The ONE Archives at USC Libraries are seeking proposals from Los Angeles artists for Six (Linear) Feet. This new project invites artists to respond to the now-ubiquitous usage of the phrase "six feet," reflecting on its meaning both literally and symbolically. The project takes up this practical phrase, asking artists to respond to and reflect upon its usage and its appearance in our everyday landscape. Though measurement is thought to be universal and precise, it is more context dependent than generally perceived. The title of this project, Six (Linear) Feet, refers to the way space is often measured at an archive, where linear feet refer to how much front shelf-space boxes or a collection will take up.
This call is for artists to probe these measurements and how they relate to the body, our daily habits, and our interactions as humans. How has the call for six feet of separation changed our conception of space and distance? In our newfound world of distance, how do we approach touch and proximity? How do we build community and resilience from six feet apart? How can distance and display bring us together? How do we work with this new constraint upon daily living? Are there lessons to be learned from queer time and space?
The project can be realized in any medium and can respond either directly or indirectly to the questions and themes of Six (Linear) Feet. Proposals will take the form of a five-hundred word (maximum) project description and three-hundred word (maximum) artist bio. Sketches or other ways of representing an idea in progress will also be accepted but not required. Proposals are due Feb. 1, 2021. Selected artists will be announced by Feb. 16. For full details, please visit the project website.