Call & Response 2020: Structures

NOW ONLINE THROUGH DECEMBER 18

Artists Panel Discussion: Wednesday, Oct. 21 @ 6pm
Poets Panel Discussion: Tuesday, Nov. 17 @ 7:30pm

About the Exhibit
Related Events
Contributing Artists and Writers
Recommended Readings

About the Exhibit

Call & Response is an annual exhibit of collaborations between writers and visual artists, in which one calls and one responds. The result is a dynamic set of paired works of words and artistic media that resonate and speak to contemporary issues. The theme for Call & Response 2020 is Structures.

What architecture will you create in this work, and how will form and meaning support one another? What is the “use” or the imperative of any structure? On what will your structure rest?

Consider: bone structures, organic structures, network structures, scientific structures, and tree structures.

As our society reckons with structural inequities, and structural racism in particular, how do we as artists and writers un-struct, de-struct, and instruct, and eventually help construct new systems on new foundations?

Themes are meant as a point of connection, inspiration, and departure for artists, and can be employed literally or figuratively.

This year’s event poses unique challenges, but also exciting opportunities.

While we will plan to exhibit some work in the Gallery’s physical location, this year’s exhibition will primarily be a digital event. We encourage our participating artists and writers to consider ideas of hybridity and accessibility. What does it mean to design an exhibition to live in two spaces, with intentional choices of what can be presented virtually and physically? How can work be made for a digital environment that offers something more than a surrogate of a work in another medium?

Our digital exhibition will launch on Thursday, October 15, and select works will be on view in Fenwick Gallery through December 18, 2020. Please note that Fenwick Library access is currently limited to Mason students, staff, and faculty. Public viewers are encouraged to visit the digital exhibition.

Call & Response is an ongoing partnership between the Mason School of Art, the English Department’s MFA program in Creative Writing, and the University Libraries, and is presented in conjunction with the Fall for the Book festival. This exhibition is curated by Heather Green (Faculty, InterArts, School of Art), and J. Carrier (Faculty, Photography, School of Art), in collaboration with Stephanie Grimm (Art Librarian & Fenwick Gallery Manager) and Andi Benge (Fenwick Gallery Graduate Assistant).

Events

Wednesday, October 21: Artists’ Panel Discussion

• 6:00PM: Join us for a discussion with several of the contributing artists to Call & Response: Structures, moderated by Andi Benge (Fenwick Gallery Graduate Assistant). Presented as part of the Fall for the Book Festival.
• Register for this event now!

Tuesday, November 18: Poetry Reading & Poets Discussion

• 7:30PM: Join us for a discussion and reading with poets and writers participating in Call & Response: Structures, moderated by Heather Green. Presented as part of the Fall for the Book Festival.
• Register for this event now!

Fenwick Gallery is open during Fenwick Library business hours; see the library’s website at https://library.gmu.edu for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, access to Fenwick Library is currently limited to Mason students, staff, and faculty.

Contributing Writers and Artists

(full bios and statements forthcoming)

StrangeLens + Lori Rottenberg	Jorge Bañales + Danielle Williams	Jayne Matricardi-Burke + Sarah Wilson	Jessica Kallista + Maricielo Ampudia Gutiérrez
Angela Terry + Kate Keeney	Michael Walton + Christian Stanzione	ANDiLAND + Victoria Mendoza	Kate Fitzpatrick + Caely McHale
	Kerry Hentges + Rose Fitzpatrick	Sisc Johnson + Ian Cappelli

Recommended Readings

coming soon