“The road from the little village of Bath to the Fountain of the Medicinal Spring, is most horribly romantic, and partakes very much of those anticipations of the sublime of Nature, which, in his progress through particular vallies, the traveller cannot fail to have frequently experienced. The narrowness of the path, and the precipices upon one side, are to strangers somewhat alarming; but the beautiful scenery with which the journey is rewarded, affords some consolation.”
(Beckford W: A descriptive account of the Island of Jamaica)
Join me on foot or online Saturday 28 May
Saturday, May 28 Bath School of Art and Design Sion Hill, Lansdown BA1 5SF
Open the conversation. Meet at reception 11.00. Approx 3 mile walk. Return approx 13.00.
in conversation
Opening and closing on foot. Walk and talk. Listen. Sense. Consider the views.
A free and open conversation in which artists, writers, thinkers and anyone else who wants to join in can engage with themes that correspond with the best of our aspirations and the worst of our nightmares.
11.00 Open the conversation, stretch minds and legs on a networked walk to
The Finest View in Europe (but it may cost you to get in! Please fill in the contact form if you are coming and we can get a group discount)
Out of the enchanted city, over the fields, up the hill and back again down the road. Disenchanted.
1330 for 1400 – 1700 Lecture Theatre
Utopia, Dystopia and Catastrophe
Guest speakers include:
- Kate Rigby, the newly appointed Professor of Environmental Humanities at Bath Spa University and author of Changing the Climate: Utopia, Dystopia and Catastrophe;
- Linda Williams, a specialist on human-animal relations, climate change and mass species extinction; and
- Rachel Withers, writer and critic, focussing on art and ideas.
17.00 Wayfaring in the Enchanted City
The conversation continues in the café, online and on foot walking through the heart of utopian Bath, approx 19.00 arriving at “Bath’s Artisan Quarter” for exhibitions and the utopian/dystopian pub, The Bell, in Walcot Street.
In the two walks opening and closing the day I hope you will join us, share thoughts and generate resonances on utopian/dystopian aspects of the city. Follow and contribute @walknowlive and #walknow #utopiadystopia
more from this book by William Beckford of Somerly (our man’s cousin) here: http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015065152442
Richard White 