Local Guild keeps craft alive this Christmas
If you have ever wanted to try glassmaking, fine print methods or see exquisite embriodery or minatures being painted and fired in close-up then it's worth visiting the Devon GuIld in Bovey Tracy this December. The local craft centre and gallery nurtures craft makers from all over the South West - from potters and jewellers to weavers and metalworkers. A number of Members including popular Totnes based ceramicist Iris Milward and John Hagger, traditional leather bagmaker and sadler, have offered to give live action demonstrations of their skills at the Guild, every Saturday in December.
Answering questions and describing as you watch they'll give viewers the chance to learn about traditional crafts still being used today - and to discover which materials, tools and methods are applied in the process. Some have a 'try it yourself' element' - such as Roberta Ayles' glassmaking sessions where she will let you have a go at making a dish or panel. On 7 December artist Deborah Treliving is running a 'drop in and print' your own Christmas card day.
The Guild and its makers want people to appreciate the wealth of creative enterprise and rural craftmaking which has always enriched the South West and they hope that when people visit they will not only see the inspiring new design work and exciting contemporary exhibitions - but also with demos like these, the preservation of historical artisan skills (such as the local Bovey pottery tradition sustained through the famous Leach family) could inspire their visitors to learn more and even take up, a craft themselves!
The Guild's current annual Christmas Exhibition MAKE features hand made crafts for sale and runs til January 3, 2014.
EVENTS:
Sunday 1st December: (10am – 4pm) John Hagger Leather demonstration
Saturday 7th December (10am – 1pm) Roberta Ayles glass drop in workshop at 10am and 11.30am
Saturday 7th December (2pm – 5pm) Deborah Treliving Christmas printing drop in workshop
Saturday 14th December (10am – 4pm) Gillie Hoyte Byrom enamelling demonstration
Saturday 21st December (10am – 4pm) Iris Milward poetry tile demonstration
Saturday 28th December (10am – 4pm) Janet Wingate embroidery demonstration
All free. Drop in at Riverside Mill, Fore Street
Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF
01626 832223 www.crafts.org.uk
Open 10am - 5.30pm. cafe and adjacent parking.
Gallery
