The Show Starts on the Sidewalk

OPEN CALL FOR SHORT FILMS, VIDEOS, AND NEW MEDIA SCREEN-BASED WORKS
Under 10 minutes in length.
Deadline: February 28, 2008 (postmark)
No fee, no pay
Co curated by Bill Basquin and Nomi Talisman

Thematic considerations:
We are looking for submissions under 10 minutes in length that relate to the theme of INTERVENTION. This film program will be screened as a part of the Interrupt, Intervene! Art as Social Change Festival hosted by UC Santa Cruz. There will be a conference at UCSC and exhibitions and screenings in the cities of San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Jose and on campus at UC Santa Cruz throughout May 2008. (See conference description and links below.)

Art as intervention is an emerging field of contemporary art practice, and artists frequently use humour, surprise, or unusual associations to overturn assumptions about the world, invite political engagement, create collaborations and relationships, examine the everyday or map hidden systems, allowing the audience to think in new ways.

We are seeking work that A) either documents public intervention or B) is an intervention in itself.
Screenings will take place in outdoor locations in public places in all three cities. We are seeking work that considers relational aesthetics, interventions, Situationist practices, Fluxus style events and which explores the followings concepts:

Intervention: An action undertaken in order to change what is happening or might happen in another’s affairs, especially in order to prevent something undesirable In·ter·rupt (v) 1.To halt the flow of a speaker or of a speaker’s utterance with a question or remark. 2. To disturb somebody who is busy doing something, causing him or her to stop. 3. To cause a break in the flow of something or put a temporary stop to something. 4. To discontinue doing something temporarily. 5. To obstruct or block a view In·ter·fer·ence (n) 1. Involvement in something without any invitation or justification. 2. Hindrance or obstruction that prevents a natural or desired outcome. 3. An unwanted signal that disrupts radio, telephone, or television reception. In·tru·sion (n)1. A disturbing of somebody’s peace or privacy by an unwelcome arrival or presence. 2. An unwelcome presence or effect that disturbs or upsets something. In·volv·ing (adj) Holding the attention. Alternatively, you can Bring Your Own Definition!

Technical details:
Preview format: DVD. One DVD for each entry, no complicated menus
Exhibition format: DVD. The DVD must play from a DVD player.
Please attach a short description, contact information, and a one paragraph short bio, and SASE if you want your DVD back.
Please mark as Intervention/Sidewalk program

Send to:
Nomi Talisman/ Sidewalk screening
C/O CRI
1499 Potrero Ave. Soap Building Unit #2
San Francisco, CA 94110

Deadline: February 28, 2008 (postmark)
About the conference

UC Santa Cruz art department presents a festival and conference entitled: Interrupt! Intervene! Art as Social Change

In May 2008 UC Santa Cruz will host “Interrupt, Intervene: Art as Social Change”. This event includes a three day conference at UC Santa Cruz, May 15, 16th 17th 2008 alongside a month long series of artists interventions linked to gallery exhibitions at the LAB (San Francisco), the ICA (San Jose) and the Sesnon gallery at UC Santa Cruz. Funded by Porter College Festival grant, ARI grants and COR grants.

The conference and exhibitions will serve as a venue for artists, theorists and the public to explore art that re-examines set ideas, engenders discussion and forges relationships. The conference will allow theorists and artists to locate contemporary practice within this art historical framework in order to understand and discuss innovative contemporary art interventions and art as social practice.

These artworks can be performances, sculptures, web sites, documentations, publications, or public installations. The work is often subtle in manifestation, frequently a gesture, a gift, or an act of detournement.

For more information about the conference and events visit the website:

http://may2008.artintervention.org