Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY ... Spark Announced!

Thank you all so much for your support of Octopus Project III: PUSH/PULL, we are ecstatic at how the show came together and the wonderful traffic we had throughout the weekend. We have uploaded a web gallery of images from the weekend, which can be viewed at www.octopusproject.ca/octopusproject3

A enormous thanks as well to all those that volunteered during the weekend, we could not have run the opening or the exhibit as smoothly without your help.

And now on to the next spark!

The spark for Octopus Project IV is "ONE RIDE ONLY" and this time around we chose to base the theme on an image which served as our inspiration to pass on to our Octopus Project community. Please find the image attached, and feel free to take from it what sparks you, the colours, the text, the date, the image, anything that speaks to you.

Show details are as follows ...
Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY
Saturday July 19 - Sunday July 20
Opening reception will be help on Saturday July 19 (times to be announced)

The fee to participate is $15.00, and we will be limiting the number of participating artists to 100, with one piece per artist only. Maximum size per piece will again be 30 x 30 inches. Please do keep within this limitation to help us in hanging the work.

We have been thrilled with your enthusiasm, support and talent and look forward to seeing the show evolve and further grow as we continue with the Octopus Project! A special note as well that we have had some artists tell us they have not been receiving our e-mails. We ask that all of you add the octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com e-mail to your address books in order to ensure we are not sent to your junk mail, and thus making sure you all get show information etc.

If you would like to participate in the Octopus Project IV: ONE RIDE ONLY, please confirm back to us by JUNE 22.

The OCTOPUS PROJECT seeks to …
• Provide an outlet for artists to keep making art by offering a challenge to create (a "spark") based on something we may not usually be inspired by.
• Bring playfulness back into art and the art process.
• Offer an avenue to reconnect with the sparks that fuel creativity.
• Create a shared visual representation of diversity within unity through one theme with many different voices.

WHO … You. Painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, storytellers, musicians, performers, puppeteers, writers, poets,
potters, glass artists, beaders, sewers, quilters, doll makers, dancers. Anyone who uses creativity as an outlet, who uses creativity to express themselves and wants to share that with others in an environment of community, collaboration and support. Note that if you are a performer or dancer, please speak with us about how we can accommodate your submission, as we want all art/creative forms to be included.

WHAT … A collective show, running for one weekend, every eight weeks based on one image, sent out as a "spark" to our mailing list. Artists are to create 1 piece each, either individually or in collaboration, with maximum dimensions of 30 x 30 inches.

WHEN ... Participants must confirm they will be submitting a piece to the show by JUNE 22. The drop off times will be 1-2 days before the event and will be sent out to participants in advance. The show will take place July 19-20, with opening reception time to be announced.

WHERE … 55 Mill St., The Case Goods Warehouse in the Distillery District, Studio 410 (home of Melanie Gordon Photography) and 4th floor studios.

HOW … By e-mailing us at octopusprojecttoronto@gmail.com and including your name, contact info (including phone number please) and mediums you work in (all of them). We are asking for a participation fee of $15 to cover the cost of installation and production (flyers etc.) All works will be for sale and artists will receive 100% of the sale price. If you do not wish to sell your pieces, you can specify this with us.

Welcome to the Octopus Project, we look forward to playing with you all!

Regards,
Catherine Mellinger & Melanie Gordon
co-facilitators