Posted: 3:23 pm July 11, 2024
IT’S famous across the globe for its rich heritage of craftsmanship, and last weekend art and history rhymed in Belleek as the ‘Potter’s Bench’ was unveiled in the heart of the village.
A public art project that was years in the making, Friday saw the community come together in the border town for the big reveal, with the bench unveiled to the sound of a pottery siren – a familiar sound to locals which added an audible connection to Belleek’s most well-known craft.
The bench was revealed by a group representing “true meaning of local spirit, the enrichment of community heritage and the respect given to craftsmanship”, according to organisers.
Fergus Cleary, represented ‘past’, and the hundreds of potters and team who worked in the pottery and built the brand to what it is today.
Rachel Love, represented ‘present’, and those currently working at the pottery and carrying on those traditional methods.
Stephen Heron, represented ‘people’, and the importance of working together for the greater good of our rural community.
Finally, artist Eleanor Wheeler represented ‘place’, having interpreted the brief for the project and created a piece of art demonstrating a sense of place.
One of the North’s leading sculptors, Ms Wheeler collaborated with Clare Rowe, head of design at Belleek Pottery, an used actual pottery moulds to create some of the bench’s features. She also photographed the hands of potters and involved potters from the flowering department in its creation to add true-to-life details.
“The Potter’s Bench is handmade from ceramic set in a steel frame,” she said.
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Posted: 3:23 pm July 11, 2024
