Artisan's Market
THE ARTISANS’ MARKET @ MUSIC ON THE MARR
Looking for something to do between times? Come along to our ‘Artisans’ Market’ situated in the Watson Institute (aka the village hall), sandwiched between the main music marquee and the sticky bun marquee…
As ever, we have a range of arts and crafts on offer – something for everyone, and all created locally. Basket maker (and vicar) Philip Greenhalgh from Lanercost joins us for the first time this year. If you buy a basket at the beginning, you can fill it with other works of art as you go round. Also for the first time at Music on the Marr, Jan Beadle brings you a wonderful range of woven textiles – colours are glorious, and even if the weather is hot and sunny (which we are confident that it will be), you can always keep one for winter….or maybe use it to swish away the late evening midges (which we are confident there won’t be).
Castle Carrock, for those who don’t know already, is in a beautiful corner of Cumbria and hosts an abundance of wildlife. Adam Moan, a resident of Hallbankgate, some 4 miles from the festival site, is an avid photographer of birds and animals – he will be displaying some fabulous images; some framed and some as rather special greetings cards.
David Stephenson will be back for the second year – all the way from Yorkshire, so not exactly ‘local’ but Yorkshire is at least ‘North’….David is an artist blacksmith, and once you have bought several of Jan’s scarves, you will probably need some extra hooks to hang them on. David is your man.
Nancye Church, and yes, that is how Nancye’s name is spelled….is a silversmith based in Brampton, just down the road. Her finely crafted silver jewellery is simply to die for, although we would rather you didn’t. Do come and be tempted by her rings, earrings, bracelets and cufflinks.
Carolyn Marr is another Brampton dweller, and has her studio set up behind her house – in there, Carolyn produces some wonderfully tactile ceramic vases, platters, jugs, mugs and oh so much more. You may reach the point where you have to buy two of Philip’s baskets to contain everything…
Brampton is apparently a hive of artistic skill and endeavour – another of our exhibitors this year, Ness Bamkin makes an enormous range of ‘stuff’ with which to tempt you, be it a thoroughly life-like felted wolf or an expertly crafted shoulder bag. Ness is a lady of many talents, and when we mentioned ‘something for everyone’….Ness’s stand is exactly what we had in mind.
Neil Jenkinson is, in my opinion, the best chocolate maker in Cumbria…or maybe England, or maybe the world! Like chocolate ginger? Dark lime chocolate? Neil will bring huge quantities with him from his workshop (kitchen?) in Maryport. Always a hit….Music on the Marr would not be the same without him.
And last but not least, Jenia Gorfunkel of Rakita Craft, and Tricia Meynell (Photographer) bring you glass and, obviously, photography.
Jenia makes beautiful but useable household objects and jewellery from recycled glass. From earrings for a friend to a giant platter as a wedding gift, Jenia’s work is highly original and most definitely not to picked up on the High Street.
Tricia Meynell’s photography is not ‘run of the mill’ either – her work is abstract, often to the point of being unrecognisable, and can easily be confused with painting at first glance. Come and have a look for yourself.
The Artisans’ Market opens at 6pm on Friday 22nd July and will remain open for the entire festival, closing down at 10pm on Sunday 24th July. Please do come and see us – we’re very welcoming, and if you would like to meet a specific artist, just check with the person manning the desk and they will be able to tell you when that artist will be ‘on duty’. We take cash, cheques and most major credit/debit cards (as long as the signal is strong on the day!).
ADAM MOAN
Moving from Carlisle to Castle Carrock in 1970, Geltsdale became my back garden and my passion for local wildlife began. From Castle Carrock I went to White House School in Brampton, and then on to Carlisle Art College before leaving Cumbria in 1982 for Ravensbourne to study industrial design.
After 30 years of living and working as a furniture designer in London I became sick of the Rat Race and in 2013 the idea of a quieter life brought me back to the area. I have now settled in Hallbankgate and spend as much time as possible walking the fells around Tindale and Geltsdale.
With the Geltsdale RSPB Nature Reserve on my doorstep I have become involved as a volunteer. Combining my interest in the local wildlife and photography means that I never leave the house without my binoculars and camera – ready to photograph anything that catches my eye!
Being a non-driver means that I have to walk long distances, so all my photographs are taken using a lightweight Nikon Coolpix P600 bridge camera and none of the images are subject to the use of any special effects.
Carolyn Marr
Carolyn Marr is a Cumbria-based artist who makes wheel-thrown and hand-built ceramics.
Current avenues of exploration in Carolyn’s work include light and shade; simplicity and complexity; group dynamics and line-making. Ideas are drawn from a reservoir of references, experiences and environments, replenished during walks and travels.
Carolyn is a regular exhibitor in Cumbria’s Open Studios event (C-Art) and has shown work in galleries in Cumbria, Wiltshire and the Northeast.
Jenia Gorfunkel
I work exclusively with recycled glass sourced mainly from bottles. I design and make a range of items for the home such as lamps, platters and bowls, using fused glass. I also make silver and glass jewellery.
I studied stained glass design for three years. I also studied jewellery design at the University of Cumbria in Carlisle. My appreciation of glass as an artistic medium combined with concern for the future of our environment and the desire to lead and promote a sustainable lifestyle encouraged me to devise a unique brand of fused glass designs.
For my work I employ simple shapes, which allow me to showcase the striking patterns developed to use a limited palette of available colours.
I have shown my work at many exhibitions and my pieces can be found in homes both in the UK and abroad.
Tricia Meynell
Tricia is a fine art photographer specialising in abstract images which very often blur the distinction between photography and printing - almost (but not quite) painting. She does not use Photoshop to create her work, preferring to 'manipulate' images manually by processes such as printing onto acetate and spraying with water to create a painterly effect, or by simply printing two different images onto the same piece of paper to create an abstract image. Her camera is often used to 'paint' the subject by selecting colour and form and shooting in such a way that these two elements are rendered as a confusion of colours with just the merest hint of the reality behind them.
DAVID STEPHENSON
I make a range of sculptural and functional items at Lockton in the North York Moors National Park. I work using traditional hand forging techniques, often applying these to contemporary designs, producing work which is beautiful to handle and which reflects its origins in fire. All pieces are intended to outlive their maker and those for whom they are made. I have no fixed product list but specialise in designing and making individual works.
NANCYE CHURCH
Nancye is a qualified jeweller who designs and makes contemporary jewellery with silver and other precious metals.
She was born in Vancouver, Canada and has worked in London and Malta and now has a workshop in Brampton, Cumbria.
Her designs are mostly inspired by her surroundings such as the sea shore and landscapes of the Mediterranean and ancient artefacts and monuments in the UK.
A love of mid-20th century costume jewellery has always been a key influence.
www.nancyechurchjewellery.com
JAN BEADLE
Jan moved to Cumbria in the mid 80’s after completing her BA Hons in Textiles. She has over 30 years of experience in the textile field working in Higher Education running a Constructed Textile Resource at University of Cumbria, formally Cumbria Institute of the Arts until 2010, when she decided to concentrating fulltime making and exhibiting her own work.
Jan is a member of the Wool Clip, a co-operative of local craftspeople based at Caldbeck in North Cumbria and organisers of Woolfest in Cockermouth. As well as selling her work in many galleries around the UK Jan runs specialist weave courses for a wide range of abilities.
NESS BAMKIN
Ness Bamkin lives and works in North Cumbria taking inspiration from the natural world and, working mostly with wool, sculpts animals and mystical figures, makes silk and wool scarves and little bags. She also creates felt wall hangings, paints flowers and crafts little beaded bracelets for small people although some adults like these too! Happy Dog Designs has a facebook page of that name.
PHILIP GREENHALGH
My interest in woodland crafts developed from a life-long interest in natural history culminating in the early 1970’s when I worked as one of the first Countryside Rangers based in the ancient woodland areas of Cheshire. I studied Amenity Woodland Management from Bangor University which introduced me to traditional aspects of coppice work.
In 1976 I moved to Oxford to study theology but kept up my interest in woodland ecology by weekly visits to the university woods at Wytham. After ordination in 1979 I brought together my theological and ecological interests which led me to the study of ancient monasticism and to the discovery that the desert monks of the early church made baskets for their living.
I began to weave baskets in the 1980’s using coppiced willow with a little hazel and oak. Having spent six years as a ‘worker-priest’ in parishes in County Durham, Devon, Northumberland and Cumbria, I now work full time as the Rector of Bewcastle, Stapleton, and Kirklinton with Hethersgill whilst continuing to weave as a hobby.
I have been lucky to live and work in the most beautiful parts of the country and now weave my baskets near my home at Lanercost Priory.
