Evolution of the Arc Open Call – National Art Gallery of The Bahamas
“Evolution of the Arc” is an Open Call Exhibition, a partnership between The Salus Project and the NAGB. With the shared goal of welcoming the wider artistic community into the museum for conversation and exchange, we invite proposals that seek to inspire, critique, uplift and offer space for contemplation and representation. This Arc, which offers reference to our archipelago, is our chance to consider the past and present, and build out ideas for a new future with healing in mind.
The concept was originally conceived by Deime Ubani, a member of The Salus Project, to address the state of our archipelago’s infrastructure five months after Hurricane Dorian. Voices began to speak up about the numerous concerns brought to the fore after its passage with issues closely tied to our geographic location, geology and infrastructure, all of which were heavily impacted. The serious ecological and economic shocks raised concerns over the sustainability of tourism—our number one industry—and also underscored the lack of growth in other industry sectors. It also highlighted our heavy dependence on the US for the importation of goods and the fact that we export minimally, further stunting economic growth and potential for independence.
The idea of “evolution” here refers to the accumulation of changes that take place consistently over time, noticed and unnoticed, perceptible and imperceptible alike. These changes can affect social, economic, political, ecological and personal development.
COVID-19 has exacerbated our pre-and-post Dorian problems and has highlighted the necessity of finding true solutions. With decreased travel, health restrictions and hotels functioning at minimum capacity, many are searching for new opportunities in our precarious hospitality-based economy to sustain both their families and the country. COVID-19 has added a new set of challenges as we are already forced to contend with in a postcolonial society. We exist in a diaspora composed of diverse ethnicities, niche traditions and dogmas – we are a space of multiplicity. The evolution of our archipelago exists within this specific set of complexities that now demand analysis of how we got here, where we are currently and where we are headed. Cause and effect are deep-rooted and integrated within every aspect of Bahamian culture.
This Open Call asks artists to consider how these norms tie into our Bahamian story moving forward and poses the question as to what solutions we might envision. What has sparked the evolution of the many situations and experiences that currently exist within our Bahamian society, and of the world, during this global health crisis and how can we evolve ourselves further?
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The Salus Project was founded in summer 2011, by Dr Graham Cates and his wife, Nurse Anita Cates, out of a desire to provide a bridge between art/beauty and health/wellness. “Salus” means wellness and the project invites artists to use art to increase awareness and engender positive change in the artist and the wider community.
The Salus Project has collaborated with several organizations and on many projects to highlight five dimensions of wellness, heart health, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and now—unable to host exhibitions in their usual space in the Family Medicine Centre on Blake Road due to the pandemic–is collaborating with the NAGB to focus on healing and a national path forward.
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Proposals must include:
• No more than 3 works proposed for display
(this does not have to include individual works in a series or triptych. i.e. no more than 3 different series of works are welcome to be put forward). For unfinished works, a sketch/mockup with images of past works is required.
• A project statement
(of no more than 300 words, no less than 150 words) outlining the concept of the work proposed.
• An artist statement (of no more than 300 words, no less than 150 words)
• A brief biography (of no more than 300 words, no less than 150 words)
• Portfolio of past works
• CV or Resume with past exhibitions and artist projects (where possible)
All proposals for consideration must be submitted to evolutionofthearc@gmail.com on June 25th, 2021.
For any other questions or queries, please contact Deime Ubani of The Salus Project at evolutionofthearc@gmail.com
