Temple Works Christmas Fair

Affordable art at Christmas, great music, local ale, a sense of humour, what’s not to like? Dan Cunningham recommends Temple Works Christmas Fair tomorrow …

What happened to the age when elves made Christmas gifts (no weapons) and anybody still awake at midnight got a sack of coal?

This D.I.Y collective spent late night hours before the 25th keeping a look out on the top step… only to find out that it was a big red Argos van leaving tracks in the snow. Nothing at the Christmas Art Festival at Temple.Works.Leeds this Saturday December 8 is made in China;  instead it’s a mix of local artists and artisans are bringing their craftwork –  paint, print, wool, leather, paper and glass – unique gifts and surprises that can’t be found in mainstream stockings.

The collective pop-up all over Leeds’ underground art scene – led by Claudia Bowler, Hannah Chapman, and Richard Oldfield – are dedicated to the struggle of living by the products of their own hands. Individually we know them for installations and personalized interiors, but this time they have organized a full day of entertainment including folk music, and a selection of artistic people you may never meet again. This alternative Christmas Art Festival will be neither traditionally Christian nor plainly traditional. At Temple.Works.Leeds this Saturday 8th you’ll find mince pies and mulled wine from midday on, maybe a blasphemous carol come 11pm.

So if you want something amazing, like surreal and beautiful line art, crochetdermy animal heads, screen-printed illustrations, fierce portraits, textile accessories,  personal fashion, Christmas art and craft, exotic lingerie, intensely colored imaginations of Thailand, stained glass miniatures, handprinted t shirts…come to Temple.Works.Leeds on Saturday  December 8, 11 am – 11  pm. For more information check leedschristmas.co.uk and templeworksleeds.com