Rebecca Eldred

Leach would begin his most renowned published work to date, A Potter’s Book. In 1938, David Leach returned to St Ives after studying pottery management, and rehauled the Leach Pottery for a new, modern age, bringing in electricity, machinery and oil to fire the kiln. When David was called to service in World War Two in 1941, Bernard Leach returned to run the pottery. In 1944, he officially divorced Muriel, marrying Laurie Cookes shortly after. The two went on to adopt an evacuee infant, Maurice, who Laurie had taken care of during the war. Leach would go on to extensively tour Scandinavia, the USA and Japan whilst David took over the reins of the St Ives pottery. During a USA tour in 1953 with Yanagi and Shoji Hamada, Leach was introduced to his would-be third wife, Janet Darnell, a young American potter. A year after their initial meeting, Janet and Leach became an item and returned to St Ives together in 1955 as sadly, Muriel had passed away. In 1956, Leach and Laurie divorced, and he married Janet. Leach continued to produce work until 1972, at which point he began to lose his eyesight. Even then, Leach continued his worldly travels and received several high honours from both Japan and England for his contributions to ceramics. On May 6th 1979, Leach died at St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle following a heart attack in April, he was buried in Longstone Cemetery in Carbis Bay. Following Bernard’s death, Janet Leach redirected the pottery to focus on her own individual pots, bequeathing the pottery to Mary Redgrave in 199. Redgrave continued to run the pottery until her own death, after which the pottery was sold to a private buyer before its eventual acquirement by Penwith District Council as part of the Leach Restoration Project, on completion the Leach Pottery was handed over to the Bernard Leach Trust, a registered charity set up to manage the Leach Pottery. Still a working pottery today, new ceramicists still teach, train and develop their skills under the Leach roof. Leach Pottery’s exclusive 100 Year Limited Edition Range is currently being designed which will be launched later this year and will be available exclusively from the Leach Pottery. Libby Buckley, Leach Pottery Director, said, “Leach Pottery has always demonstrated resilience against an ever-changing backdrop, and has stood and survived the test of time, continually innovating and responding to challenges. And, in the determined spirit of our founders, this is how we continue to operate unabated. “As a result, we are celebrating Leach 100 in different capacities, and already we are seeing the opportunities to drive the awareness, impacts and involved numbers in some of our programme elements even further, which is extremely encouraging…” For more detailed information about the Leach Pottery, Leach 100 or any of the above elements, please visit: www.leachpottery.com or email office@leachpottery.com.

DISCOVER

01

Kara Mirva Online Gallery

Set up in May 2020, Kara Mirva is an innovative online gallery running until the 31st August 2020, created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, 100% of sales go to the Covid-19 Fund, part of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity. A selection of artists have donated work of their choice to this cause and the dedicated fund supports the wellbeing of NHS workers, patients in hospitals across Cornwall and their families. www.karamirva.co.uk 02 Tate St Ives: Colour Palette of Cornwall

Tate St Ives is working to create a digital colour palette that represents Cornwall in its fullest and is looking for help from the general public. The task is simple: think of a colour that makes you think of Cornwall, take a photograph or even make a gif and give the colour a fun title. Share it out far and wide and make sure to tag Tate St Ives and use the hashtag #ColoursofCornwall. The chosen colours will make it to a final Tate ‘Colours of Cornwall’ poster. Closing date for entries is 31st July 2020. www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-stives 03 Penryn Kemeneth Bunting Project

Penryn Kemeneth are inviting people to take part in their bunting making workshop, which can take place in the comfort of your own home! The goal is to create a true tapestry of artworks from around the local area celebrating Penryn ‘Kemeneth’ – the Cornish word for community. Each handmade triangle of bunting will tell a story, memory, legend or landmark and all materials, ‘how to’s’ and inspirations will be provided. Running until the 1st August 2020 there’s still time to participate and all ages and abilities are welcome. www.penrynkemeneth.org.uk

04 Tim’s Anniversary Tours

In celebration of the Lost Garden of Heligan’s 30th anniversary, Tim Smit will be holding exclusive tours where guests can hear all about the original discovery of the gardens, the restorations process and the ambitious plans for the next 30 years of Heligan. Each tour starts at 2.30pm and finishes by 4pm. The tours are ticketed at £30 per person and £15 for Heligan members, spaces are limited, and all proceeds go towards supporting the garden’s apprentices. To book call Heligan on 01726 845100. 8th August & 3rd October www.heligan.com 05 Etsy Makers Cornwall Online

The Etsy Makers Cornwall group have been running monthly online markets with member selling their wares virtually much to the delight of followers and fans and now they are set to be part of the very first Etsy Made Local Online fair in the UK. One of the 4 UK teams to pilot this event this summer. During the event, virtual visitors will be able to follow a weblink to wander between seller’s booths just like in a real craft fair and on Sunday afternoon the makers will be love. Follow Etsy Makers Cornwall on Instagram and Facebook for more details. 18th & 19th July. 06 Newlyn Art Gallery’s Extraordinary Postcards Celebrate your creativity with this unique challenge from Newlyn Art Gallery. Keen for participants to document what life in lockdown through a series of postcards. Any medium, from collage and text to drawing, painting and print, is acceptable. The team at Newlyn Art Gallery having been sounding out packs of postcards with freepost return envelopes to anyone who has been keen to take part and all postcards returned to them by the 30th September will be exhibited in a community celebration of individual creativity. www.newlynartgallery.co.uk/ postcard-project