A welcome break from the high-street throng; these fayres, pop-up shops and artist-led exhibitions offer handmade and independent merchandise, one-off gifts and limited edition artworks. In the third in our series, we profile events taking place in Glasgow, Gateshead, Oxford, Northampton, London and Plymouth.
Impressions, Glasgow
Impressions is Glasgow Print Studio’s Christmas Exhibition, with fine art prints, tote bags and Christmas cards for sale from over 50 emerging and established artists including Alasdair Gray, Elizabeth Blackadder, Luna Jungeun Lee, Fiona Watson and Adrian Wiszniewski. The Studio staff are on hand to advise on festive purchases, and you can use the interest free OwnArt scheme to spread the cost of original artworks.
Impressions Christmas Exhibition, Glasgow Print Studio, Trongate 103, Glasgow, until 23 December, Tue-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 12-5pm www.glasgowprintstudio.co.uk / www.facebook.com
Christmas Present, Gateshead
Christmas Present at Shipley Art Gallery celebrates its 21st birthday this year, with its annual selling exhibition featuring jewellery, ceramics, metalwork and glass by leading contemporary craft makers and designers. Exhibitors include jewellery designer Rachel Wojcik, whose current collection is made from sterling silver and grey freshwater pearls, and woven textile design studio Wallace#Sewell.
Christmas Present at Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, until 22 December, Tue-Sat 10am-5pm www.twmuseums.org.uk
Oxfordshire Craft Guild at the Old Fire Station, Oxford
The Oxfordshire Craft Guild presents the Designer Makers Exhibition at the Old Fire Station in Oxford, with a range of crafts including ceramics, glass and woodturning. Exhibitors include jewellery designer Kate Coker, who experiments with oxidizing techniques to achieve a grey-black sheen to her pieces; glass artist Anne Arlidge, whose works in recycled glass explore the effects of industrial pollution on a river near her home; and Charlotte Berry, a jewellery and silverware designer inspired by pocket watches, button boxes and other keepsakes.
Designer Makers Selling Exhibition at The Old Firestation, 40 George Street, Oxford, until 22 December, Tue-Sun 10am-5pm www.oldfirestation.info/gallery
Made in Northamptonshire, Northampton
Just open, the Made in Northamptonshire pop-up shop features artisan gifts by over 40 of the county’s designer-makers. Celebrating local talent and supporting independent trading, the project responds to a growing demand in the town for handmade and bespoke items. Works for sale include ceramics, jewellery, textiles and furniture, as well as festive items such as cards, wrapping paper and tree decorations. Contributors include Argentinian-born jewellery designer Luis Todino; and independent record label Serious Types.
Made in Northamptonshire, 39 St Giles Street, Northampton, Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm, Thurs until 9pm. www.facebook.com / twitter.com/MadeInNhants
Carmelite Christmas Saturdays, London
On 15 December the Bow Arts alleyway will be transformed into a cosy Christmas Fayre, with affordable artworks and handmade Christmas gifts from Bow Arts studio artists; and mulled wine and gourmet sausage sandwiches in the Carmelite Café. In The Nunnery, new work by Paul Johnson complements the third part of the gallery’s major Madge Gill retrospective project.
Carmelite Christmas Saturdays, Bow Arts Lane, 181 Bow Road, London, 15 December, 11am-4pm, www.bowarts.org
Plymouth Art Fair
This year’s Plymouth Art Fair takes place at KARST, a new artist-led exhibition and project space. A range of ceramics, illustration, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture will be on display from 20 of the region’s emerging and established artists. The fair coincides with Flameworks’ ART2GO event, the second of a two-part Christmas exhibition featuring installations, sculpture, painting, furniture and jewellery by local makers. Live demonstrations by Flameworks artists of Japanese Raku firing, glass blowing, silk screen printing and green woodworking will be taking place at KARST throughout the weekend.
Plymouth Art Fair at KARST, 22 George Place, Plymouth, opening night Friday 14 December 7-9pm; Sat 15 and Sun 16 December 10am-6pm
More Christmas selling shows and gift ideas:
Buy art for Christmas – part two: S1 Studios General Store, Sheffield (until 12 Jan), Centrespace Christmas Show, Bristol (until 20 December)
Buy art for Christmas – part one: Objects of Desire, London (until 20 Jan); Artists Open Houses, Brighton (until 16 Dec)
Our contemporary art Christmas list: 14 gift ideas chosen by artists and arts organisers
Are you or your studio group organising an event or selling show in the lead up to Christmas? Tell us about it at [email protected] or by using the #buyartforxmas hashtag on Twitter.
