A good show as always, with a vast range of top quality work to view. The studiopottery award (a free stand in next years show) went to Richard Godfrey this year. This is the 7th year this award has been made with previous awards going to: Deirdre Burnett, Eddie and Margaret Curtis, Ian Rylatt, Geoffrey Swindell, Chris Lewis and Barry Guppy. I cannot really highlight particular favourites as there is so much. For me it is always a pleasure to meet and chat with old friends and to meet new ones. To see how different ceramicists work is developing and to experience the excitement of finding new work by makers i have not seen before. A bonus this year was the Henry Moore exhibition at Hatfield House. (pictures, left to right, top to bottom. Richard Godfrey receiving his award – left Andy McInnes, Art in Clay, right Stephen Dee, Studiopottery.co.uk; Work by Ross Emerson, Richard Godfrey – traditional work, scuptural recent work; Ostinelli and Priest; Helen Rondell )
I was lucky enough to have a stand at this years show. It was a great experience- very diverse- functional work next to sculpture- raku next to earthenware etc etc. I think that is Art in Clays strength, oddly enough.
There was a great communal feeling and I can certainly vouch that I enjoyed meeting and seeing many potters work- Sarah Purveys- Alan Foxely’s sculpture, John Evans Raku and Nicci Rugerio’s smoke fired raku- just a few…all awesome memories to take away.
I didnt do too badly myself on the stall -all said and done- some sales-galleries and commisions- on a tough weekend with very black newspaper headlines and a downturn in the market.
All in all- thanks to Andy Mcinness and the team- and good to meet faces old and new- including the CEO of Studio Pottery.co.uk himself!