Fermentation Workshop with Chris Brown

WHEN: 1:00pm-3:00pm Saturday, 27 April 2024

WHERE: The Lock-Up

Join artist and taste-maker, Chris Brown in this immersive workshop where you'll get acquainted with the textures, sounds, tastes and processes of wild fermentation. This one-off experience will introduce you to key principles of fermentation through a live demonstration, tasting and Q&A. Giving you the knowledge and skills to make your own magical brews!

Optional: Please feel welcome to bring your own botanicals which have naturally occurring populations of yeast/ bacteria and are free from contamination or exposure to pollutants. Some examples are; fresh, nectar-rich blossoms such as gum, angophora, bottlebrush or passionflower. As well as flowers from edible plants e.g., parsley, dill, basil, broccoli, fennel and coriander.

About Chris Brown
Chris Brown (Muloobinba/Newcastle) works at the confluence of entities and phenomena, the ways in which emotional states, stories of place and imagination intersect, the alchemy of wild fermentation and the transformative power of nature’s forces. The stories and ferments that he makes are products of his alter-ego, Magi - a forest dwelling non-binary neo-pagan alchemist, aligned to cultivating, holding, activating, inviting and conjuring.

His wild ferments frequently use wild yeasts (which are collected from natural sources such as wildflowers, berries and honey) and special water (high quality raw water which has been respectfully collected at pristine sites through ritual and participatory action, eg: the collective splashing of water into a sacred bowl, collection of the refreshing first few drops of summer rain, rain during lightning storms, squalls and hail). Special water, wild yeasts and simple sugars are combined into a mother, that when fermenting and bubbly are used to activate the fermentation process of bespoke beers and wines.

This workshop runs in-conjunction with Charlotte Haywood's exhibition, MNEMONIC VEGETABLES where Chris Brown is a featured artist, running until 28 April at The Lock-Up.

Image Credit: Chris Brown