29th October - 7:30 pm - The Angel Hotel, 15 Cross Street Abergavenny, NP7 5EN
Join Kate as she talks to Keith Brymer Jones, The Great Pottery Throwdown’s favourite judge, about his latest book, Firing Earth.
Did you know the potter’s wheel was invented before any other kind of wheel? And in the seventeenth century people believed eating clay was good for you? And that Royal Doulton started off as a sewage pipe company? And which famous potter said ‘To make pottery is an adventure’? All this and so much more is in Pottery Throwdown judge Keith Brymer Jones’s very personal journey through the history of ceramics. From Roman kilns in North London to urinals in Scotland, wine jars to ink pots, Keith enthrals and entertains us with his knowledge of pottery and potters, what they made and how they did it. He shows us how ceramics have played an important role in cultures and economies throughout the world – and how his own life is inextricably linked to an industry that demands the same of its makers today as it did thousands of years ago: creativity, patience, respect for the material, and a respect for nature itself. You will never look at a mug in the same way again.
About Keith Brymer Jones
Keith Brymer-Jones is a British potter and ceramic designer, internationally known for his homeware ‘Word’ range and celebrated as the lead judge on The Great Pottery Throwdown. In February 2021, the Evening Standard described him as ‘Quite simply the best person on TV’. After an apprenticeship at Harefield Pottery, he started hand-making ceramics for retailers including the Conran Group, Habitat, Barneys New York, Monsoon, Laura Ashley and Heals. As Head of Design for MAKE International he collaborates with other designers including Jane Foster, Scion Living, Hokolo and Becky Baur.
Tickets £15 without book or £29 with book
20th November - 7:30 pm - Book-ish, 18 High Street, Crickhowell, NP8 1BD
An island without a harbour, encircled by perilous cliffs and rising high above the wild Atlantic ocean, farmed by the same family for eight generations. What is it like to live at the edge of the world?
Eva and the Island. Life at the Loneliest Farmhouse in the World by Tim Ecott - In this marvel of quiet reflection and keen observation, Tim takes the reader to Stóra Dímun – an isolated island farm in the Faroe Islands with only two permanent residents. He finds a remarkable way of living; one where you’re isolated but never truly alone, surrounded by remarkable wildlife and an ever-changing landscape. On the island, every day is spent breathing fresh air, managing your livestock and continuing the work begun by your forebears hundreds of years ago. Here, time blurs – technology may encroach, but traditions are engrained.
Tracking the rhythm of the year and the challenges of life on this island, this book is a celebration of both the human spirit and our relationship with the natural environment. It is about sustainability, resilience and how to survive and adapt when the world is rushing headfirst into a digital future of artificial intelligence and anonymous food chains. Eva and the Island is a call to anyone who has ever dreamt of an island of one’s own.
Join Kate at Book-ish in Crickhowel, as she talks to Tim, a former BBC World Service correspondent, about the book, followed by audience Q&A and book signing.
£12 without book or £19 with book.
28th November - 10:00 am - The Beacon Room, Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1AY
Join Kate and other guests for some seasonal joy at this year's Slow Food Christmas Fiesta, hosted by Ludlow Castle. Come find us in the Beacon Rooms and into the Castle Gardens for some magical winter festive food and drink.
There will be food and drink artisan makers stalls, live cooking with Kadai Fire chefs and hot street food and licenced bars as well as a programme of free talks with a Christmas flair.
All visitors on the day will have an opportunity to be entered into the Slow Food Christmas Hamper draw.
This magical winter festive food and drink event is free to enter. Apologies, no dogs allowed into the event, even well behaved ones.
29th November - 4:00 pm - Castle Marquee, Hay Festival Winter Weekend, Hay on Wye
Join Kate as she talks to Caroline Quentin in a joyful celebration of the outdoors. Famous for her acting roles in Men Behaving Badly, Jonathan Creek and other hit series, Caroline has since focused on horticulture, amassing a large following as @cqgardens.
Caroline will be encouraging us to reconnect with nature, pairing personal stories and reflections with her own colourful illustrations to show us the power and beauty to be found in the natural world. She will be sharing her practical guide for using nature to bring joy and calm to our lives wherever we live and whatever our space.
29th November - 1:00 pm - Castle Marquee, Hay Festival Winter Weekend, Hay on Wye
Join Kate as she journeys through the fascinating history of ceramics with The Great Pottery Throwdown’s favourite judge, Keith Brymer Jones. Did you know the potter’s wheel was invented before any other kind of wheel? And in the 17th century people believed eating clay was good for you?
Keith Brymer Jones’s very personal tour leads from Roman kilns in North London to urinals in Scotland, and from wine jars to ink pots. He talks about the crucial role ceramics have played in cultures throughout the world – and how his own life is inextricably linked to an industry that demands the same of its makers today as it did thousands of years ago.
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