An OctoPuss!
The Potfest 'competition' theme this year was 'From the Sea'. I think the standard of pieces was the best ever. My OctoPuss looked very happy on the green lawn. Whether everyone 'got' it or not I don't know, but he had the company of several other word plays.
It was a great show and I am always amazed by the high standard of work. Truly inspirational. It is such a treat to see the work of and meet so many international potters. All thanks to Chris and Geoff Cox whose brainchild it is and who beaver away, not only seeing to our every need but with their own stand and work on show as well, they are quite extraordinary. Thank you!
The sun shone and although there was a spell of torrential rain, it obligingly came overnight. Perhaps not so good for the potters camping. There were a few camping chairs which looked more like swimming pools on Sunday morning.
'Extra' was very much the model for OctoPuss's bottom - I never mentioned this in my last blog, but a few tears were shed while glazing him!
Garry Uttley's Plaice Mats
Chis Cox's jelly fish.
Guy Routledge's Coral fish.
Sue Dunne's waves which moved when you wound the handle.
Toon This's bowl of sharks
My Father has never missed a Potfest yet, and he certainly wasn't going to miss this one!
It was a treat being next to Wendy Kershaw, who shared my studio for this year's Spring Fling. It was Wendy's first year at Potfest in the Park and her illustrated ceramic pictures created a great interest, deservedly so.
We always do a rough plan of how we are going to set up the stand. It really helps on the day, especially when we can be rather tired and overwrought. As in- just about to set off to find that the caravan lights aren't working! Yes, we were rather later to arrive than planned.
Back home now, unpacked and ready for action. It all takes time though, putting away boxes and re arranging the showroom. OctoPuss has a new home, looking out of the showroom window happily greeting our visitors.
We had a lovely visit from Japanese potter Fumihiro Fuyushiba and his wife Kaoru. They have a week between the Park and exhibiting at the Pens and used some of it to visit Wendy in Renfrewshire and us on the way home. Good to have time to get to know them better. It is hard at the show, when I am 'on duty' to give enough time to other potters and their work.
Well, that is Potfest in the Park over for this year, though Potfest in the Pens is this weekend for anyone who missed the Park.
OOOOHHHH!!! Thanks for the photos. Perhaps someday I will come across the pond and see Potfest in the Park in reality.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with OctoPuss. Just think...Extra will go down in posterity! (Did I really just write that?)
Hi Christine,
ReplyDeleteSo good to see the photos of Potfest in the Park. I love your OctoPuss (I think smartcat and I will have to have half each!!). I hadn't caught up with your previous post until now, and I am sorry about Extra. It does make a huge gap when they leave us, it is amazing just how much a part of the place, as well as our hearts, cats become. When I look around various places in the garden, sometimes memories bubble up of various cats that we have had, who claimed those places for shade or sun, or for cover when hunting skinks or mice.
I was starting to have sculptural thoughts first thing this morning, and some sort of representation of our Ginger, who died earlier this year, was very much in my mind (in a celebratory sort of way). I think it is wonderful that Extra made it into the fine rear end of OctoPuss.
Kind thoughts from us at the other end of the world, P