2009 Art for Sustainability Contest

Summer 2009

The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities (CISC) is proud to present our Second Annual Governors Island Art for Sustainability Contest, marking our 4th Annual Science Exhibition and Lecture Series on Governors Island, featuring CUNY art in various mediums. Our “Sustainable Living for Sustainable Cities” programming this summer focuses on sustainability as it relates to city life at work, at home, and on the go.

Powerful social movements have traditionally been reflected in parallel movements of artistic expression, movements that reveal the underlying tensions inherent in societal transformation. The Art for Sustainability Contest challenges student artists to bring forward their interpretations of urban sustainability in its many forms. Examples of such forms include food security, resource use efficiency, transportation and land use, green building and design, coastal management, housing, and many others.

We pose two questions for consideration: How do we meet the challenges of trying to live more sustainably and how will this transform our cities? The topic is of your choosing as long as your work is relevant to urban sustainability and is described as such in your artist’s statement. We encourage you to use this opportunity to educate and inspire the thousands of visitors expected on Governors Island this summer.

Deadline for submission of all materials is May 28, 2009 at 5 p.m.

Official rules and Submission Details

• The contest is open to all currently enrolled CUNY students. Faculty members may also submit works but will not be included in the contest.
• No more than one submission per artist in each artistic medium (drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, photography, film) of art. For example, you may submit one photograph, one drawing, and one painting, for a total of three submissions, but you may not submit two or more entries in one artistic medium.
• Work must be original.
• Deadline for submission of all materials is May 28, 2009, by 5 p.m.
• All entries must consist of (1) a digital photograph of the work in JPEG format, less than 2 MB in size (film submissions excluded), (2) a title and description of materials (e.g. oil on canvas), (3) a one-page max artist’s statement of this work and how it relates to urban sustainability, (4) the dimensions (L x W x H) of your piece, (5) your name, email address and phone number, student status and school (e.g. sophomore at Hunter College, master’s student at Queens College), and major or program.  All such background material should be submitted by email to ciscevents@gmail.com. Please use “Governors Island Art Submission” as the email subject line.
• All pieces must be delivered in person to the CISC offices (Hunter East Building, room 1215). Pieces should come prepared for transport to the Island. This means you should package your piece in any manner fit to protect it from damage in transport. Your name and the title of your piece should be listed on the outside of the packaging. CISC is not responsible for any damages incurred during transport so please package your pieces carefully.
• Drawings, paintings, and photographs must be equipped with appropriate hanging hardware.
• Drawing, paintings, and photographs may not be more than six feet wide or six feet long, and must take up less than 36 square feet of space on a wall.
• Sculptures and installations must fit in a three foot by three foot floor space and be less than six feet tall (and thus no more than 54 cubic feet of space).
• All submissions will be available for pick up at the CISC offices (Hunter College East Building, room 1215) from September 7 until September 25, 2009, after which time they will become the property of CISC.
• The exhibition hall will be monitored by day and locked shut at night. Regardless, the Institute cannot take responsibility for the security and safety of submissions while on display at Governors Island.
• The Institute reserves the right to discontinue the contest if no more than 15 submissions are received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009.
• The Institute reserves the right to change any and all rules at any time without notice.

Judging
Entries will be judged in a “People’s Choice Award” contest, whereby all visitors to the exhibition will be able to cast a ballot. Visitors will be asked to review each submission based on the following criteria: creativity and originality, craftsmanship and skill, and relevance to the topic. They will then vote for their favorite piece. Only on vote per visitor.

Prizes
Prizes supporting sustainable green living will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Additional Information
For additional information contact Josh Helmin at ciscevents@gmail.com or 212.396.6264.