GUIDELINES

The success of this project is entirely dependant on the commitment of the participants. If even one participant cannot follow through, it will throw off the scheduling for the rest of their group. Please read and understand all of these guidelines before you decide to commit and register.

Note:

Although loosely based on the "exquisite corpse" concept of collaboration, Imagillaboration will differ from that format in that it will not be a "blind" collaboration. Participants will be responding to the elements that have already been incorporated into each piece as they add their own section to the sculpture. An ongoing dialog between artists in a group is encouraged. This way of approaching a collaborative project is more fun, and will produce a better result.

How it works:

Group Logistics:

• Each group will be made up of eight people.

• Each group will have one facilitator to help keep the group running smoothly

• Groups will be determined by the Imagillaboration project coordinator.

• The number of groups is dependant on the number of participating artists. 128 people, or 16 groups of 8 is the absolute maximum.

• To minimize logistical difficulties and transportation expense, most groups will be made up of people who live relatively close to one another. It is possible that shipping expenses can be completely avoided if folks can arrange to meet for exchanges. A flowchart template which illustrates the most efficient way to organize the exchange of work can be found HERE

• Everyone in each group will start a sculpture.

• Five to six weeks later all pieces will rotate to another person in the group.

• Rotation order will be determined amongst members of the group via the facilitator, but should be established at the beginning. See the flowchart for more info.

• Rotation will continue until all group members have worked on every piece.

• Participants will be responsible for building a sturdy reusable shipping container (plywood crate) for the piece they complete on the last round of the exchange process.

• Once all pieces are complete they will be shipped/transported to the project coordinator (Jacksonville Florida) where they will be photographed for publicity, and inclusion in the online exhibition.

• The project coordinator will be busting his butt to try and secure funding to pay for this final transportation phase, and will strive to stop referring to himself in the third person.

• The exhibition will most likely begin its tour at the project coordinator's college

• Pieces will then go off on a lengthy (hopefully) tour of exhibition venues around the country.

IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO, OR KNOW OF AN EXHIBITION VENUE THAT WOULD LIKE TO HOST THE EXHIBITION, CONTACT THE PROJECT COODINATOR HERE

Resources for Participants- Imagillaboration.org:

• Imagillaboration.org will be the hub of information and communication between participants, facilitators, and the project coordinator.

• Registration: Official registration for participation will be submitted through the online form found HERE

• Forum: Imagillaboration.org will provide a FORUM broken down by group for use by participants to discuss the project and their work, and for public response to the project. Participants are encouraged to use the forum as an effective way to communicate with each other and participants in others groups. Forums are powerful vehicles for communication. Use it!

• Artist Directory: The Who's Who section of the web site will serve as an artist directory for participants. Features will include a bio/statement, a mug shot, a picture of participant's other artwork, and links to personal web pages.

• Gallery: Imagillaboration.org includes a Gallery section of the web site to showcase images of works in progress, the people making the work, and anything else related to the project. This gallery is setup to be editable by participants. As a participant you may upload pictures directly to the gallery from your computer after registering.

• Calendar: Imagillaboration.org will provide a Calendar of all dates pertinent to the timeline of the project, including the schedule of exchange dates, reminders, and a schedule of venues where the work will be shown (once available). The calendar will also feature an option for participants to be automatically notified via email when changes and additions are made to the calendar.

***NOTE*** There is also a calendar embedded in the forum. We may use that calendar instead of the one on the main menu because it has some good features. The calendar in the forum has the ability for participants to add events and link them to forum posts. I will leave the calendar on the main menu bar in place for now and add events to both.

• Email: Imagillaboration.org will provide email updates to all participants, as well as a "yourname"@imagillaboration.org email account for those who want one.

The Artwork:

• All elements of Imagillaboration sculptures must be original creations by the artists involved with the project.

• All elements must be constructed from sturdy durable materials that can withstand the stresses of repeated transportation and handling.

• All pieces must be safe, not sharp, jagged, pointy, or unstable.

• SIZE ISSUES: While I am hesitant to put limitations on people's creative energy, the size and weight of the pieces may become and issue. This being the case, please limit the overall finished size to a volume of less than 34,000 cubic inches, the equivalent of a 5' x 2' x 2' box (just an example). The finished pieces should ideally be substantial sculptures, not miniatures, but please don't get carried away. Regardless of form, materials, or overall size, the pieces must able to be easily crated and shipped. Total weight should be low enough to be moveable by hand without the need for forklifts, cranes etc., approximately 200lbs or less. Exhibition venues will most likely be indoors.

• There are no stylistic restrictions, however please refrain from using potentially offensive iconography or text.

• The finished work will be much more interesting and dynamic if each element added is a response to the work already completed on each piece. Try to mix it up a bit and create unique elements for each piece you work on. Avoid using the same styles, techniques, or materials on every element you contribute.

The Nitty Gritty:

• Participation in Imagillaboration is limited to people who have the skills and resources to actively contribute to the project. I.e. you must have access to materials, a studio, tools, and be able to use them effectively to produce high quality results and keep the project moving forward on schedule.

• Money: There are no set fees for participation in Imagillaboration. However, at this time there is no funding in place to defray the cost of any materials, transportation, or any other incidental expenses incurred by participating in Imagillaboration . All of these expenses will be the responsibility of participants. Donations can be made via the web site, and all participants who are able to contribute a small amount in lieu of a required entrance fee are encouraged to do so. I will be actively working to try and secure other funding for the project. I believe there is a good chance that this project will be well received by grant-making organizations. If and when funding is received, the first financial priority will be to fund the traveling exhibition of finished work.

ANYONE WHO HAS IDEAS FOR FUNDING SOURCES, OR IS WILLING TO HELP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT/GRANTWRITING, PLEASE EMAIL THE PROJECT COORDINATOR.

• Titles, Prices, and Sales: Titles and prices for finished work will be set by consensus of group members. Any proceeds from sales of work produced for Imagillaboration will be split evenly amongst the participants of the group that created the piece, with 10% contributed to Imagillaboration.org to help fund the project. This distribution of money among group members will occur regardless of when the piece is sold, whether it is during the exhibition, a year after, or ten years after. EVERYONE in the group must be included in the split.

• Possession of Work : After the project and exhibition are completed, each participant will take possession of the piece that he or she originated, that is, the piece they created the first element for at the beginning of the project. The sales rule still applies (see above). Any subsequent inclusion of the work in a show must also credit all the other collaborators involved in the construction of the piece.

• The Most Important Thing........... Have Fun and Be Creative!

Supplemental Guidelines For Participants...Getting Started

• We are all going to have to practice our best Zen non-attachment here. you can expect people to alter your elements slightly as needed to facilitate the addition of their elements. I don't want any ego issues or complaints that someone "ruined" their piece. In agreeing to work collaboratively, you are agreeing that the work is "our" work, not "your or my" work. (When in doubt...communicate.)

• Having said the above, do not intentionally deface or alter someone else's element to the extent that it no longer impacts the piece in the same way it did when you got hold of it. If someone gives you a piece with a nicely polished bronze element, don't paint the bronze green because you want it to be green. Focus your energy on what YOU are adding, not what someone else added before you.
  

• Resist the urge to do too much. We don't want eight finished sculptures cobbled together into one. We want eight elements that work well together to create a cohesive whole.

• Resist the urge to do too little. Try to impact each piece that comes you way in the most effective way possible.

• Don't add the same element to every piece. I know  that many people have a "style" of work, but mix it up a bit. If everyone added the same element to each piece we would end up with eight identical sculptures in the end.

• Try to create elements that lend themselves to further addition by other. Make it easier on your fellow collaborators. Give them a place to attach something to.

• The first piece does not need to be the bottom piece. In fact, there doesn't need to be a specific orientation for anything. If at some point during the process the piece needs to be given a specific orientation, and a base of some sort, thats fine.

• Free standing, pedestal, wall hung, or suspended objects are all fair game.
• Elements can be made up of multiple pieces. They do not need to be one physical object.

• Elements do not necessarily have to be attached to each other at all, but it will be much easier to deal with if they are. If you want to create an element that sits next to the existing elements, just be sure that you document the appropriate orientation for me and others in you group. Lets try not to end up with huge sprawling installation pieces though. When the project is finished we will have one sculpture for everyone participating, and that is already a HUGE amount of work.

Questions, comments, and concerns should be posted to the forum, or directed to the project coordinator HERE.