The pottery community

This little picture of a little pot represents something much bigger – the pottery community.

We are just home from Potfest in the Pens in Penrith, organised by Matt Cox and his wonderful team. we would highly recommend applying to the Potfest ceramics fairs if you do pottery – or attending even if you don’t! There are ninety to one hundred potters at each events – with work ranging from decorations, jewellery, functional pottery, sculpture, artworks and decorative work.

This weekend summarised all of our feelings and experience of how it is to take part in Potfest events. Clear instructions are sent out in advance about what we need and how to get there and how to look after each other during arrival and set up. Coming in to the Mart, we were greeted with cheery hellos from potters we didn’t know and hugs from those we do.

We found our stand and got stuck in to setting up, after emptying and moving the van. Next to us was Penny, her first Potfest but already looking well set up. Setting up at the same time as us opposite was Nina, and we got chatting loads over the weekend. It was also her first Potfest and it was good to hear her ideas and encouragement. Diagonal, forming our group of four, was Tine, who we know well. Much laughter was shared over the weekend and flapjack and sweets and the sharing of coffee trips and covering one another’s stalls for loo trips. It makes the weekend pass by fast when everyone is supportive and kind and chatty, and that’s what we’ve experienced at every Potfest.

The organiser checks around how everyone is and asks for feedback at the end of the day. This time he even organised a large light box for the potters to use, to help us get ready for our next Potfest applications – what an amazing thing to offer!