We Are Not Witches October 7, 2010

We are not Witches is an exhibition and silent auction of artworks, which has been organised to raise money on behalf of Stepping Stones Nigeria. The exhibition will run for three days at the Saatchi Gallery.

Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria has a population of over 3.5 million. Over 95% of the children on Akwa Ibom’s streets have been stigmatized as “witches”. These children are tortured and cast out of their villages, becoming vulnerable to rapists, traffickers and even ritualists, who use their body parts for their supposed supernatural powers. It is
estimated that between four and six children are stigmatized as ‘witches’ every day, resulting in a constant increase in the number of those without food or shelter.

We Are Not Witches will raise much-needed attention around this problem, as well as funds for Stepping Stones Nigeria, achieved through the silent auction. This extraordinary show will feature contributions donated by high profile international artists, all keen to stop the plight of innocent children accused of witchery.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Beezy Bailey, Jonathan Baldock, Gordon Cheung, Johnnie Clarke, Dan Coombs, Keith Coventry, Hugo Dalton, Leonardo Drew, Neil Gall, Steve Goddard, Leah Gordon, Hassan Hajjaj, Tony Heywood, Paul Housley, Gary Komarin, Henry Krokatsis, Vivienne Koorland, Penny Lamb, Che Lovelace, Alistair Mackie, Oliver Marsden, Jason Martin, Cathy de Moncheaux, Zak Ove, Danny Rolfe, Lionel Smit, Gavin Turk, Hiro Yamagata…plus many more to come…..

THE SILENT AUCTION
The auction will be silent. Bidders leave their details with the organizers, along with their maximum bid. The top bid is constantly updated, and winners will be contacted at the end of the auction. Lower or mirror bids are encouraged, in case higher bids do not go through. The reserve will be set at the cost price of producing a work where relevant. Otherwise the works will be offered without reserve in order to raise the most money possible.

THE EVENT
Art of Giving is an organisation set up to produce events which facilitate charitable giving through the arts. They have hired the Saatchi Gallery from the 7 -9th October.