Word Order: Concrete Poetry & its Influence
David Bellingham, Thomas A Clark, Alec Finlay, Julie Johnstone
9 September – 21 October

Word Order explored the historic and inspirational link between poetry and visual art, and was programmed to coincide with Stirling’s first literary festival Off The Page.

Throughout the Sixties and early Seventies, Concrete Poetry was one of the most internationally lively movements in the arts, involving a fertile interaction between poets and artists.  Its influence continues to be felt today.

Word Order included historic material from the University of Stirling archives by artists including Ernst Jandl (Germany) and Robert Lax (USA) alongside publications by important Scottish concrete poets Edwin Morgan and Ian Hamilton Finlay.  This was accompanied by audio recordings of poetry performances by key figures such as Kurt Schwitters, James Joyce and Brion Gysin spanning the years 1922 – 2002.

More recent work in the constructed poem formed the main aspect of the exhibition, including new wall paintings and screen prints by Scottish artists David Bellingham, Thomas A Clark, Julie Johnstone and Alec Finlay.  A series of four screen prints, editioned by Peacock Printmakers earlier in 2006, are available for sale along with smaller published works by all four artists.

Off site exhibitions
Publications by Thomas A Clark were shown next to the reference section at Stirling's Central Library during Word Order.

Selected works by David Bellingham were exhibited in the University of Stirling’s library from 6 November – 21 December 2006.

Word Order is a Peacock visual arts touring exhibition curated by Cairn Gallery, Pittenweem.

Exhibition supported by Scottish Arts Council

Alec Finlay, Loop, vinyl on wall, 2006

David Bellingham, various works, 2003-2006

David Bellingham, Two Positions Relative to Greenwich Mean,detail, 1999-2003

Thomas A Clark, 16 letters,wallpainting, 2006

Julie Johnstone, Island Magazine, In A Different Light,screenprint and various publications, 2006