TAIPEI CITY.- Artists from all countries are invited to send proposals for temporary site-specific sculpture installations that raise awareness about environmental issues related to land, water and culture. Works must be suitable for an urban nature park with an emphasis on wetlands conservation and environmental education. Artists selected for the 2009 Festival will create their artworks during a 15-day residency in Taiwan, May 31 – June 15, 2009. The time to make the installation will be 12 days, and artists must have their works completed by the press conference opening on June 12, 2009. The selected artists will receive a fee of US$1200 (NT$40,000), economy airfare from their home country to Taiwan and return, accommodations from May 31 – June 15, some meals and volunteer help to create their works.

Selected artists will create their works at Guandu Nature Park using sustainable natural materials found on site such as reeds, rice straw, earth, small stones, branches, and small bamboo as well as recycled bamboo. The artworks should last for the full three months of the exhibition and be able to survive typhoons and heavy rains as well as hot and dry summer weather. After the exhibition, artworks should be recyclable and easy to dismantle without leaving a trace on the land. The artworks should offer opportunities for public interaction and volunteer participation with the artists. Public "Do It Yourself" activities with the artists will be part of the opening weekend activities on June 13 and 14.

Jane Ingram Allen, American artist, independent curator and art critic working in Taiwan since 2004, is the curator for the Guandu Sculpture Festival. Contact Jane at guandusculpturefestival@gmail.com with any questions. See the website at http://www.gd-park.org.tw for information about Guandu Nature Park and the website at www.colorfultree.com.tw/gdpark/ for information and photos of the 2008 Festival.

The curator will make the selection of artists based on the proposal materials submitted by e mail and recommend artists for final selection at a meeting with Guandu Nature Park staff. All entries will be reviewed and artists notified by March 15, 2009.

Proposals must be sent by e mail and include the following materials:

·Resume or cv with the mailing address and contact information for the artist including website and e mail address

·6 images of previous outdoor works that relate to nature and the environment (small jpg files up to 1 MG each)

·Image list giving the title, date made, dimensions, media or materials used, place of the installation and brief description for each work

·Written description (no more than one page) of the proposed work for Guandu Nature Park including how it relates to land, water and culture, what materials will be used and how the public can participate with the artwork.

·Sketch or rendering of the proposed work (scanned or digital image up to 1MG) to include proposed dimensions.

Send entries by e mail only to guandusculpturefestival@gmail.com before the deadline of February 1, 2009.