Saltaire Arts Trail welcomes the world
|
Version 0 of 1. In this cold and uninviting weather, the place to be is Saltaire near Bradford, which is holding its annual Arts Trail. There isn't anything much to match this explosion of talent, imagination and enjoyable dottiness – the chance, for instance, to see Sir Titus Salt's grave stone lions outside the Victoria Hall given woolly pullies as part of a yarn-bombing exercise by guerilla knitters. Knitting and weaving were the makings of the famous industrial community whose model factory village, vast mill and associated canal and park are a UNESCO World Heritage site. They are well worth a visit in ordinary circumstances, with the alpaca mill housing the UK's largest collection of David Hockney's work, and much else; but during the trail's three days, there is so much else to discover. Who doesn't enjoy nosing round someone else's house, for example? The Arts Trail gives visitors the chance to see 14 of them, all within the grid of streets whose names such as Fanny, Constance, Ada and William Henry recall members of Salt's family. Within each, visitors will encounter the work of up to eight artists, and more often than not, the artists themselves. It is an enjoyable way of creating a gallery. The work is contemporary and challenging, appropriate in the week which has seen the announcement of this year's Turner Prize shortlist, including the redoubtable Spartacus Chetwynd who lives in a south London nudist colony and calls her work 'bottled mayhem'. She isn't in Saltaire this weekend, but plenty of the work has a similar air of challenging fun. There is also a 'makers fair' in the Victoria Hall for those who like to take something home; craft workers have taken spaces in greater numbers than ever before in the Trail's six years; there are more than 60 offering textiles, jewellery, ceramics and mixed media. Exhibitions include work by artists specially commissioned for the event and there's a children's trail plus the chance to make hobby horses, shy at coconuts or help construct a village of dens. The organisers Saltaire Inspired are local people who have got together to turn this part of the Bradford district into a beacon, attracting people from all over the world. Later in the year come September's Saltaire Festival, the 'living' advent calendar using the windows of 24 houses, regular exhibitions and the Saltaire Ball. Over all, you sense the benign spirit of the late Jonathan Silver who brought Sir Titus' mill back to life and showed how a community deprived of its staple industry could nonetheless be transformed. His widow Maggie, daughters Zoe and Davina and brother Robin have picked up the torch, along with influential friends such as Hockney, Alan Bennett and Tony Harrison. Saltaire thrives. <em>Saltaire Arts Trail runs all weekend and Bank Holiday Monday and all details are here.</em> |