SEDIMENT
For our ninth issue, the Journal of Art Criticism (JAC) seeks essays and original artworks that interrogate the notion of sediment in the changing world of contemporary art. Some questions that might guide this exploration include—but are certainly not limited to—the following:
- Palimpsest can be a form of sedimentation in art. How do meanings for contemporary art get buried, uncovered or layered? What is the effect of sedimentation on memory (generational, collective, etc.)?
- How do contemporary artists negotiate permanence and ephemerality within a single work? Can sediment be a dynamic, ever-changing entity? How does the idea of sedimentation simultaneously reflect change and stagnancy?
- How do contemporary artists envision the relationship between humans and the natural world? How do we intentionally or unintentionally traverse the process of sedimentation?
- What is the temporality of decay? How do restoration efforts contribute to preserving but also eroding the nature of an object? Are there sustainable practices artists are taking up to reconcile the ecological ironies of art production?
- What are some ways contemporary art reflects the sedimentation and layering of social life? How do our experiences/knowledge/histories pile on each other?
- In what ways have contemporary artists engaged with themes of the residual and left over?
We welcome written submissions discussing any work of contemporary art—from painting to performance, relational aesthetics to sculptural installation—so long as it engages critically with some dimension of what it means for art to interrogate sediment. Essays should be 1,000-3,000 words and previously unpublished.
In addition to written submissions, we accept submissions of original visual art in any medium. Artist statements are accepted, but not required. Priority will be given to artworks that engage with the notion of sediment either formally or thematically.
Undergraduate students from any institution are encouraged to submit. Please note that JAC is a strictly undergraduate journal. As such, we are regrettably unable to consider submissions from postgraduates.
Submissions are due by Sunday, January 28th, 2024
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please include your name, the title of your work, and your school + expected graduation date in the body of your email. You may submit multiple pieces, but include these details for each work. Specify if you are submitting for online or print; online submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
All writers and artists must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at the time of their submission. We request that all submissions are previously unpublished. If you would like to submit your work elsewhere after it is featured in JAC, please acknowledge our editors’ work by noting that JAC was the original place of publication.
All TEXTS should primarily address the work of a living or contemporary artist. Attach your writing as a Word document with Chicago citations. Our review process is anonymous; please do not include your name in the document. For print, we prefer texts of 1000 – 3000 words, though we will consider texts of up to 4000 words.
For online submissions, shorter reviews and interviews of 750-2000 words are preferable. Please note that this is a peer-reviewed journal; we expect that authors will work with our editors before any writing is published.
Attach your ART as a jpg at 300dpi if it is image-based. Artists statements are accepted, but not mandatory. Contact us for specifications for other media.
Email your submission to journalofartcriticism@gmail.com with the subject line Submission – [Title of Work]. Please email the same address with any questions.