One of the single biggest challenges that the steampunk genre is consistently asked to confront is the source of its inspiration as it relates to our modern, multicultural world. The Victorian esthetic that informs steampunk connects us to a world that is very different from our own in some stark ways. During that era so many of the cultures and identities we prize and celebrate today as part of our world’s diverse human mosaic were persecuted, subjugated, mocked, relegated to the background or ignored altogether.
Rivet Nation in collaboration with KROMA and THE BLOCK Off Biltmore will present “Steam Colors,” an art exhibition which will tap into the diverse experiences of underrepresented minorities in order to reinvent inclusive steampunk imagery for the 21st century. Its task will be to reflect the steampunk esthetic through the lenses of different cultures and identities. What does creative retro-futurism look like through African American, Native American, Hispanic or Asian eyes? What does steampunk look like within the context of LGBTQ culture or the challenges faced by the disabled? How do marginalized cultures fit into an inclusive steampunk universe? What does that perspective look and feel like?
We will be accepting works of art in every medium. Your imagination is the limit: sculpture, painting, video, installations, etc. Please remember that we are not necessarily looking for portraiture. We encourage artists to explore the possibility of creating architectural, machinery and landscape-oriented works that reflect the theme. The first exhibition will run from March 22 through April 19, 2018 at KROMA in Miami, Florida and the second one will be up from June 1 through June 29, 2018 at THE BLOCK Off Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. Selected artists will have the option of showing their work at either or both of the exhibitions (space permitting) as long as they are prepared to ship their work to each show location.
There is no submission fee, so go ahead and send us pictures for visual pieces or scripts of your video projects along with your artist statements. Submission deadline is February 18, 2018. Artists will receive a very favorable 60% commission on their sales in either show (excepting video.) Rivet Nation and KROMA will curate, manage and promote the exhibit in Miami for its month-long duration. Works must be shipped or physically delivered to KROMA no later than close of business March 9, 2018. Selected artists from the Miami exhibition will have the option of being a part of the Asheville exhibition as well. For more information, write us an email at [email protected].
Link to PDF with this information
