YouSnow Information for Artists

YouSnow: Information for Artists
Registration Deadline Thursday, February 24, 2011 at 5 pm

Click here for the registration form

Milwaukeeans are no strangers to snow. It divides the year and provides a stark contrast between seasons. Snow is also a material for sculpture, more fleeting than bronze or stone or wood, but malleable and perfect—weather permitting--for extemporaneous expression. Snow sculpture has a long history: from anthropomorphic snowmen to snow angels and elaborate constructions carved into blocks of compressed snow.

For YouSnow, an invitational juried competition, we are particularly interested in the way we measure ourselves in snow. According to Wikipedia, the first representation of a snowman to be documented appears in the margins of a 14th century Book of Hours. How, seven centuries later, do we measure ourselves in snow? YouSnow asks artists to create a new measure of themselves in snow: part or whole, single or multiple. Projects can be additive or subtractive, abstract or representational, conceptual or literal.

Artists will undertake solo and collaborative projects, as well as projects that invite public participation. Materials and technology will be very simple: snow, hands, shovels. There are a limited number of spots available, so please return your registration form as soon as possible.

Projects
We are looking for two kinds of projects:
Artist Projects: projects executed solely by artists (solo or collaborative).
Participatory Projects: projects designed by an artist or artists that welcome participation from the public. Participatory projects should provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to take part on a drop-in basis between 11 am and 2 pm.

Schedule
10-11 am: Check-in and assignment of locations. You may choose a predetermined location (we will mark these with flags) or scout one for yourself; artists are welcome to work anywhere in the garden (safety and conditions permitting). All locations must be approved and flagged by John Riepenhoff by 11 am. You may begin to work as soon as your location is approved.
11 am-2 pm: Competition in progress. Use as much of the time as you like; come into the house to warm up or have a snack; feel free to enjoy the other Carnival activities. Projects that involve public participation should have someone on duty at all times from 11 am-2 pm.
2-3 pm: Jurying.
3:30 pm: Prizes awarded.

What We Provide
• Free admission to the sculpture garden for all participating artists (you must list your collaborating artists on the registration form to make sure they are admitted for free).
• Snacks (these will be available in the kitchen).
• Flags and numbers for you and your team.
• We cannot guarantee the quantity or condition of the snow; adaptable plans are encouraged.

Rules and Registration
• Artists may participate as individuals or as collaborative teams; each project must have a lead artist. Winning collaborative teams can determine how they want to share their prizes.
• You must be registered in advance to compete. Register by filling out this form and returning it, via email, with “YouSnow” in the subject line, to Polly Morris (pmorris@lyndensculpturegarden.org). Registration closes at 5 pm on Thursday, February 24, 2011.
• To be eligible to participate, artists must be checked in and have their location approved by 11 am.
• To be eligible to win, artists must be present from 2-3:30 pm for jurying and awarding of prizes.
• Your snow project can respond to the sculpture and the natural elements in the garden, but you may not modify the sculptures in any way nor do any harm to trees, shrubs, etc.
• Materials: You may carry in things you need for your snow sculpture. All tools must be manual; all materials should be biodegradable. Keep in mind that there are no paths at the garden, so if the snow is deep you will need to make your way on foot, snowshoes or skis.

Photography/Video
The Lynden Sculpture Garden will be documenting the competition and posting information and images on its website, blog and Facebook page. Images will also be made available to the press. If you have images you would like to share with us, please send them to Polly Morris (pmorris@lyndencsculpturegarden.org).