Photo Jeff ‘Muddsy’ Dawson
At a time when local festivals seem to be a threatened species, one major Northern Rivers event appears to have bucked the downward trend over the weekend.
The North Coast Mud Trail sprang to life on August 17 and 18 with double the number of ceramic artists compared to last year.
Twenty-one studios across the region opened their doors this year, showing the wares of 26 local potters. And the punters responded, with the annual ‘pilgrimage of the plate’ attracting thousands from across the region.
‘With all of the extra artists and the economic climate being as it is, I have to admit I was a bit worried,’ the president of North Coast Ceramics, Jacqui Sosnowski, said.
‘But anecdotally, and from my own experience, most of us did just as well as last year and many did even better.’
The event attracted a significant number of visitors from interstate and overseas this year, but the majority were locals, Ms Sosnowski said. ‘I think it’s just a beautiful way to spend a day… cruising around the hinterland to all these beautiful little spots you might never have visited to see the amazing work of our ceramicists’.
‘Unlike a lot of events you get to engage directly with the artist at the Mud Trail – ask them about their process, their work. Maybe take part in a workshop, and buy something you’ll keep for decades.’
The popularity of the hands-on events at the Mud Trail reflects the region’s growing love affair with clay.
‘Generally, ceramics has really seen a major uptake locally in the past ten years,’ Ms Sosnowski said.
‘We’re particularly seeing a lot of young people getting involved. Clay is incredibly addictive, and it’s also therapeutic,’ Ms Sosnowski said.
The wheel will keep on turning in the coming months, with small events taking place across the region, culminating with a big Christmas market at the Mullum Civic Hall on December 7 and 8.
North Coast Ceramics awards are also on again with entries closing in December. This year the theme will be ‘Endurance’.
For more info, visit www.northcoastceramics.com.
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