The Commonty: Wordbespoke.

Spring Fling Artist In Residence Creates On-line Word Auction!

Wordbespoke>

Artist Deirdre Nelson is returning to Wigtown during the Spring Fling weekend to display work inspired by a 10 day residency during Wigtown Book festival in September 2010. Deirdre has created a collection of people’s favourite words from the UK and Africa, and turned them into artworks. Bids open on Thursday 26 May in the Wordbespoke charity eBay auction in aid of Ganet’s Adventure School, Malawi.

Over 700 favourite words were chosen by writers and festival-goers at Wigtown Book Festival 2010 and also from the pupils of Ganet’s Adventure School in Malawi.

From this selection Deirdre has curated a small collection of around 30 words and hand embroidered them in silk onto ribbons. The ribbons can be applied to objects or clothing, or displayed in their glass containers. The artworks will be on display from 28-30 May at The Bookshop in Wigtown (Studio 7) as part of the Spring Fling.

Also on display in Studio 7 over the Spring Fling weekend

A Series of Photographs which will be placed throughout the book shop and are a result of 'wordbespoke' an ongoing project where Deirdre has embroidered favourite words onto garments.

A Word Exchange. words gathered during the residency have been embroidered onto cloth and will be on display in the book shop. Visitors will have the opportunity to exchange words by taking a stitched word away and replacing it with a new one to add to the collection.

A Word Auction. An online word auction in the days leading up to spring fling will be broadcast live during the event where visitors can bid over the course of the weekend. All proceeds go to Ganet’s Adventure School, Malawi.

Let the bidding begin – online!

The eBay auction of words will begin at 7pm UK time on Thursday 26 May 2011, and will end at 7pm on Sunday 5 June 2011. The reserve price for every artwork will be just £5, so you could pick up an original piece of art for next to nothing! All profits go to Ganet’s Adventure School Fund.