Saturday 15 August 2009

GHost is Back and looking for submissions


GHost is back!
And we've got two calls for submissions!
One for papers/presentations and one for artworks

"GHost aims to address the various roles ghosts play in contemporary culture by bringing artists, writers, curators and researchers together for two workshops, so-called ‘hostings’ and an exhibition and screening of moving image art. The hostings will take place at the Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies and the exhibition will be hosted by St Johns on Bethnal Green."

Call for Papers:
20 October and 17 November, Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DN

We would like to invite proposals for presentations of 30 minutes on the theme of the ghostly for the two hostings on 20 October and 17 November.
Whether you’re proposing an academic paper, a performative talk, a recital of poetry or creative writing or a presentation of your art practice please think of ways of presenting your work beyond the neat framing of Power Point and take us somewhere on the far side of Windows Vista.

Please send a (working) title, an abstract of ca. 300 words, and, if applicable one or two pictures, to ghost.hostings@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions of proposals: 15 September 2009






Call for Artists:
GHost 218th Dec. 2009, 6 - 10pm at St John on Bethnal Green200 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PAE

We are inviting submissions of moving image art in all forms, interpretations and genres on the theme of ‘Ghost’. We welcome short films, video art and art film. We are also interested in installations, performances and sculptures that use moving image art (magic lanterns, optical illusions, tricks of light and shadow, etc …). The short films will be screened in the church as part of a program of artist films. Installations of moving image art and performances will be located around the foyer and belfry area. NOTE: the short films should be under ten minutes.

Please send a (working) title, a short paragraph and, if applicable one or two pictures,
to ghost.hostings@gmail.com

Deadline for submissions: 1 November 2009



The theme:

Recently BBC Radio 4 broadcast a short discussion between James Buchan and Jonathan Sutherland on whether ghost stories are a credible form of storytelling in these sceptical times. Both argued in favour of ghosts and their timeless ability to make us aware of those issues we’d rather like to forget. Ghosts are remnants of suppressed memories, but they can also speak of desires we don’t dare acknowledge or of dreams we have given up dreaming. Ghosts are ephemeral, changeable and intangible but they are also eternal. They are a flighty presence but often they are tied to a specific place. They are domestic creatures but they travel lightly by word of mouth.Ghosts, of course, have evolved over the centuries and early on the ghostly entered science and technology. Soon after the first photograph had been taken, the first ghost appeared in print. Photographic and later film and video cameras were used to trace, and also to create, their ephemeral and flighty presence. These days, film and video are joined by the digital with its sheer infinite possibilities. With advances in technology images of ghosts become less and less believable, but ghosts, whether in stories or images, are as popular as ever. Whether one believes in them or not they continue to be a credible form of story-telling commenting on and exploring the changing memories and dreams of contemporary times.GHosting aims to address the various roles ghosts play in contemporary culture by bringing artists, writers, curators and researchers together for two workshops, so-called ‘hostings’ and an exhibition of moving image art. The hostings will take place at the Institute of Germanic & Romance Studies and the exhibition will be hosted by St Johns on Bethnal Green.