FotoFest is curating and commissioning 20 exhibitions around dual themes: "The Earth" and "Artists Responding to Violence". The Earth continues and expands the FotoFest 2004 exploration of Water, combining conceptual and figurative interpretations of earth through artistic expression, science, and public policy. Artists Responding to Violence is a separate but connected theme to The Earth. Human-created violence, from war to the household, is omni-present and ubiquitous. It is not only threatening the existence of earth but is transforming the nature of political society. In exploring this theme, FotoFest is not focusing on the depiction of violent acts but rather on how creative artists interpret these acts of violence, the human capacity for violence, and the presence of violence in many aspects of life.

"The Earth"

The broad theme of Earth is an extension of FotoFest 2004 and the focus on Water. The combination of art, science, and public policy through arts installations and forums is a direction that FotoFest is continuing. In keeping this theme broad, FotoFest is looking at work that relates to Earth both metaphorically and figuratively. It can encompass human and non-human life in a broad existential sense as well as issues of land use and geophysical history. We are looking at Energy as an important part of Earth systems. For FotoFest 2006, we are particularly interested in clearly defined conceptual approaches to this subject. We are also interested in inter-disciplinary work and work that brings together science and art. We are interested in how artists are using photography and photo-related media to define the subject of Earth. Please note, we are NOT giving priority to work whose purpose is to show beautiful landscapes, waterscapes, or lovely pictures of the sky.