thinking art side the blog: Staffordshire Contemporary Artist & Designer Fair

The weekend of December 1st & 2nd saw the first ever Staffordshire Artist & Designer Fair organised by Leek College's very own Art department and held at the Foxlowe Arts Centre - a first for both. This was an idea developed, last November, after having had a stand at the Artist & Designer Fair in the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton. It was possibly the scary journey back through the snow over Flash (after being told by the Derbyshire police in the fair to go home now becaue of the weather) that got us thinking...mmm, we could do one of these ourselves...in Leek...at the Foxlowe...makes it easier to set up the work (and no snowy roads to contend with!) ...and its supporting our own town...yes...LETS DO IT! ...and we did!

It was a brilliant success. What last year was 6 panels of student work as part of an event became a big event with 28 professional designer makers exhibiting, both local & national, plus our own 2nd & 3rd year Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice students. It was great fun selecting the work, I loved it - visiting designer fairs in Stafford, Buxton, Manchester, Tixall, Ashbourne, looking back through collected cards, exhibition catalogues and websites and then very self indulgently selecting the work I like and contacting the artists/makers (with my fingers crossed in the hope they would say yes) ...and the the excitement when they said..'yes..i would love to take part in the fair.'..our fair...and so it came together...28 artists plus students all venturing to Leek for the weekend to be part of the very first Staffordshire Contemporary Artist & Designer fair.

The room in the Foxlowe Arts Centre was transformed from the function room and bar to a fantastic space filled with amazing art & design...it looked so good.

The feedback from the artists was brilliant, some even said it was better than the Buxton Artist & Designer fair at the Pavilion Gardens (a very well established & widely advertised and high profile event)..which for ours being a first event was a huge compliment and all artists I spoke to said they would definitely take part again - just fantastic to get such positive comments.

Comments made by visitors & artists:

'You've managed to achieve a great show that meets all 3 requirements - professional, high quality work, lots of visitors and a great atmosphere...well done lass' - Nic Williams - potter from Yorkshire!

'can you organise one of these every 2 weeks...no...well how about every 2 months!?' Chris Farrow - several artists asked if we would organise a summer event

'What a great selection of work...very professional and consistent standard'

'This is just what Leek needs' ...' its about time Leek had an event like this' - 'i was just passing through Leek and saw the posters and just thought would have a look...what a brilliant show' visitors to the show

'I didn't know what to expect seeing as this was the first show...in fact I was prepared for it to be a small low key event but it way exceeded my expectations...really good show' - several artists commented similar

'thank you for doing it...so much work and organisation, we really do appreciate it...having done shows for so many years we do know what it takes.....with much admiration of your vision and hard work' Newfields Gallery

"It was a really high quality collection of work.We had friends up from London and they were really impressed; we had lunch and they bought presents." visitor

...there are more photographs of the wonderful work on display at the event further down the blog....keep going!

The visitor numbers were really high over both days. The fair was constantly busy with people...and more importantly with people spending their money! Our degree students sold over £700 worth of their work. All artists said they had done really well for sales and really enjoyed it and the Foxlowe cafe took the most money it has ever taken since it opened...what a fantastic result all round - for us, the artists, the Foxlowe and Leek - feel very proud to have been part of something and organised something that has had such a positive impact. The fair was a real success and we are really proud of what we achieved...check out the photos of the 2 days at the the first ever Staffordshire Contemporary Artist and Designer Fair...here's to the next fair...2013!

Saturday 1st December 8.00am...setting up

The artists and designers began arriving at 8.00, unpacking car boots and sliding across the icy paths in the rain! It was great to put faces to the artists i had emailed and to see the work being un-packed and set up...really exciting. All the artists were lovely and so professional and made the fair come to life with such ease.

10.00am.....opening time...will the visitors come...yes...phew!!

At 9.50 after running around all morning sorting things out, setting up, generally chatting and meeting the artists i suddenly realised that the Fair was ready...the artists were all set up and everything looked fantastic...the 'vision' was finally a reality and looked amazing...then I had a panic...what if no one came to see this...but they did (due to good marketing!) and not only did they come but they bought things and kept on arriving!

Leek College

2012 exhibitors

Zoe Badger - Printmaker

Vivienne Ross - Ceramic

Kate Aimson - Textiles & Mixed Media

Nic Williams - Potter

Val Travers- Muir - Textiles

Val Leeming - Craft

Kirsty Thomason - Jewllery

Jo Taylor (Calllula Glass) - Glass

Kevin Millward - Ceramics

Hollie Caley- Mixed media Textiles

Jackie Harold - Silversmith/Jeweller

Jessica Owen - Painter

Danielle Taylor (onmypinna) - Textile artists

Simone Morris - ceramics/Jewellery

John Cruttenden - Photography

Janet Wass & Victoria Kershaw - jewellery

Joanne Reay - miced media artist

Chris Farrow - photographer

Ruth Allen - printmaker

Rebecca Hogg - ceramics

Newfields Gallery - Wood

Emma Wilson - ceramics

Peanut Gallery - ceramics & textiles

Sarah Myatt - glass

Gillie Nicholls - ceramics

Louise Janetta - collograph artist

Linda Evans - Textiles

Leek College Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice students (yr 2 and 3) textiles, jewellery, clock maker, painting

Emma Wilson

Kevin Millward

Amy & Cheryl - Peanut Gallery

Peanut Gallery

Sarah Myatt - Glass

Ruth Allen

Simone Morris

Rebecca Hogg

Visitors!

Day 2 - Sunday 2nd December

Beautiful, frosty start to the day. Hoping that day 2 would be as successful as day 1 which could not have gone any better - exceeding all our expectations. Was so exciting to part of it and see it come to life - still same feelings of nerves though for day 2 as we had for day 1. The Totally Locally Sunday Supplement market was also on in Leek, making Leek a very busy place - also had a 'flash mob' in the market place (see You tube video at end of the blog of the flashmob in action!!) ...only in Leek!