Saint-Bonnet-les-Oules. The town becomes an artists' village with the creative potters' market.

As every year since 1985, the Pottery Fair organizes a market of creative potters over the entire Mother's Day weekend, presenting and selling their works and sharing their passion in a village with a history linked to the discipline. This year, professionals worked on the theme of art and light, and several selected works will be decided by public vote, who will be offered by drawing lots to choose the winner of the competition.

Since the beginning of the weekend, activities organized by Terre d'argile have allowed children to learn clay techniques, whether on a wheel or by hand, and to take home their creations.

There are also throwing demonstrations throughout the day and, in addition to the trade fair, an exhibition on the theme of "Let's take a walk in the woods" allows the public to also discover the work of the students of the pottery workshop which gives lessons and offers courses throughout the year to young people and adults alike and is closely linked to the new project to rehabilitate a farm coming to the town .

Regarding attendance, Dominique Michard, president of the event's organizing association, says that over the past 39 years (one edition was canceled during the Covid crisis), it has changed. "There are still a lot of people, but fewer than in the early days, with the crowds of curious onlookers and strollers. Now, we have many more informed amateurs who come to interact with the potters and, above all, are more inclined to acquire pieces than before, which explains why registrations close quickly."

He has an automatic place on the registration list, just as he sits like a regular under the bus shelter, "handy in case of rain," as soon as the event enters. Michel Savournin has been present since the first edition, almost 40 years. "It's the fair for which I go the furthest. There's a very good organization as well as a great reputation linked to this market and then it's a very good opportunity for us to meet and exchange between artists," says the one who has his pottery workshop in Sisteron (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) and who is the privileged witness of the evolution of the profession and the markets of creators that feed it.

"These events, which nevertheless remain very localized and active mainly in tourist areas, were mainly focused on utilitarian pottery around cooking and tableware, like what I do. Today, we mainly see artistic and very diverse decoration." And speaking of diversity, the artisan was also able to note that the profession, "originally practiced mainly by men, has completely become more feminine and the trend has reversed." The dean will be there for the 40th anniversary edition, which promises to be marked by numerous activities.

Meet in the town center on Allée des Tilleuls. Free entry and parking. Refreshments available.