An unNatural History
Exhibit Oct 5-Nov 2
Call for submissions
Deadline: Aug 10th, midnight
T.E.S.T Gallery Space, 906 Queen St West, Toronto
Natural history is the research and study of organisms including animals, fungi and plants in their environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. It encompasses scientific research but is not limited to it. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study of any category of natural objects or organisms.[1]
“Natural history focuses on where organisms are and what they do in their environment, including interactions with other organisms. It encompasses changes in internal states insofar as they pertain to what organisms do” [2]
An unNatural History draws inspiration from a fascination with the artistic representation of natural history and the creation of fictitious places in literature.
A documentation of something newly discovered; but for instance, whereas it is claimed that some of Ernst Haeckel‘s embryo drawings of 1874 were fabricated, for example, an UnNatural History starts in the opposite direction, from a conjecture of the imagination grounded with elements that – although bizarre – are quite real, to try to give it verisimilitude.
Artists are asked to explore the past and future through: Hybrid organisms, fictional fungi/botany, distant imaginary worlds, unusual geometry, otherworldly life, geography, animals, minerals, astronomy, genetic mutations. Tell us their story, what they do in their environment, including interactions with other organisms if applicable.
Teyler’s Natural History museum in Haarlem, NL is the only authentic 18th century museum interior in the world. The museum rooms are still illuminated by daylight. In wintry weather, it can get extremely dark. The entire experience conveys the atmosphere of a museum from bygone times! Similar to Teyler’s museum, An unNatural History will create a moody, museum atmosphere for guests to explore.
Selected artists will be notified by email and a exhibition fee of $50 will be charged. Artists will be sent a contract and told when to drop off their work. Artists must cover any of their shipping costs. The gallery takes a 15% commission on sales.
Artist wall/hanging space: 3′ wide (horizontal) x 5′ length (vertical).
Floor/install space: 4’x4′ square
Art and fine-craft accepted: sculpture, metal, glass, ceramic, print, textile, wood, video, interactive
Please email any questions you may have concerning the exhibition or submission process to: nanotopia@me.com
Apply here : https://goo.gl/forms/lMzIbPaYcfT3m85m2
- Brown, Lesley (1993), The New shorter Oxford English dictionary on historical principles, Oxford [Eng.]: Clarendon, ISBN 0-19-861271-0
- H. W. Greene and J. B. Losos, “Systematics, Natural-History, and Conservation – Field Biologists Must Fight a Public-Image Problem,” Bioscience 38 (1988): 458–462
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