BBC FOUR Monday 16 March 2009

In Search Of Wabi Sabi With Marcel Theroux

Monday 16 March

9.00-10.30pm BBC FOUR

If you understand “wabi sabi”, the Japanese say, then you will understand Japan and the Japanese, yet they have immense difficulty explaining the concept themselves.

In this film, Marcel Theroux travels across Japan in an attempt to discover the beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete – the literal meaning of “wabi sabi”.

In a challenging, funny, frustrating and ultimately rewarding journey, Marcel seeks to solve the riddle. In his quest to find out more, he immerses himself in three very different lifestyles.

From living with a local family in Tokyo; to sampling “wabi sabi” objects and practices in the old capital, Kyoto; and training in a remote Buddhist Zen Monastery on an Eastern Japanese mountain, Marcel comes to understand that it is a concept that must be experienced and felt rather than defined in words.

John Pollex tells me he has seen some clips of this programme and it looks very interesting and gives a good insight to Wabi Sabi _ some of you may like to see if you can watch it?

Prue Cooper has just delivered an interesting talk and demo at West Forest Potters. She mentioned that she would be willing to do other talks etc… and i could add her to my list. I don’t “precisely” have a list, although i do know a good number of potters/ceramicists who are willing/enjoy giving talks and demonstrations.

If any one would like me to provide a list on the site, let me know and also whether you would like to be on it! Just respond to the blog or email me on talks@studiopottery.co.uk

Linda Bloomfield tells me from the Country Living Fair this week that sales don’t seem to have been affected much by the gloom and doom that’s around. This has been my experience to on visiting various events in the last couple of months. Lets keep it positive – maybe there will be some ‘green shoots’ before too long!

By the way, Linda is writing a book on Advanced Pottery Making at present – more when this gets to the publishers.

Tonight in a cold London with my son in a bar – we put our coats down – a moments inattention and they were both stolen – leaving us both a cold journey home. Nice people! But on my way home, a taxi driver offered me his jacket, if it would help. So what message can one draw. Nasty and Good they both are there, but perhaps the nasty were needy….maybe, and the Good… well  it shines through!