CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - Dandy Lion: Behold...A Gentleman, A Photo Exhibit

Dandy Lion: Behold... A Gentleman, A Photo Exhibit

Curated by: Shantrelle P. Lewis

in Assocation with the Gallery at Harlem Pop - part dieux

dan·dy \ˈdan-dē\

n. pl. dan·dies

1. A man who affects extreme elegance in clothes and manners; a fop.

2. Something very good or agreeable

Juxatposed against an urban backdrop where the clothing of choice for many black men consists of a pair of sagging pants, exposed boxers, jerseys and
white tees – the “hip hop” generation has produced another phenomenon
of style – the New Age dandy. Noticeably different from his historical
minstrel or Harlem Renaissance queer prototype, the 21st Century Black
Dandy is more masculine than metro-sexual, more of an expression of the
African aesthetic and mode of swagger than an imitation of European
high-brow society. A  Dandy Lion is a contemporary man of SWAG who
oozes creativity and makes well-thought out decisions in expressing his
individuality. A performance and embodiment of sophistication, dandies
are gentlemen of exceptional manners who consciously postulate what it
means to be Black, masculine and oh so Swaggalicious, not simply as
performance but an embodiment of a lifestyle.

Dandy Lion takes a glance at urban Black Dandies who like their continental  African counterparts, le sapeur of Brazzaville, Congo, embody style,
sophistication and a commitment to culture via dramatized masculinity.
This exhibition is a brief examination and approbation of the
contemporary dandy in American and European settings. Dandy Lion is an
homage to the fashionable urban gentleman – an African Diasporan man of
style, an urban connoisseur of sophistication and a contemporary man of
SWAG.

Le SAPE -The Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (The society for people of elegance and ambiance)

A few basic tenets of the le sapeur philosophy:

1. A Congolese Sapeur is a happy man even if he does not eat, because wearing proper clothes feeds the soul and gives pleasure to the body.
2. A real Sapeur needs to be cultivated and speak fluently, but also have a solid moral ethic: that means beyond the appearance and vanity of
   smart, expensive clothing there is the moral nobility of the individual.
3. When the Sapeur expresses himself through the harmony of his clothes, he is returning his admiration to God.
4. A Sapeur does not shed blood. Your clothes do all the fighting for you, otherwise you are not fit to be called a Sapeur.

WHO CAN SUBMIT:

1. African Diasporan photographers regardless of gender.

SUBMISSIONS

In order for your submission to be considered complete, please forward ALL of the items below:

PUT - Your name and DANDY LION in SUBJECT LINE

1. Please submit 5-10 jpeg images with a description for each piece (title, medium, dimensions, date(s) of completion).

2. CV or Resume

3. Artist Statement – as it relates specifically to the exhibition’s topic.

4. Brief bio

5. For video art, email link or file. (Must be Quicktime compatible).

I will accept resized images via email that are in medium or small format. You may also send a URL of images. (Please be prepared to forward larger
files upon request if selected).

THREE TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR CONSIDERATION:

1)      Pre-existing work on the topic or new work created specifically for this exhibition.

2)      An example of the photographer’s body of work and a description of what she or he would like to photograph.

3)      Suggestions of individuals to be photographed by one of the selected photographers for the exhibition. If you know of someone who would be
perfect for inclusion – please forward the following: Photograph of the
individual, Age, Profession, and a brief statement of how this
individual embodies dandyism.

Forward submissions and questions to:

Shantrelle P. Lewis at shantology@gmail.com

DEADLINE

October 1, 2010

EXHIBITION DATES:

October 23 - November 14, 2010