Bideford tile-makers all fired up
HUNDREDS of ceramic tiles created by local people will fill Bideford s Kiln-in-the-Park for a mass firing this month. People of all ages and backgrounds have over the past two months been rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands covered in clay and l
HUNDREDS of ceramic tiles created by local people will fill Bideford's Kiln-in-the-Park for a mass firing this month.
People of all ages and backgrounds have over the past two months been rolling up their sleeves, getting their hands covered in clay and learning about the art of ceramic tile making!
The culmination of their creativity and hard work will be the firing and opening of the kiln alongside the Burton Art Gallery in Victoria Park, at midday on December 20.
The kiln will be filled with hundreds of tiles created by the 2nd Bideford Scouts, Bideford WI, Lampard Community School, Torridgeside Resource Centre and Devon Youth Services. They have been working with North Devon based artists Julie Bosworth, Merlynn Chesterman, Tom Hyde, Rupert Johnstone and Philip Leach to make a series of tiles which tell a tale of the River Torridge and the North Devon coastline.
You may also want to watch:
At the midday kiln opening ceremony there will be an opportunity to see the tiles and they will remain on display there until 3.30pm.
The kiln will also be filled with slipware pots created by more than 10 potters, including harvest jugs by Harry Juniper.
Most Read
- 1 Tributes paid to 'legendary' North Devon vet Brian Crawford
- 2 Pictures: North Devon's winter wonderland
- 3 Judge jails 'worst' drink driver he has ever seen
- 4 Busy first day for new Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westward Ho!
- 5 Two arrested as teenager fights for life after Ilfracombe stabbing
- 6 Some North Devon GP surgeries to provide Covid vaccine clinics
- 7 Covid vaccine: Roll out continues but is North Devon being left out?
- 8 Masked burglars make Bideford garage cigarette smash and grab
- 9 Plans to merge North Devon and Exeter health trusts move forward
- 10 Northam murder suspect remanded in custody
The kiln represents an important part of North Devon's ceramic heritage. In days gone by, there were bottle shaped kilns lining the banks of the River Torridge and producing slipware and sgraffito pottery that was shipped all over the world.
Through Awards for All funding the Burton Art Gallery and Museum has been running the local community arts project Tales on Tiles, giving people the opportunity to explore and celebrate their local ceramic heritage.
Tiles from each community group will be mounted and displayed during the 13th Appledore Visual Arts Festival next June.