Totem: Dolls with Souls

Totem dolls with souls is a group exhibition exploring self identity through the resurging craft movement. Artists are invited to create a self portrait doll, not of how they look on the outside, but showing how they feel about themselves or how they secretly see themselves on the inside. These dolls will then be hung in the Fracture Galleries at Federation Square in Melbourne from 22nd of September to the 13th November as part of the Melbourne International Fringe Festival.

These dolls can be created from scratch (sewn, knitted, crocheted, carved, glued etc), conversions from pre-existing dolls, sculptural assemblages from any materials, found objects or anything else you can imagine. They can be a human, an animal, a mythical creature or anything else. They can be as fantastical or ordinary as each artist feels themselves to be. Artists can submit as many dolls as they wish. The venue can cater for dolls from 30cm to several metres.

The Venue: The Fracture Galleries are a unique exhibition space in the Atruim at Federation Square. Click here for the Fed Square website, www.fedsquare.com.au. They are totally weatherproof however they are exposed to sunlight. Please take this into consideration when constructing your doll.

The Artists: This exhibition is open to anyone of any ability, anywhere in the world. Inclusions in the exhibition costs $30 per adult artist (not per doll) and $15 conc. Payment can be via paypal, direct deposit, cheque or postal order. For international artists the entry fee is waived due to postage costs of the dolls.

The Exhibition: Totem is part of Melbourne Fringe www.melbournefringe.com.au. The dolls need to be delivered by the 15th of September. They can be dropped off or posted. If artists require dolls to be sent back after the exhibition is over, please include cost of return postage on top of your exhibition fee. Dolls that have not had some arrangement to be collected will be considered abandoned and given to charity.

To participate in Totem, or if you have any specific questions, please contact curator Sayraphim Lothian on them@omnificassembly.com. http://www.omnificassembly.com/oa/