BOTANICAL ART WORLDWIDE: SOUTH AFRICA 2018

PLEASE NOTE THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN UPDATED. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST VERSION.

Worldwide Day of Botanical Art to be held on May 18, 2018

A worldwide collaboration linking people with plants through contemporary botanical art.

Over a dozen participating countries have joined together to link people to plants through botanical art. Hundreds of artists around the world will capture in paint, ink or pencil, plants native to their home countries to raise awareness of wild plant diversity.

PROJECT CONCEPT
Exhibitions of original contemporary botanical art will be curated by participating countries around the world based on an indigenous plants theme. Each country’s sponsoring organisation will schedule events for a Worldwide Day of Botanical Art to be held on May 18, 2018. This 24-hour, around the world event will maximise focus on the message: linking people with plants through contemporary botanical art. All exhibition dates will include May 18, 2018. A digital compilation of images from all exhibitions worldwide will be shown at each participating venue, alongside that country’s original artworks.

Participating countries include Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, and United States.

(Download a pdf version of the latest document here.)

 PROJECT GOALS 

- To present a cohesive message about the ability to link the world’s people with plants through botanical art. 

- To build partnerships and educate the global community about the worldwide renaissance in botanical art. 

- To increase appreciation and understanding of the world’s precious plant diversity and its interconnectedness. 

- To acknowledge and build upon the increasing connections between artists worldwide. 

- To maximize all these messages on an international stage. 

SOUTH AFRICA’S EXHIBITION 

The South African exhibition will be held in Johannesburg under the auspice of the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa, BAASA, in May 2018 at the Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg. 

VENUE 

The Everard Read Gallery is the oldest commercial gallery in Africa and celebrated their centenary in 2013. Built on this proud heritage is the present day contemporary gallery which represents the finest South African and international artists. 

The hosting of the Worldwide Botanical Art Exhibition at this prestigious venue presents exciting opportunities for botanical art in South Africa and our botanical artists. 

EXHIBITION LOGO 

The image chosen for the exhibition logo is Mandala mundii by the Cape botanical artist Christiaan Lochner. This beautifully painted specimen was exhibited on the Plant Exhibition. 

STEERING COMMITTEE 

The Steering Committee for this exhibition comprises two representatives from each region. 

Gauteng: Gillian Condy and Karen Bryden 

Western Cape: Vicki Thomas and Wendy Burchell 

KwaZulu Natal: Snooks Cole and Elsa Pooley 

Many other BAASA members will have the opportunity of working on this project in conjunction with the Steering Committee as the tasks are many and varied. 

ELIGIBILITY 

This exhibition is open to all BAASA members in good standing, residing in South Africa. Each artist may enter only one country’s exhibition, that being the country of residence. 

CRITERIA FOR ENTRY 

Each country’s artworks will showcase its own unique flora of the country, depicted through individual artists’ chosen two dimensional media. 

- All artworks must have been executed within the past three years and not exhibited before in a major gallery in Gauteng. 

- Botanical accuracy, composition and handling of media will also be considered during selection. 

- Artworks need not form a theme, but should have a cohesiveness and wall appeal. 

- All artists must guarantee that their work was executed by themselves and has not contravened copyright. 

- Any two dimensional media will be accepted including watercolour, oils, acrylic, gouache, ink, graphite and coloured pencil. 

- All works must be for sale 

SUBJECT MATTER 

Artists may depict any indigenous botanical material including all types of plant material from shrubs and trees to grasses. 

- Full plants and/or all parts of plant morphology - such as flowers, leaves, fruits, seeds and root systems - can be depicted. 

- Plant pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds may be included, provided they do not form the main subject of the work. 

- Containers such as pots or vases should not be included. 

- Full botanical names of all plants must be given on the submission forms. 

SUBMISSIONS 

Submission of intent to exhibit will be required by 1 July 2017. This date may seem very early, but it is so we can judge whether we have an exhibition and whether we need to motivate further. 

Artists may submit between one and four artworks. The regional Selection Committees may select any number of these works. 

All artworks must be framed, with a moulding that does not detract from the art. The Steering Committee reserves the right not to hang works if deemed unsuitable. 

The Steering Committee reserves the right, on request, to use material for publicity purposes. 

No price changes will be considered once artworks are accepted, as it leads to confusion. 

DIGITAL SUBMISSION 

A high resolution image of all selected artworks will be required from each artist by January 2018 for dissemination to all participating countries so that a selection representing South Africa can be shown at their venues. 

These images will also be used for the production of a catalogue, subject to the availability of funds for the production, and an online catalogue. 

SELECTION 

Selection of artworks will take place regionally in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in November 2017. Each region of BAASA will be responsible for organising selection of artworks for this exhibition from their regional members of good standing. 

Regional Committees will assist artists with couriering the selected artworks to Gauteng as one consignment. 

FEES 

A registration fee will be payable. 

- R150 for one painting 

- R200 for 2 paintings 

- R300 for 3 paintings 

- R400 for 4 paintings 

Works will be excluded if the registration fee has not been paid. 

COMMISSION 

A reasonable commission will be levied on sales by the Gallery. The amount will be advised in due course. 

COMMUNICATION 

This communication and subsequent ones will be sent to all BAASA members directly and will be available on the BAASA blog. 

A website will be set up to showcase the exhibition and inform interested members of the public of the relevant dates and activities. We will also use www.botanicalart.co.za 

WORKSHOPS 

Workshops and critique sessions will be part of the BAASA calendar for 2017 to ensure support for all artists aiming to submit works for this exhibition. 

IMPORTANT DATES IN 2017 AND 2018 

Submission of intention to exhibit - 1 July 2017 

Regional selection - 4/5 November 2017 

Artworks need to reach Johannesburg approximately one week prior to the exhibition date. 

Artworks will be delivered to the gallery, as one consignment, three days before the exhibition. No late artworks will be accepted. 

CONTACT DETAILS 

Gillian Condy 

g.condy@sanbi.org.za