ONE FLEW WEST: OLD LANDMARKS, NEW TOPOGRAPHIES
CALL TO ARTISTS – WORLD MADE PRIDE BIENNALE 2008

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS:
MAY 23, 2008

Local and international artists, both emerging and professional, are
invited to participate in an interdisciplinary call for work addressing
human rights and psychiatry, and mental health and arts.

Work must involve themes of place, surroundings, or (internal and
especially external) location as it is related to mental health. The
artwork may consider the following questions: How is madness tied to
physical space? How do we situate dualities of freedom vs. confinement,
separation/participation within evolving landscapes of madness vs.
sanity?  Healing vs. healed? What is the geography of breakdown? In what
environments do we experience wellness?

Within the Biennale, this year’s art exhibition incorporates the theme of
Riverview. Opened in 1913, Riverview (also named Essendale) housed a
population of 4630 in 1951. It is a controversial site and pivotal
subject in the history of the mad movement in British Columbia, and as a
subject within artists’ work, a source of pain, survival, struggle, and
healing.

If work is submitted specifically addressing the subject of Riverview,
that work must be experiential, well researched and/or incisively felt
and directed.

A highlight of this year’s Biennale includes our collaboration with SFU’s
Madness, Citizenship & Social Justice Conference (June 12-15).



SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

All artistic mediums will be accepted, including live performance, spoken
word, painting, drawing, photography, video, sound, and new, mixed, and
interdisciplinary media. Local artists should forward submissions in
person, artists outside of Vancouver send as digital documentation (email
jpeg files).  Submission form can be downloaded from our website or
request by telephone or email to madpride@gachet.org. If work is accepted
we will provide shipping costs. Artist exhibition fees are also paid.


OBJECTIVES:

• Highlighting the global movement advocating for mental health and human
rights through sharing and showcasing artistic _expression on these
themes.
• Connecting artists’ work that addresses the social determinants of
mental health.
• Challenge stigmas of people living with mental health issues.
• Providing a forum for discussion and education on these issues.
• Creating links to the rights of individuals for health and security
worldwide.

TIMELINE:

Deadline for submissions of artwork May 23.
Jury meets and selected artists notified May 25-28.
Distribution of printed Mad Pride Guide May 29.
Work must be received in Vancouver by June 6.
Program (panel discussions, performance, readings, and film events) June
6- July 14.
Closing Celebration & Mad Pride Day July 14, 2008.

For more information

Cherise Clarke, World Mad Pride Coordinator,
Gallery Gachet
e: madpride@gachet.org | t: 604.687.2468
88 East Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6A 1K2
www.gachet.org