Photo Jeff ‘Feet Of Clay’ Dawson
For years the North Coast Mud Trail was a fairly quiet affair – just a handful of ceramics studios throwing open their doors to welcome in the clay throwers and ceramics lovers.
Not anymore.
The event has grown into one of the Northern Rivers’ biggest arts weekends, attracting thousands of visitors from across Australia to explore the region’s thriving ceramics scene.
And this year the celebration of clay is growing again.
For the first time, the Mud Trail will expand into a four-day festival, with two dedicated workshop days preceding the traditional weekend of open studios.
The expanded program includes around 30 workshops, four exhibitions, artist talks and demonstrations, while the self-guided trail will showcase the work of 35 potters across 26 studios in the Byron, Ballina and Lismore shires.
Workshops galore!
The current president of North Coast Ceramics, Jacqui Sosnowski said the additional workshops were designed to encourage visitors to spend longer in the region rather than making a day trip.
‘We’ve got 30 workshops this year and they’re encouraging overnight visitors,’ Ms Sosnowski said.
She said the event was attracting people from well beyond the Northern Rivers.
‘We’re getting visitors from Sydney and Brisbane. Ceramics is thriving here.’
Meet the makers
While the workshops are a significant addition, the weekend studio trail remains at the heart of the festival, giving visitors the chance to meet makers in their studios, watch demonstrations and buy work directly from the artists.
Ms Sosnowski said that direct connection between makers and visitors was what set the Mud Trail apart.
‘The uniqueness is the story behind where the pots came from,’ she said.
The North Coast Mud Trail runs from 21 to 24 August, with the Open Studio weekend on the 22nd and 23rd. The open studios are free to visit, while bookings are required for workshops and some special events.
Find out more at: www.northcoastceramics.com/mud-trail.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
