This May Sideroom.com is taking the plunge and going completely online. Sideroom.com Gallery and Creative Space will combine forces with
Sideroom.com Magazine to produce the completely integrated online art
and culture community www.sideroom.com.

The exhibitions, artists, culture and writing of Sideroom.com will now
be more accessible to everyone and will be constantly evolving.

Its an exciting point in Sideroom.com’s history and signals a big
shift in the way we promote and view art and will allow for the
potentially unlimited growth of our creative community.

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WHAT WE WANT

Artwork: Paintings, photos, illustration, design, film; whatever media you chose as your creative weapon of choice. If it’s good we’ll post it.

Format:
- Please send images of your artwork in

 JPG format
 72dpi

approximate dimensions 1200 x 1200px NOTE: this does not mean the image must be a square this is just a guideline. Files should be named: artistname_title.jpg

- For video, please upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and send us the link.

Plus:
- A brief description about yourself and your work (No more than 100 words)
- Contact email or website

Email your submissions to shea@sideroom.com.

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Events

Art Exhibitions, gigs, parties, performances; we want to promote all the awesome stuff going on.

Format:

- Please send photos of your artwork in
 
 JPG format
 72dpi
 
approximate dimensions 1200 x 1200px NOTE: this does not mean the image must be a square this is just a guideline
Files should be named: eventname_date.jpg

Plus:
- A brief description of the event including time, date, address and entry fee (No more than 100 words)
- Contact email or website

Email your submissions to shea@sideroom.com.

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Writing

Short stories, creative writing, articles on current issues that affect the creative community or news you want to share.

If you are interested or have any exciting ideas please contact michelle@sideroom.com

Friday 24th April 2009 | 7pm – 8pm | Freyberg Place, High St, CBD

In the Moana/Pacific generally and Samoa specifically the concept of ‘talanoa’ is translated as a process of discussion between two parties finding mutual grounds through exchange of ideas.

Inspired by her Japanese/Samoan up bringing Multimedia and Performance Artist Shigeyuki Kihara works in partnership with 4 performance groups with distinctive styles ranging from the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific to come together in a intercultural dialogue – a ‘talanoa’ by staging live collaborative public performances as part of  ‘Living Room’ Public Art/Installation project hosted by the Auckland City Council, New Zealand.

Contributors: Anuanua Cook Island Performing Arts, Auckland Art Gallery, AKSamba, E-PAC Chinese Performance Art Group, and the Otahuhu and District Pipe Band.

Wednesday 22nd April 2009 | 6.30pm – 10.30pm | Galatos, Auckland CBD

A conversation between Living Room 09 artists and the public on how diversity through public art contributes to a city’s creativity and to social inclusion.

Panelist include Philip Patston, Gaia Alessi, Richard Bradbury, Shigeyuki Kihara and others

Supported by British Council Creative Cities project in association with Diversity Works and Momentum 09.

Go to: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/livingroom/default.asp for more information

Take 40: The collection of Giles Peterson

TAKE 40: The Giles Peterson Collection Curated by Giles Peterson

Opening: Thursday 16 April, 6 – 8pm

17 April – 9 May 2009

 Curator’s floor talk: Saturday 26 April, 12noon – 1.30pm

TAKE 40 is an exhibition of contemporary art by 40 artists and designers from New Zealand and the Pacific Rim from my personal collection. Several of the works are from exhibitions I have curated over the years.

TAKE 40 includes art work from my first curated exhibition in 1994; other works are newly commissioned or acquired pieces, the most recent being in 2009. There is a sense of history to the exhibition: it’s a journey though a personal collection which never started intentionally as a ‘collection’ but has evolved to be a powerful representation of contemporary art from the Pacific Rim.

TAKE 40 features multimedia work including graffiti art, painting, drawing, animation, hip hop music video, sculpture, photography, installation, embroidery, textile, street fashion and tattoo. The artists come from Aotearoa, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, Hawai’i, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific coast of Mexico and Australia.

The show celebrates over fifteen years of independent curating, including landmark exhibitions Island Crossings (2000) – the first exhibition of contemporary Maori and Pacific art to tour to Australia; Out of the Blue (2001); and Urban Pacific (2007): all of national and international significance.

Quite a lot of the art in TAKE 40 looks at youth and street culture which reflects my interest in young people, and my work with young Pacific artists and designers. Teaching as I have for over 15 years keeps me fresh and always learning.

“Working with young people is really invigorating and they are one of my main target audiences when I’m thinking about exhibitions.”[1]

The mix of work by new generation and established artists and designers makes for an interesting exhibition; the diversity of creative expression and talent on display creates a charged space where a polyphonic discourse is exchanged: a platform where the artist’s voice is heard and given primacy. 

TAKE 40 marks more than 40 independent, curated exhibitions and also my fortieth birthday. The TAKE 40 artists explore a range of issues and concerns such as identity and identification, spirituality, the environment, globalisation, technology, representation, colonisation, survival and about what it is to speak from the position of different cultures. It’s a forum for interaction, discussion and exchange. 
 
“If we are not moved, if we stand still – the status quo is our reward.“[2]
Giles Peterson, April 2009

“I see the exhibitions that I curate as catalysts and markers of change.” – Giles Peterson

LIST OF ARTISTS
Taryn Beri, Kiwi Biddle., Quinton Carrington, Joanne Currie Nalingu, Matt Dowman, Jenny Fraser, Ian George, Kay George, Niki Hastings-McFall, Lonnie Hutchinson, John Ioane, Anita Jacobsen, Juse1, Robyn Kahukiwa, Leilani Kake, Emily Karaka, Marlaina Key, Shigeyuki Kihara, Taylor Kingi, Lily Laita, Andy Leleisi’uao, Janet Lilo, Lina Marsh, Tracey Moffatt, Herman Pi’ikea Clark, Diane Prince, Rosa Peraza, Shona Pitt, Rosanna Raymond, Marlon Rivers, Lusia Samuelu, Siliga David Setoga, David Suine, Taniela Taniela Jr, Ema Tavola, Tracey Tawhiao, Sopolemalama Filipe Tohi, Niwhai Tupaea, Glenda Vilisoni and Dennis Japanangka Williams.

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[1][1] A. McCarthy, ‘Curator in Diversity: Giles Peterson’s dynamic exhibitions‘, Neochroma Magazine,  Auckland: Whitecliffe College of Art and Design, March 2003, p4

[2] L. Lippard, ‘ Mixed Blessings: New Art in Multicultural America‘, New York: Pantheon Books, 1990, p22

Registrations are now open for artists nationwide who want their artwork spotted at Auckland’s largest art exhibition, The Original Art Sale 26 – 28 June at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre in Manukau.

Over 1,200 artworks will be on display and for sale at this massive 3 day event showcasing art from across the New Zealand art community. Artworks are priced from $100 – $5000, making original art accessible for all tastes and budgets.

The Sale kicks off with the Gala Charity Preview Evening on Thursday 25 June. This is the official launch of the sale where attendees get to preview and purchase the artwork on display prior to the first public sale day on Friday 26 June. Tickets for the Gala Evening are $45 and include refreshments and aperitifs with all proceeds from the Ticket Sales going to Kidz First Children’s Hospital.

Original Art Sale Director, Richard Jeffery says “It gives us great pleasure to bring The Original Art Sale back for a fifth year, it gets bigger and better as the event develops with a great range of artwork already promised for this years exhibition. The Sale is not just a ‘sale’ but an opportunity to help out Kidz First Children’s Hospital by attending the Gala Evening or coming along to one of the sale days and purchasing a piece of artwork from one of the hundreds of New Zealand artists who contribute to make the event the success that it is. We encourage artists from all over New Zealand to register for The Original Art Sale and share their talent by getting their artwork out there.”

The event will also incorporate Matariki with the Matariki Award being offered to artists who wish to be considered, the winning artist will receive a cheque for $1500 presented at the Gala Charity Preview Evening.

Artists can register online at www.theoriginalartsale.co.nz.

As hometown of sika deer in China, Shuangyang is a new modernized urban district in the capital city (Changchun) of Jilin province in northeast China, owning a population of 380,000 and occupying an area of 1677.4-square-kilometer landscape suitable for residence, tourism and investment.

With the theme of “Nature and Love / Sculpture makes Shuangyang more beautiful “, the 10th China Changchun (Shuangyang) International Sculpture Symposium will be held from July 20to September 5, 2009, for promoting international cultural exchanges and urban sculpture construction in Shuangyang District as well as updating the district’s international influence and popularity.

All the applicant sculptors in the whole world are welcome to submit their proposals, featuring with their own respective prominent themes and distinctive national or regional characteristics, while those concrete style and bronze sculptures not exceeding 3 meters are highly appreciated.

Each applicant is requested to deliver at least three proposals by express or e-mail to the organizing committee before April 15, 2009, which should include A4 size color design drafts or photographs of maquettes of sculpture proposals or their email attachments in JPEG, BMP or TIF format as well as registration form attached with applicant’s passport size photo, daily photo and resume. Please specify the dimensions and materials of proposed sculptures. If it is made of stone, please indicate the stone’s types and colors required. And applicants’ sculpture books and websites are welcome, too.

All the proposals will be carefully and extensively reviewed by nationally noted artists. If any applicant’s proposal gets confirmed to participate in this symposium, an official invitation to realize his or her sculpture work in Changchun will be issued to this applicant, who will be provided with followings:

1. Permanent display and collection of completed sculpture at the suitable place in the sculpture park, specially constructed by Changchun Shuangyang District for this symposium.

2. A diploma of honor, picture album, souvenir and an allowance of US$2000, issued by the organizing committee.

3. Sightseeing activities during his or her stay in Changchun.

4. One or two assistants, materials for realizing his or her sculpture and commonly used processing tools.

5. One-time round-trip economic flight tickets (between the applicant’ residence and Changchun) and accommodations in Changchun.

More information may be found at our official website: http://en.changchun.gov.cn or consulted with Miss Aimee by happyzyever@sina.com and +86-431-85670603 (tel & fax) and or Mr. Larry Xu by xuhuaiwu@sina.com and +86-13384301703(mobile).

THEME: RELEVANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

All amateur photographers are invited to submit up to three photos in the Pacific Island Heritage Photo Contest. The contest is a part of the Pacific Island Archaeology in the 21^st Century: Relevance and Engagement conference to be held in Palau from July 1-3, 2009. Entries will be displayed in the conference’s exhibit hall and shots selected to best represent the theme will be published in a Pacific Island Heritage 2010 Calendar.

The conference aims to 1) explore the relevance or value of the Pacific’s natural and material cultural heritage, and its study, to the resolution of the island’s contemporary socioeconomic, environmental, and health challenges, and 2) propose and promote practical methods for community-based heritage management and preservation. Photos are to display these conference themes. The alliance between cultural heritage and environmental preservation is essential to the competition. We are looking for innovative images that inspire local conservation efforts while capturing the essence of and representing the people and heritage of the Pacific Islands.

Eligible format is high quality digital images only; JPEG or TIFF files with image set at 12×16 and 300 dpi. Entries MUST be submitted on a CD-ROM accompanied by an 8×10 to 12×16 print of each photo and listing the title, subject, and location of the photo, the photographer and contact information, and other details pertinent to the shot. Entries must be postmarked by May 31, 2009. Submitted items will not be returned. Mail entries to: Pacific Archaeology 2009 Conference, Attn. Calendar Committee, P.O. Box 666, Koror, Republic of Palau 96940.

The contest is open to everyone except those who make all or most of their living from photography or contest judges and their families. Previously published images or those under consideration for publication are not eligible. Photos must have been taken in the Pacific Islands within the past 10 years. Photos must not be digitally altered or modified beyond the basic and typical cropping, color management, and sharpening. Only one photo out of the three entries from each Photographer will have a chance to be selected for the Calendar. Photographers of the selected photos will get a complimentary copy of the Calendar.

Contestants retain full copyrights to their photographs. However, by submitting a photo, contestants grant permission to the Pacific Island Archaeology conference to display the images in the conference exhibit space and to publish them in the Pacific Island Heritage 2010 calendar. The photographer will be credited in all instances. The photographer will not receive monetary or other type of compensation.

Conference details can be found at www.pacificarchaeology2009.com. For more information about the photo contest, email Calvin Emesiochel at pacificarchaeology2009@gmail.com