Iraqimemorial.org

Announcing: Iraqimemorial.org - http://www.iraqimemorial.org

Iraqimemorial.org is an Internet based repository of artist’s proposals for the creation of memorials to the many thousands of Iraqi civilians killed in the War in Iraq. As of 2007, estimates range from 77,000 to over 655,000 deaths since the start of “Operation Iraqi Freedom” in 2003.

The idea behind Iraqimemorial.org is quite straight forward - to invite artists, designers, architects or other interested creative individuals or collaborators from all over the world to propose memorials to the victims of a war who will likely never be recognized through official processes. Many of the submitted proposals will never be realized - the intent is to facilitate a process that allows for the expression of concepts as a collective, networked, creative act of remembrance that takes place in the present tense.

The Iraqimemorial.org project site (http://www.iraqimemorial.org) features a growing online exhibition of artist’s proposals. As a user generated content site, the project will continue to be realized dependant upon the participation of artists. New memorial proposals will be uploaded as they are received. The public is invited to view and rate the proposals on the site.

Participating artists to date include:
Tony Allard-USA, Paul Dixon-UK, Carla Drago-Australia, Al Fadhil-Germany, James Hutchinson-UK, James Johnson-Perkins-UK, Sabine Kacunko-Germany, Suzanne Kanatsiz-USA, Lynn Marie Kirby-USA, Erik Krikortz-Sweden, Patrick Lichty-USA, Maria Paschalidou-Greece, John Quinn-UK, Jack Toolin-USA.

Call for Proposals:
Artist's are invited to submit proposals at: http://www.iraqimemorial.org/proposals.html

Jury
A diverse group of internationally based curators and scholars have been invited to serve as jurors for the project - they will each develop an updatable list of up to ten favorite entries (there will be no "winner" of this open call for proposals). March 19, 2008, the fifth anniversary of the start of the Operation Iraqi Freedom, will serve as an initial first deadline for the jurors review of proposals.

Jurors include:
-Dr. Nadje Al-Ali, Centre for Gender Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK
-Yaelle Amir, Independent Curator and Writer, New York City, USA
-Dr Bernadette Buckley, Lecturer in International Politics, Goldsmiths University of London, UK
-Monica Narula & Shuddhabrata Sengupta, The Raqs Media Collective, Delhi, India
-Dr. David Simpson, Professor of English, University of California Davis, USA
John David Spiak, Curator, Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, USA
-Dr. Marjorie Vecchio, Director/Curator, Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery, University of Nevada, Reno, USA

Iraqimemorial.org Project Mission Statement:
“The purpose of this project is to honor and commemorate the deaths of thousands of civilians killed since the commencement of "Operation Iraqi Freedom" on March 19, 2003; to establish an Internet archive as a living memorial that will serve as a repository of memorial concepts; to mobilize an international community of artists to contribute proposals that will represent a collective expression of memory, unity and peace; to encourage the vigilance of contemporary memory in a time of war; to stimulate an understanding of the consequences and costs of "the war on terror"; to support the moral imperative of recognizing the deaths of Iraqi civilians; and to create a context for the initiation of a process of symbolic, creative atonement.”

Project Goals:

* Create and disseminate an open call for the submission of memorial proposals from the international community of artists and designers.
* Establish a commemorative repository of project proposals on the Internet that is open, accessible and welcoming to a diversity of creative concepts and practices.
* Broadly engage and support works that function according to traditional and expanded considerations of what constitutes a memorial.
* Encourage proposals that range from the personal gesture to the monumental concept, from the local to the global.
* Commence a process of review by internationally recognized jurors who will consider overall concept, design and the standards of traditional and experimental contemporary arts practice towards recognizing excellence.
* Encourage and cultivate public input towards further recognizing proposals through the creation of an open rating system.
* Initiate a process of open dialogue, debate and discussion surrounding the issues of civilian casualties in Iraq, memorials and the role of artists in a time of war.

Information/Project Contact:
Iraqimemorial.org
Project Director Joseph DeLappe
Associate Professor
Digital Media Studio
Department of Art/224
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, Nevada 89509
775-784-6624

[email protected]
http://www.iraqimemorial.org

or

[email protected]
http://www.delappe.net