Terrain Exhibitions announces the Terrain Biennial 2019

Dear friends and supporters,

Terrain Exhibitions is pleased to announce dates for the 4th Terrain Biennial 2019, as well as updates to our mission and structure.

In the spring of 2018, Sabina Ott, founder of Terrain, asked Tom Burtonwood, Monica Chadha, Holly Holmes, Allison Lacher, John Paulett, and Jeff Robinson to serve on the board of the newly incorporated not-for-profit “Terrain Exhibitions.”

As you may know Sabina passed away in the summer of 2018, leaving behind an ambitious and innovative legacy spanning three editions of the Terrain Biennial and countless artist projects at her home in Oak Park, IL. There are many tributes to Sabina and her work, and Terrain was but one facet of her career as an artist, a Professor of art, an activist, a mentor and source of inspiration for young and old alike.

Oli Watt, Terrain Biennial 2017

Oli Watt, Terrain Biennial 2017

Terrain Exhibitions will continue to organize and produce the Terrain Biennial, starting with the 2019 edition that will be staged in from October 1st to November 17th, 2019.

We are seeking hosts and artists from around the world to participate in this year’s event. Please use the google forms on this page to indicate your interest as a host, artist, volunteer, or all of the above: PARTICIPATE. Deadline EXTENDED: now June 1st, 2019.

The theme of this years Terrain Biennial is to take stock of the landscape that people are living in today. What is the terrain that we occupy? The environment that has been built? What is the topology of our moment? Artists and hosts should reflect upon the ways in which our environment changes us and how we are changing it.

Richard Medina will reprise his role as Assistant Director of the Terrain Biennial. If you have questions about the Biennial please reach out to Richard directly at richard@terrainexhibitions.org. Richard will be connecting with past Terrain hosts and artists to encourage them to participate. So look out for his emails!

Further information about the Terrain Biennial is posted here: https://terrainexhibitions.org/.

In addition to the Terrain Biennial, Terrain Exhibitions is launching a Terrain Residency in Springfield, Illinois. Working with the Enos Park Residency for Visual Artists administered by the Springfield Art Association, Terrain Exhibitions will host three artists each year in Springfield. Terrain Exhibitions will host two artists in 2019, one in the summer and another in the fall. From 2020 onwards Terrain Exhibitions will host three artists a year, one in the spring, one in the summer, and one in the fall. A call for for applications for our summer and fall residencies will be is posted here, deadline for residency application materials is 04/01/2019 at 11.59pm.

Terrain Exhibitions is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization founded in the State of Illinois. We are seeking interns and volunteers to help with archiving documentation of past projects, volunteering for the upcoming Biennial, helping to administer the residency, and raising funds for the organization. If you are interested in getting involved please get in touch via email ( info@terrainexhibitions.org ) or click here for more information.  

We hope that you’ll join us to make the 4th edition of the Terrain Biennial a resounding success!