Arts Activities Support

Quantitative: Untitled increased the visibility of local and emerging artists by introducing them to larger audience every year, we increased the number of individuals viewing the work from 6600 to 7000 (this includes online viewership). Qualitative: Untitled will lead to 85% of the participating artists securing additional opportunities as a direct result of exhibiting their work in Untitled. We feel that in many ways Untitled 13 exceeded our goals, thanks to our funding from Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s arts activities grant we were able to fulfill our objectives in the following ways: Internationally known curators, Dean Otto and Astria Suparak selected 16 artists out of 184 submissions. The culminating exhibition had a wide range of artistic approaches site-specific light activated installation, a video and audio work, large scale paintings, mixed media, photography and sculpture, that all came together in a harmonious and thought-provoking way. Dean Otto and Astria Suparak deliberated extensively about how the pieces would work in the space, in the final meeting Dean Otto was able to come to the space in person while Astria Skyped in and they made final decisions about the participating artists and the placement of the work. Rik Sferra, professor of media arts at Minneapolis College of Art and Design and accomplished photographer, documented the work for each of the artists so they have high quality images for their portfolios. Artists were provided with shipping and transportation stipends based on need. Each of the artists received feedback and assistance on their artist statements and special installation needs for their work from Executive Director, Carolyn Payne and Associate Director, Alison Hiltner. Untitled 13 also had an exhibition catalog that included information about and images of all the participating artists work, an essay by Astria Suparak, a history of the Untitled exhibition series, and a dedication to Craig Seacotte. After over sixteen years of programming, SooVAC remains committed to supporting local artists and exposing many traditionally under-served groups to contemporary art. We provide an environment that appeals to visitors who are aware of issues within contemporary art (artists, art historians, curators, collectors) and those who are not (children, passers-by, and neighbors). Strengthening our connection to community is a priority of SooVAC and Untitled is a prime opportunity for supplemental programming and outreach. Several of the artists exhibiting in this year’s Untitled have had few if any exhibitions in a professional art space, providing them not only with a setting for their work that compliments and spotlights the final piece but also bringing them plenty of exposure through the public, potential collectors, and the press. We created the opportunity for new audiences to be introduced to artists in Untitled by holding an event for Kill Kancer, a local nonprofit that brought in an audience of 200 people. And SooVAC also held a book launch for Stefanie Motta’s Water Line, 25% of all book sales was donated to Clean Water Action by the artist. Both of these events brought in new attendees to the space and exhibition. It is imperative to the success of the Untitled series that we have a large applicant pool, allowing the guest jurors to choose from a richly diverse group of artists. We have a very minimal fee of $15 fee and for those that could not pay we waived this fee for several of the applicants. Lifting this socio-economic barrier is a very important step to expanding our submission pool and ensuring this opportunity is available to everyone. Coinciding with the Untitled 13 exhibition was Side Effects May Include: New Work by Chelsea Reeck. Chelsea was selected to exhibit by Payne and Hiltner through an open call to all Minneapolis College of Art and Design Masters in Fine Art candidates, 2017 marks the 15th year of SooVAC exhibiting work by Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduate students. We actively assisted any artists that needed guidance preparing their application to ensure anyone who wanted to apply could create a successful submission, this included walking some artists through the process step by step in person or over the phone. We also did not enforce the submission fee all applications were accepted. And in an effort to increase the diversity of the artists applying and selected, we always reach out to past jurors, non-metro art organizations, other twin cities non-profits and post announcements with both local and national institutions of learning. Our diversity efforts are at the fore front of planning the Untitled exhibition series and includes ever evolving methods to reach as many communities as possible, at the fore front of this is insuring we have diverse jurors. This year’s jurors Dean Otto, currently Curator of Film at the Speed Art Museum and was previously Associate Curator of Film/Video at the Walker Art Center, and Astria Suparak, has curated exhibitions for PS1, Museo Rufino Tamayo (Mexico City), The Kitchen, Eyebeam Art+Technology Center, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, The Liverpool Biennial 2004, and Exposition Chicago 2014 as well as for non-art spaces such as roller-skating rinks, elementary schools, sports bars, rock clubs, and ferry boats. Both curators have put an emphasis on representing a variety of different voices throughout their careers. Otto curated the Walker’s Queer Takes program after serving as the programmer for the Minneapolis/Saint Paul LGBT Film Festival for several years for Minnesota Film Arts. Astria recently curated the traveling exhibition Alien She, on the lasting impact of the global punk feminist movement Riot Grrrl.