Witney News - Contemporary Pottery on show

Contemporary Pottery on show

Pottery is about to take centre stage in West Oxfordshire as a year long crafts project starts with an exhibition of exceptional contemporary pottery. The exhibition, called Pots+, which features the work of ten makers, runs from the 2nd to 23rd April at West Ox Arts Gallery in Bampton, West Oxfordshire.

Charlbury artist Sue Rangeley, who is curating the exhibition on behalf of West Oxfordshire District
Council explains, "The theme is contemporary domestic pottery and will feature functional pots designed to bring pleasure and enrich our living space. On the 15th April, which is Easter Saturday morning we are inviting visitors to join us for coffee and Easter biscuits. They will be able to drink the coffee from mugs
made by the exhibitors."

Pots+ is part of a year long project called 'Potters of Port Street'. Port Street was the Saxon name for the
route which is now known as the A4095 which runs through West Oxfordshire from Woodstock in the
north to Radcot in the south.

Cllr Tony Walker, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism said, "We are delighted to have attracted
external money into the District for this project with an award of £25,000 from the Arts Council England, South East. This project will help support local pottery producers and take people young and old on a journey to discover not only the District's new talents but also its potting heritage."

Other aspects of the Potters of Port Street project include the production of a new visitor guide which will
be launched in April, a short film, a schools craft project and a project to celebrate Leafield’s significant part in Victorian pot production. The project has been created by West Oxfordshire District and is also supported by Oxfordshire County Council.