I recently visited the Great Norther Contemporary Craft Fair at Manchester Baths. Firstly, I have wanted to visit Manchester Baths since I first saw it on a programme with Kevin McCloud around 25 years ago, bidding for funding to preserve it. At the time I thought it would reopen as a swimming baths, but that clearly didn't happen. It was a tremendous building that didn't disappoint. The fact that the original decorative ceramics were all still there was a bonus.
Secondly and top of the agenda for the day, were the artists who were in attendance for the fair. Wow! What a truly amazing collection of makers. I have long since worked out that there are very varied standards at fairs, both in terms of general art/craft collections and solo ceramics. It really is difficult in advance to know how a show will work out. Will it be an 'Aunty Ethel' event, full of compulsive knitters using garish nylon wool to knit toilet roll covers, or will it actually be contemporary artists, on top of their game with pieces you may actually wish to purchase? Both scenarios have their place and something to bring to the table, but it's only the latter I'm interested in.
GNCCF did not disappoint in any way. I went along with Tom, my husband, and Joa, my friend. We were all blown away. It took us several hours to meander through all of the treasures on offer. We made a group pact not to purchase on our first walk around. As it was, we were all a tad overwhelmed and didn't buy anything at all! Luckily, I had collected business cards along the way, and Tom had made some notes about our favourites on the floor plan which enabled us all to come home, have a think and a research online, and then make some considered purchases, It also meant as artists from different media, we could collect a few more profiles to follow on social media platforms.
In terms of ceramics, it was good to see a couple of favourites there (Qi Fang Colbert comes to mind) and some work from students (always good as a fellow student!), alongside a plethora of newbies to me. The standards were generally high, but as ever, not everything was going to make my list of favourites. It would have been good to see UCLan represented there. Next year, hopefully.
I also had the opportunity to meet the textile artist who I had purchased from via Etsy earlier this year. Unexpeted, but great to meet her and chat. (Emily Beaver, weewoolliesuk.)
All in all, a great day out and I think all three of us will be back next year for a re-run of the incredibly positive, heart-warming, artistic experience!
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