Philip Marsden’s new book, Under a Metal Sky, explores how the discovery of minerals has transformed our species. Beginning and ending in Cornwall, the book follows his journey across Europe, examining peat extraction in the Netherlands, iron-rich meteorites along the Rhine, and gold in the mountains of Georgia. Along the way, Marsden reflects on the links between rocks and ecology, between metals and the imagination, presenting a new perspective on European history and on our complex relationship with the natural world.
Marsden will be introduced by artist Hadrian Pigott and the evening will include readings from the book. Philip Marsden is an award-winning author of many works of travel writing and other non-fiction, including The Summer Isles, Rising Ground and The Levelling Sea.
Penzance-based artist Hadrian Pigott trained as a geologist and worked on oil rigs before leaving the oil industry to study at the Royal College of Art, graduating with an MA from the sculpture department in 1993. In 2012 he researched and developed The Penzance Convention, reflecting on the theme of extraction.
The Bookshop in Helston will set up at CAST for the evening, with copies of the book for sale and with space for book signing.
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Update:
Unfortunately Hadrian Pigott is unwell so won’t be able to interview Philip as planned. Artist Abigail Reynolds will introduce the evening in his place.
Abigail Reynolds is an artist based in St Just. For her book ‘Lost Libraries’ she travelled the length of the Silk Road, visiting the sites of former great libraries to consider the role that a library plays now and in the past. In 2019 she created glass using only seaweed and beach sand – this year she will be making glass from the beaches of the Isles of Scilly. Her new film ‘The Book of Holes’ explores relationships between copper extraction, trilobites, vaccines, and electronic dance music and will be premiered at Newlyn Exchange Galleries in November.