Re:Box, the Isle of Wight’s smallest art gallery located in a red phone box on Lind Street, Ryde, has partnered with local literary handbill Brevity to exhibit a collection of ultra-short stories from 16 Island writers.
The new display features 50-word fictions exploring everything from a woman pregnant with a vegetable to a satirical tale of an online keyboard warrior. Each story is designed to be read quickly by passers-by, combining art and literature in an unexpected street setting.
Anmarie Bowler, Brevity editor and Re:Box co-founder, has said:
“This collection of 50-word fictions focuses on precise, sometimes quirky moments in time and is easy to read as you walk by the phone box.
“They may even inspire you to write your own 50-word story.”
Brevity is a free, six-times-a-year publication showcasing quality short stories of 500 words or fewer by Isle of Wight writers. It is printed at Boojum & Snark in Sandown and distributed through local libraries and arts organisations.
Re:Box has previously featured visual art in the phone box gallery, but this marks its first foray into text-based work.
Zoë Barker, Re:Box co-founder, has said:
“Up to now we’ve always featured visual art in Re:Box, but we knew one day we’d try out text, and super short stories are a natural fit.
“It’s an interesting art form. Crafting narratives with no more than 50 words is a challenge but in this case the resulting street reads are comical, emotional and thought-provoking.”
Island residents interested in submitting a story to Brevity can do so via www.brevityisland.home.blog/contact/
