Deadline: March 31st, 2025 at 11:59PM EST
Factory Media Centre is seeking submissions of media artworks for consideration in a curated group exhibition, To see the world in a grain of sand, to be exhibited on site from August – September 2025.
Curated by Gladys Lou, To see the world in a grain of sand will explore sand as a medium of communication bridging physical and digital realms. From its role in the construction industry and silicon technology to its symbolism in deserts, magic, and mythology, sand embodies the tension between permanence and impermanence, holding narratives of time, memory, and transformation. This exhibition will reimagine sand as a conduit of ancient traditions and futuristic visions, connecting natural landscapes with virtual spaces.
A call for submissions is now open for media works that examine sand’s cultural, technological, and mystical meanings through a variety of media art forms, including but not limited to: Digital Works – Film – Photography – Experimental Video – Sound Art – 3D Printing and Rendering – Augmented or Virtual Reality – Animation – Live Coding – Electronic Literature – Immersive Installation – Interactive Mediums –Video Game Design – and other forms & definitions of media artwork. We are seeking submissions that offer new perspectives on the ever-changing material of sand and its dynamic relationship between the tangible and the digital.
The exhibition title is inspired by William Blake’s poem, “Auguries of Innocence”, published in 1863 that encourages readers to see greatness in small things and contemplate complex, metaphysical ideas through everyday observations.
We encourage submitting artists to consider the following questions
- What are some ways to interpret the duality of sand as both a physical material and a symbolic medium?
- What roles does sand play in legends, myths, and folklore, and how can these cultural meanings translate to art practices?
- How can sand as a medium capture and reverse the fleeting nature of time, like the allegory of the hourglass?
- How does the growing demand for sand in silicon technology influence current discourse on resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and the future of sand as a critical material in both technological and ecological contexts?
- How can the exploration of sand expand our understanding of how natural materials shape and influence digital experiences, challenging traditional boundaries between the human and the machine?
Details & Eligibility
- We are accepting submissions from artists in all levels of their careers
- In line with our mission, we prioritize applicants from Hamilton, ON and the surrounding regions, however we still encourage submissions from artists across Canada and abroad
- This group exhibition will take place from August – September 2025 in the Factory Media Centre gallery
- Selected artists will be notified in late April 2025
- We are accepting submissions of in-progress works, however all artworks must be completed and ready to exhibit by July 2025
- Participating artists will receive artist fees inline with the recommended CARFAC Small Space Rate
- Selected artists will receive in-kind access to Factory Media Centre’s presentation and equipment library for exhibition presentation purposes
Submission Requirements
- Artwork description. Please indicate whether the work is completed or in progress (maximum 300 words)
- Visual support material
- Formatted in one PDF file: Provide 5-10 images, and/or 1-3 links to audio/video documentation in one PDF file with image and link information such as: Title, Year, Medium, Duration/Size, and if applicable: a short 1-2 sentence description of how this is relevant to your proposal.
- Video support material links can exceed 5 minutes in length, but please note that our jury cannot commit to viewing submitted material in full. Please ensure links are able to be accessed by the public. If there is a password to view the link, include the password in your support material PDF.
- Technical requirements
- Artist biography (maximum 150 words)
- CV (3 pages maximum)
About the Curator
Gladys Lou (she/they) is a Hong Kong-Canadian curator and artist currently pursuing an MA in Curatorial Studies at the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, New York, with a BA in Art & Art History and Psychology from the University of Toronto. Her practice utilizes experimental media and new technologies including video, sound, and new media to investigate and challenge the boundaries of sensory perception. Her research explores visual phenomena and shifting perceptions of light, colour, and memory, visualizing emotions and the unconscious.
Lou was awarded a Fulbright scholarship,where she studied Digital Arts and Experimental Media at the University of Washington in 2022. Her critical writing has been published by Pleasure Dome and Hamilton Artist Inc. She was selected as the IA Current Curator at InterAccess in 2023, and was a participant in the RBC Emerging Artist Network at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in 2022–2023. Lou’s art has been exhibited locally at InterAccess, Workman Arts, Art Museum at the University of Toronto, Blackwood Gallery, Art Gallery of Mississauga, and internationally at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Alicante and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. She was awarded first prize at Video Fever 2023 by Trinity Square Video, Vtape, and Images Festival.
About Factory Media Centre
Factory Media Centre is Hamilton’s not-for-profit artist-driven resource centre for film, video, new media, installation, sound art, and other multimedia art forms. Our mission is to develop and support a vibrant, sustainable, creative, and diverse community of Members and non-Members within Hamilton and its surrounding region.
Please contact Eli at programming@factorymediacentre.ca with any questions or concerns.
Please apply through the online submission form only. Hard copy and email submissions will not be considered, unless special accommodations are requested. Notification can be expected in late April 2025.
Factory Media Centre is committed to equity in all aspects of its operations. We accept submissions from artists, collectives, filmmakers, community members, and curators at all stages of career levels which display local and regional experimental media artwork. We strongly encourage applications from Black and Indigenous artists, persons with disabilities, ethnic or racial minorities, immigrants and refugees, Francophones, LGBTQI+ persons, women, and persons of all socio-economic walks of life.
Header Image: Still from Experimance, by Ryan Kelln.