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TRADE
WINDS

Spier light art 2022

Call for proposals

pier is proud to announce the
fourth edition of Spier Light Art,
Swhich will be exhibited throughout
the historic wine farm, one of the oldest COVID-19 Restrictions Selection Committee, headed by curator
in Stellenbosch, from 17 March to 18 The future is hard to predict with Jay Pather.
April 2022. Designers, architects, and COVID-19, but it is essential that we
light, sound and video artists – as well as ensure audiences’ safety. Interactive Spier Light Art 2021
students and institutions – are invited to works need to adhere to COVID-19 safety The third edition of the exhibition took
submit expressions of interest for projects protocols on touching shared spaces and place in March and April 2021, lighting
and video-based artworks that engage surfaces, as well as social distancing. All Spier up with an array of artworks. Over
with all age groups. work will be installed in outside spaces 20 000 people viewed the 29 artworks,
The success of previous editions of Spier and must be fully weatherproof. ranging from interactive installations to
Light Art has highlighted its significance pieces that invited the visitor to pause and
in the cultural landscape of the Western Submission requirements and process reflect. Previously showcased artworks
Cape, and the potential for this unique Expressions of interest must include: will offer ideas for the kinds of works
art form to reflect on contemporary • Artist/collective/studio biographies the Selection Committee is interested in
South Africa. The last 18 months of the of all involved in the project (200 featuring. Refer to last year’s programme
global pandemic have laid bare the daily words) for inspiration: https://www.spier.co.za/
challenges many people and communities • A short response to at least one of the lightart
are forced to endure, even as we all try themes (300 words) “Light art installations are mercurial
to adapt to a world that is constantly in • A concise description of the work by nature. Transcending the confines of
flux. In these moments of adversity, it is including concept sketches (300 their materiality, light art works are also
important to celebrate the triumph of the words): defined by what they illuminate or hide,”
human spirit. • A description of the audience say curators Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie.
Spier Light Art 2022 will celebrate interaction/engagement with the “These experiences – walking and pausing,
people’s unflinching resilience. We also work if not a video (300 words): catching a glimpse or settling down to
invite you to reflect on enchantment and • A provisional budget, indicating absorb – invited introspection, adventure
exuberance as a way to contribute to this whether it is to be funded completely and playfulness. Scattered across the Spier
year’s curatorial agenda. or in part by the Spier Arts Trust; and estate, each work offered an opportunity
• Web links to and/or images of the to experience the complex, multi-hued,
Themes may include: proposed work or, if not already multi-faceted texture of our environment
• Enchantment and exuberance developed, examples of previous work. and ourselves.”
• Resilience (not only relating to Community and national media
COVID-19) Email your expression of interest to praised the Spier Light Art exhibition for
• The current socio-political landscape the Project Manager at lightart@spier. its safe and beautiful environment, child-
• Our relationship to technology and co.za before 15 October 2021. A more friendliness and for providing a profound
its disruptive influence thorough proposal may be requested after and poignant opportunity to play, interact
• Spier as a working wine farm, its the shortlist is announced. and reflect. dw
history and its relationship to the The Spier Arts Trust will completely or
region partially fund installations chosen by the www.spier.co.za

Categories of work may include:
• Site-specific work (designed for
specific places on Spier wine farm)
• Sculptural, object-based work
• Interactive art (following COVID-19
protocols)
• Digital works that foreground
technology
• Video art

14 Issue 246 • dw
Spier