Book launch: A Market Traders Story, the Start of all Imaginings - from old to new

Market Traders attended a special book launch at Chester Cathedral by artist Patricia Mackinnon-Day recently.

The book is part of a series of artworks that showcase Chester’s market, its traders and the communities who regularly use the market.  

The book, ‘A Market Traders Story, the Start of all Imaginings - from old to new’, celebrates two films created by Mackinnon-Day, that have been shown as part of visual arts festival Chester Contemporary and exhibited in the ‘Time Space Existence, the European Cultural Centre’s architecture biennial in Venice.’ 

The book launch, included Chester market traders, local residents and Chester Cathedral choristers who all took part and feature in the short films. 

The film ‘Market Trader Stories’ brings together nine market traders’ stories and behind-the-scenes footage exploring the realities of everyday markets. This is complemented by the second film ‘At Home with the Market Traders’ which captures conversations and responses by market users on hearing the trader’s stories they reflect on the importance of markets on the city and in helping to reduce social isolation. 

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future said:

"These extraordinary stories tell of the perseverance, strength, and inspiration to become market traders. The films have catapulted the traders to the centre stage where they have become hyper local celebrities, and the insight into their stories are sources of new conversations, connections and inspiration with their customers and local communities.  

“The book has a limited print run and isn’t available to buy but it will be available from Chester Library at Storyhouse”. 

The book includes an essay by Sam Ainsley RSA, renowned artist and academic, who discusses the impact of the artworks: “The network of personal relationships that Mackinnon-Day built up over a period of two years has produced an authentic and thought-provoking testament to the resilience and generosity of spirit of this unique community.

“Her subjects’ intimate knowledge of the importance of the market and their claim to their own occupational identity provide us with a window into their world and their world view. Mackinnon Day’s ability to develop high levels of trust and mutual respect with those involved in her project is crucial to the success of ‘The Start of all Imaginings’.” 

Alongside working with the market traders, McKinnon-Day collaborated with Chester Cathedral choir master, Tim McLachlan, and the Saturday Singing Club, to create a soundscape for the film, one that captures the emotion felt by traders as they experience the new market space.  

Watch - A Market Traders Story here:

https://vimeo.com/820874205

Watch - At Home with the Market Traders (from 2023) here: 

https://vimeo.com/817246297

Pictured - Geoff and Debbie Hughes at the book launch.