalendar:                    
n                        Proposal due date: January 5, 2016
nArtist selection: January, 2016
nInstallation: May 16 – June 22, 2016
nExhibition: June 25 – September 25, 2016
nExhibition hours: Normal Independence Seaport Museum hours (see ISM website)
nReception: TBA
nDe-installation: September 26 through October 25, 2016.
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nEntry Fee: 
nCurrent members of Philadelphia Sculptors (dues paid through Sept. 2016)          Free   
nNon-members                                                                                                                      $30
nNote: PS membership is $35 or $15 for students/hardship. Members needing to renew, and new members wishing to join, must first go to www.philasculptors.org to update their membership.
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nAbout Philadelphia Sculptors
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nPhiladelphia Sculptors was established in 1996 to establish more visibility and opportunities for primarily (but not exclusively) Philadelphia sculptors.  Since our inception, we have organized numerous indoor and outdoor shows at both traditional and non-traditional venues. We have sponsored annual programs every year since 1996, an annual exhibition of student sculptures from five area colleges, a major sculpture conference in 2002, three collaborative interdisciplinary performance projects (2 at the Philadelphia Fringe Festivals,) two site specific outdoor environmental art exhibitions at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, and many workshops and demonstrations.  Highlights include:  2003 - “Chairs in the Air,” partnership with members of the Furniture Society to install an outdoor collaborative group project; 2005 - “A Case for Art,” a city-wide public art project; 2008 - “Global Warming at the Icebox,” an international sculpture show on climate change; 2012 – “Catagenesis,” a major exhibition of site specific installations at Globe Dye Works, a former textile dyeing facility; 2014 – “Destination Frankford” pop up gallery, a component of “Destination Frankford,” an ArtPlace America initiative. Our web site (www.philasculptors.org ) includes exhibitions, events, and members’ works. We are incorporated in the Commonwealth of PA and received our 501 (c) (3) status in 1999.
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nOur mission is to promote contemporary sculpture and serve as an advocate for sculptors.  Our objective is to expand public awareness of the role and value of sculpture within our culture through exhibitions, public forums, member services, and educational outreach.
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nAbout the Independence Seaport Museum
nFounded in 1960 as the Philadelphia Maritime Museum, Independence Seaport Museum is the region's primary repository of art, artifacts and archival materials documenting the diverse maritime history of the Greater Delaware Valley, and the history of the Port of Philadelphia and the other major urban ports of the Delaware River. The Museum was incorporated in 1961 and began serving the public with small exhibitions and through the assemblage of a library, archival materials and collections. In 1974 the Museum moved to larger quarters within the Independence Park Historic District and also opened the Workshop on the Water - a fully operational boat building facility used for display and teaching purposes - on Penn's Landing. In July 1995, it moved to the City of Philadelphia's Port of History building and was renamed as the Independence Seaport Museum. The new facility had increased exhibition, educational, library and storage/curatorial space and an incorporated Workshop on the Water. In January 1996, the Museum assumed the responsibility for the Olympia, and the World War II submarine, Becuna, both of which are National Historic Landmarks. Today, the Independence Seaport Museum is an anchor attraction on Penn's Landing, attracting visitors to experience both Philadelphia's heritage and current waterfront. The Museum educates area youth groups through interactive programs in its boat shop, presents changing exhibits in its galleries and hosts visiting ships and events year-round. More information is available at http://www.phillyseaport.org .
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nHOW TO APPLY
nAll applicants are required to submit an electronic application through CAFÉ’ (www.callforentry.org ). Applications are due by midnight on January 5, 2016. It is recommended that you do not wait until the deadline hour to submit. The uploading and sizing of images into the CAFÉ system may take longer than anticipated.
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nThere are three steps necessary when registering with CaFÉ:n

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• Create a profile
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• Upload work samples (Images/files must be uploaded to your profile before you can use them to apply to the Call)
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• Apply to the “Artship Olympia” Call
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nSUBMISSION REQUIREMENTSn

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• Your proposal statement is a critical part of your application. A statement discussing the purpose of the artwork and how it is connected to the theme must be included. The statement should also include a description of the piece and the proposed materials and construction techniques. One section should include the installation requirements for the work.  Include information about floor space, wall space, electricity, equipment to move or install the work, etc. You may identify a preferred location (see “Installation Locations” on the “Video Tours” section of the “Artship Olympia” web site.) When possible, artists will be given their first choice of location, but artists should remain flexible in case their choice location is not available. Locations will not be finalized until all artists have been selected. The statement should not exceed 500 words.
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n{C}·      {C}Resume:  Current professional resume including artist address, email, and phone number.
n{C}·      {C}Digital Images/Media Files: Each individual artist must submit the following number of digital images and/or video/audio files of previously completed artwork, along with images/files of the proposed work.
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nEach artist may submit a total of 6 digital images or
n1 video file and 3 digital images or
n1 audio file and 3 digital images or
n2 video files or
n2 audio files or
n1 audio and 1 video file
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nAt least one of the images or files MUST be of the proposed work. The other images should be of related previous works. The proposed work must be labeled as “proposal.” Artists must include at least one proposal image, and at least one image of a previous work, although it is recommended that more images be submitted.
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nThe images/files should relate to the “Artship Olympia” project in terms of vision and materials. All file specifications are listed on the CaFÉ web site under the “Media Prep” heading.
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nFor more information, contact Leslie Kaufman, lesliekaufman@verizon.net, 215-413-9126
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Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

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