Uptown Top Rankin

Call For Entries: Body Of Work

2009-07-12T22:33:00.000-07:00

Call For Entries:

Body of Work is the working title of a small group exhibit that will take place in Providence, Rhode Island in September of 2008. Focusing exclusively on art made by sex workers, the show will attempt to shatter common myths about what it means to be a sex worker, while also providing much-needed gallery space for talented artists who may lack other means of showcasing their work.

With Providence quickly becoming the center of a national prostitution debate, it is vitally important to remind people that sex workers have minds as well as bodies; they should not--can not--be reduced to simple stereotypes. Because of this, work submitted to the show need not necessarily be sex work-related, or even sex-related. Sex workers are a diverse group of people with diverse talents, interests, and skills, and this will be reflected in the final exhibit.

Submissions by hookers, strippers, rentboys, sex educators, porn stars, burlesque performers, dominatrices, go-go boys, and more are encouraged, though due to time and space constraints it should be emphasized that Body Of Work will ultimately focus on work by a small number of artists. If the quality of work reaches beyond the scope of the gallery, a larger exhibit may take place in a different venue at a later date.

If you are interested in submitting your work to the show, keep reading!

2-D, 3-D, and video media are welcome, as are works by writers interested in reading or performing at the event. Performance art submissions are also encouraged, though the gallery’s small space will render large-scale performances very unlikely.

To submit work for the show, e-mail (with the word ‘proposal’ in the subject line) yurigellerbentme@gmail.com. Include your name, location, and information about your work (titles, dates, dimensions, media.) Jpegs should be included as attachments. Links to artists’ websites are also encouraged.

About the show:

Work can be no bigger than 24X24, including framing. If the work is unframed, larger pieces may be acceptable.

Unfortunately, shipping will not be covered, so consider that if you are a non-local artist.

The deadline for submissions is August 7th. Work must be delivered to the gallery by the first week of September.

Any sales will be split 70 (you)/30 (the gallery.)

If you have any other questions, feel free to e-mail.

Superqueer Art Happening

2009-06-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here's the 2009 Superqueer Art Happening. By chance, it's the smallest show Uptown Top Rankin's done so far, only occupying two rooms of the apartment. (nb: Please don't mind my poor/sloppy color-correcting skills.) It should be noted that the party was also a lot livelier than the pictures might indicate. There were seriously more than four people here, but in my excitement about the show I forgot to bring out the camera until the very end. I should learn to assign the photography to someone else, is the moral of this story.

Almost all of the art--including a few remaining copies of issue 9 of PINUPS--is still for sale, though the show's technically over now. If you've got any questions or want to see any remaining part of the show in person, feel free to e-mail me at matthewrlawrence@gmail.com

Mike Kitchell, from The Truth Is OUt There

Mike Kitchell, from The Truth Is OUt There

Delia Kovac, Holding Pattern

Jason Tranchida, from the Pink Stuff For Guys series

Brittanny Taylor, Faces (still)

Christopher Schulz, PINUPS #9

Michael DePietro, Untitled (installation view and detail)

Joseph John Sanchez, Little Secrets

Superqueer Art Happening

2009-06-13T01:34:00.001-07:00

Superqueer Art Happening will be opening on Friday, June 19th (tonight!) from 6-9pm at Uptown Top Rankin. The show will run through June 27th, with showings by appointment all week. Artists featured in the show include Michael DePietro, Zachary Kellogg, Mike Kitchell, Delia Kovac, Joseph John Sanchez, Christopher Schulz, and Brittanny Taylor, and Jason Tranchida. You can expect to see X-Files porn, golden showers, ducks, hair, making out, Feivel, screwing, and glitter, among other things.

Call For Artists: Superqueer Art Happening

2009-04-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Last June, in response to the complete stupidity of a certain major gay event that happens in this (and most other) cities, I put together an art show at my house. Planned to be very edgy and underground, it instead ended up being very... domestic. Paintings of furniture, photographs of people's moms, vacation photos, housepets, morning newspapers. It was a really interesting show, and I'm proud of having done it, particularly because thematically it ended up nothing like I thought it would.

Now I want to do something a little edgier. For real, this time.

The second annual Superqueer Art Happening* will be taking place in mid-June at my place in Providence, Rhode Island. I'm looking for artists who explicitly engage with gender and sexuality, who work in any media (including video and 3-D). I'm going for underground, and slightly (or very) rough around the edges.

To enter, e-mail (with the word 'proposal' in the subject line) matthewrlawrence@gmail.com. Include your name, location, and information about your work (titles, dates, dimensions, media.) Jpegs should be included as attachments. Links to artists' websites are also encouraged.

About the show:

Artwork can be no bigger than 24X24, including framing.

I can't afford to pay shipping on anything, so consider that if you're far away.

Deadline to apply is May 7. Artwork must be delivered by June 14th.

Any sales will be split 70 (you)/30 (the gallery.)

(*That's not necessarily the final title.)

2009-02-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

New Art For The People
February 22-28, 2009

A fundraiser for Not About The Buildings
Suggested donation $5-$10

Featuring artwork by:

Caitlin Beck
Jen Corace
Jyll Ethier-Mullen
Shawn Gilheeney
Corey Greyhorse
Jean Cozzens
Delia Kovac
Andrew Sloan
Alec Thibodeau
Jason Tranchida
Neal Walsh
Tom West
and more!

Opening reception Sunday, February 22. 3-8 PM.

Not About The Buildings

2009-02-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Not About The Buildings is committed to supporting reading and libraries. We believe that libraries are important because 1) all people should have access to information that they need or want 2) because libraries function as important community centers, and 3) because books are really cool. If you believe in supporting the mission of Not About The Buildings but can't make it to the New Art For The People fundraiser, please consider making a donation so that we may continue to make Providence an exciting place for readers.

CALL FOR ARTISTS: New Art For The People

2009-01-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

New Art For The People
February 22-28, 2009
Uptown Top Rankin

New Art For The People is a private fundraiser for Providence literary events/library advocacy organization Not About The Buildings. Work by a number of selected artists will be shown for one week only, with a percentage of proceeds going to the organization.

Information For Artists:
This show will focus exclusively on pieces that are under $300. Each artist will be represented by one or two pieces, each no larger than 24X24. Pieces should be ready for hanging and delivered to Uptown Top Rankin no later than February 15.

To Submit:
Please send up to three submissions (jpegs of at least 300 dpi, no larger than 2MG each) via e-mail or CD. If proposing new work, please include three examples of recent completed work. E-mail submissions can be sent to thebuildings@notaboutthebuildings.com.

Important Info:
Sales will be divided 70/30 between the artist and the gallery. While Uptown Top Rankin will do everything it can to preserve each work, artists should be aware that the gallery is not insured.

Questions:
Questions can be directed to thebuildings@notaboutthebuildings.com.

Grand Opening Thursday 6/19

2008-06-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

Uptown Top Rankin will be officially opening on Thursday, June 19th at 6 PM. The first show's called Deviance Begins At Home and features the work of Sean Johnson, Delia Kovac, Jeremy Melton, Joseph John Sanchez, Monica Shinn, Arthi Sundaresh, Jason Tranchida, and Matt Underwood.

[Above: Sean Johnson, Mom Playing The Piano (Culture)]