clay art

spent the weekend near Denbigh in North Wales, working at Clay Art, a gathering of seventy ceramicists of vastly different styles and techniques. Despite the relatively remote location, the event draws many of the country's big names in ceramics. I was there helping April Young sell her sculptures of horses and other figures.

The event was held in a large marquee in a field, and by the end of the weekend, the downpour of rain had turned everything to mud. Clothes were splattered with it, vehicles sank in it, and people fell over in it. There were many comments about the similarities between mud and clay.

I was already petrified that I would trip and smash someone's work, and the slipperiness underfoot multiplied that fear many times over. I had one close shave when transporting display stands on a trolley over a bump in the grass, and someone else nearly knocked a bowl over with the child harness on their back, but amazingly I didn't hear of a single breakage.

Despite the rain, there were many visitors on both days, but for all exhibitors, most purchases were made on Saturday. That must be when the serious collectors attend, to find the best pieces.

Tags: clay art | Denbigh | mud | rain