Open Call for the Curated exhibition Schmuck-Schmock

Schmuck/Schmock
 
(Schmuck = jewellery, Schmock = the ring of skin removed from the penis after circumcision).
While TempContemp were brainstorming possible exhibition themes, we noted an ambiguous comment on a Facebook thread, questioning the judicial choices that govern the official Schmuck selection.
 
The conversation went something like this (paraphrased):
 
Question: Why is it that every year, the judging panel for Schmuck changes, yet the selected artists remain the same?
Answer (one of several): Schmock, meaning the ring of skin removed from the penis and discarded after circumcision.
 
Naturally, this left us wanting to know more! (We are a long way from Germany, after all).
So let us discuss:
Is it about criticism? The Act of judgement that deems a work unnecessary or unworthy of the narrative and casts it aside? Or Who makes the choices about what we see and recognise officially as contemporary jewellery. Or is it about What has been accepted or rejected (e.g. a ring of skin might be rejected for aesthetic or sanitary reasons)?
So if you feel your work has been shouting out on precisely these themes (or similar) and just waiting for an exhibition like this to be announced, please apply with a work and statement about your interpretation and experience! Like our previous shows, we want Schmuck/Schmock exhibition to be shaped by what we hear back from artists practicing in or around Contemporary Jewellery.
 
This exhibition will align in timing with Schmuck and the Munich Jewellery Week 2019, but don’t be mistaken, it will be held right here in Australia!
And just to declare any potential conflict of interest, our co-curator Laila Marie Costa has just been accepted as part of the 2019 schmuck exhibition! So we are no longer impartial bystanders (as if we ever were) - but also, unavoidably part of the system. Oops!


KEYDATES
Application deadline: Sunday, 13 January 2019
Notification of outcome: Friday, 25 January 2019
Delivery of artwork: Friday, 22 February 2019
Exhibition Dates: 11 - 16 March 2019
 
Participation Fee: $55 per successful application (details in Application Form). Approx 35 euros
 
How to Apply:
Download the Application Form and follow the instructions
For enquiries, please email gallery@northcity4.com