States of Clay: Esther Neslen's first curation

Esther Neslen curated her first exhibition, 'States of Clay', at Gnome House during the E17 Art Trail this year. Ten artists showcased their ceramics alongside the other media they work in, exploring the diverse ways they use clay in their creative practise. By our reckoning 1,026 people came to see the exhibition, a cross-section of the community of all ages, origins and abilities. The response on social media and in the comments book has been wonderful, and local media coverage has been enthusiastic too. There is general agreement that it has been one of the highpoints of the Trail this year. 

Gnome House was absolutely perfect for the show. The artists involved achieved sales (some artists made thousands), valuable exposure, contacts and career development through the experience. This model of using 'meanwhile spaces' in creative ways has been a wholly positive experience for the artists involved in States of Clay and the people who came to the exhibition.