The forthcoming anthology, "SmackDab!", is an exploration of the
Midwestern Asian American experience. The Asian American movement in
art, activism, and academia has, to this point, largely been defined by
the East and the West coasts. Unlike the Midwest, the coasts have had
the critical mass in support of their work. However, communities in the
heart of the country are gaining momentum and making crucial
contributions to Asian America. We recognize the distinct encounters
and hardships Asians in the Midwest face. We deal with a particular
cultural isolation and invisibility - a certain daily insensitivity that
drive us in different directions than our brothers and sisters on the
coasts. While we recognize our commonalities, there are stories unique
to Asian Americans in the Midwest. This is our assertion that we have
always been here - SmackDab in the middle!

We are looking for Asian American artists whose experiences are rooted
in the Midwest, artists who understand the complexities of the
Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) identity in the Midwest, and
artists who understand the frustration that comes with being a
conscious APIA in the Midwest. We invite you to submit your original,
unpublished poems, short stories, plays, creative non-fiction, and
visual art. We're looking for work that critically explore the effects
of race and environment and deal with how your experiences here have
shaped you politically, socially, and culturally.

Deadline: must be received by May 1, 2003

General submission guidelines
Mail TWO copies of works along with SASE to the following:
Asian American Artists Collective
3105 N. Ashland Ave. #293
Chicago, IL 60657

You may enter in as many genre as you would like. Please clearly
indicate which genre you are submitting for. ALL WORK NEEDS TO BE
TYPED 10 12 point, double-spaced. All submissions should include your
name, address, titles, phone number and email address.

FICTION
15 pages in length. Short shorts of 1-3 pages preferred.

POETRY
10 pages of poetry maximum.

NONFICTION
15 pages in length.

VISUAL ART
Photos and artwork must be reproducible in black and white. Do not send
originals. Send 35 mm slides, hi-res digital files on CD or ZIP, or
high quality photocopies of line art. Images will be produced on a
6"x9" vertical page format.

For questions or additional information contact:

Fu-Chung Wong
fulish9@yahoo.com
Tel. (773) 209-4085
www.thecollectivechicago.org