Craft

[Made by Hand][thisismadebyhand] is a project creating beautiful videos that celebrate the resurgent maker scene in Brooklyn. Also see this [page][keef-tv].

"…Made by Hand was created out of the belief that the things we collect, consume, use, and share are part of who we are as individuals. For example, the food that we eat says something about each of us, as do the tools we use and the chairs we rest on. Objects that surround the space we dwell in tell stories, and not just about us. Where did they come from? Who made them? How were they made? "

The video above features knife maker Joel Bukiewicz reflecting on how he got started and the challenging process of learning the skills. The black and white style complements the material.

“…You go into the shop and you cut yourself burn yourself, f..k something up…and you never make that mistake again..”.

Mike Dodd makes beautiful ceramics.

Goldmark have produced an uplifting video of Mike talking about his work and life.

Just finished reading the Anarchists Tool Chest by Christopher Schwartz.

Its inspired me to build my own chest and stock with it quality tools made where possible by small firms and individuals who are keeping the tools needed for traditional woodworking alive. Chris has wicked sense of humour which, once I tuned into it, added a nice touch of levity to the material.

The book is about what Chris describes as the essential set of tools needed to practise traditional hand tool woodworking. Its also about building a chest to house them. What really makes the book though is Chris's philosophy that permeates the text, this is what the use of 'Anarchist' in the title references.

"The mere act of owing real tools and having the power to use them is a radical and rare idea that can help change the world around us and - if we are persistent - preserve the craft"

The book is published by Lost Art Press who describe themselves as

 a small publishing company in Fort Mitchell, Ky., that seeks to help the modern woodworker learn traditional hand-tool skills.

They have a collection of good stuff for those into the hand tool world. They don't ship internationally so I bought mine as a Kindle book. I also bought the DVD, Chris put this together as he had many requests to describe the tools he has in his own chest in more detail, going into brands and why he choose them. Its available from Lost Art (here) is well worth getting as an accompaniment to the book.

Great video link from The Village Carpenter

In interviews with contemporary woodworkers James Krenov’s first book ‘A Cabinetmaker Notebook’ is often cited as the book that changed the course of that person’s life and led to them pursuing a career with wood.
The book is a meditation on Krenov’s approach to his work. It describes a sensitive and considered approach to the design and construction of several pieces with a friendly conversational tone.

I stand at my workbench. Shavings curl from the plane in my hands, swish-and-slide, as I rock to the motion of work….a feeling of contentment. Nothing is wrong. Here am I, here is my work;

Many beautiful black and white photos illustrate the text and highlight Krenov’s attention to detail and vision for the overall effect a piece will have on those who view and use it.

It is not a book that contains detailed instructions for making specific items, rather it seeks to instil in the reader an appreciation of working with sensitivity for the materials and the emergent design. He went on to write several more books that contained more detail of his methods and how to construct his signature wooden planes.

All of his book are worth reading, as are those of some of his students including Peter Korn and David Finck.

Horrified to discover the damage that plastic bags were causing to our marine environment, Claire Morsman devised a plan for action - ‘sociable guerrilla bagging’.

The idea is that people make reusable bags from recycled material and then give them away to friends and family or sometimes during mass handouts.
Since it began in January 2007, hundreds of people working alone or in “pods” who work together on the bags have made over 20,000 bags. Its taken off in the UK, US, New Zealand, Spain, Japan, Morocco and France.

The bags are known as Morsbags.

Check out the website here www.morsbags.com.

Goldmark have produced another fascinating “day in the life” video, this time featuring French potter Jean-Nicholas Gerard who makes beautiful slipware pots.

Although these videos are obviously produced to promote the artists ahead of upcoming exhibitions at Goldmark, they are in themselves a tremendous service to the ceramics community. The gentle pace and broad scope allow the viewer to be transported into the rhythm of these artists lives.

I describe myself as a Maker, for me the term is a indicator of where my inspiration and satisfaction are found. This has generally been realised in the workshop making objects with wood and more recently clay. Its harder to find in the work I do as a Solution and Enterprise architect. Aspects are definitely present, as myself or my team are generally involved with a larger to team to create and implement a new software capability. However as I have moved more into management it has been becoming a more distant aspect of daily work life.

I think this is part of why I am attracted to the web design world and the app builders. I started my career as a programmer and still regard this as a core skill however it doesn't feature in my professional life a great deal.

New influences

1. Treehouse
2. Offscreen magazine
3. Execute

Matt Gemmell wrote about Makers and Takers in a typically strong fashion a couple of years ago. Its really good piece (his blog is always a stimulating read).

People who make things, or Makers, contribute something to the universe. Makers are people like writers, musicians, artists, architects, software engineers, carpenters, and the chap at the coffee shop who makes your morning latte. He has a skill, and he applies it to create something that makes your day a little bit better.

There’s another type of person - I call these people Takers. Takers participate in the economy as money-handlers, exchanging currency on the back of others’ creations. They lend, and sell, and negotiate and manage. You can argue that these things are in themselves skills, and that’s true - but none are anything I’d aspire to
...
I use the services of Takers to the extent that it’s necessary, and accept the tacit crassness and unseemliness of the interaction as a cultural cost. I don’t think that it always has to, or will, be like this, but I accept it for now.
...
Choose someone you admire or otherwise care about. Given knowledge of your motives, would they be genuinely proud of you in your work? That’s the test. What are you creating?

Moving essay from David Sparks meditating about the influence of his father on his own pursuit of craftsmanship. I am sure that many modern craftsman were inspired to take up the tools for similar reasons, I certainly was growing up in a household where Dad always had a project on the go.

Craftsmanship and My Father — MacSparky

The following are worth considering if you are in Kyoto and interested in Ceramics.

Kawai Kanjiros' House

We have visited this beautiful old merchants house with its huge climbing kiln several times and always found it rewarding. The enormous climbing kiln and beautifully preserved house are worth spending some time exploring.

Kawai Kanjiro was a key player in Soetsu Yanangi’s “Mingei” movement¹ in partnership Shoji Hamada, Kenichi Tomimoto and Bernard Leach.

The term mingei (folk art) was coined by Soetsu Yanagi in 1926 to refer to common crafts that had been brushed aside and overlooked by the industrial revolution. In the wake of te great tide

More photos of Kawai’s House are here

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Kyoto Ceramics Centre

Kyoto Ceramics Center is a two-story shop that displays the ceramics made by Kyoto potters. The work is all locally made and an excellent example of the regional talent.

Getting there

The Kyoto Ceramic Center is located on Gojo-zaka station enroute to Kiyomizu temple. Bus numbers 80, 100, 202, 206 and 207 will take you to Gojo-zaka. Very close to Kawai Kanjiro’s House.

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Nomura Art Museum

Established in 1984, the museum exhibits the collection of the late Tokushichi Nomura. This private museum is located near Nanzen - ji Temple. The focus of the collection is on the tea ceremony and Noh, two art forms which Nomura particularly loved. The collection includes some 1,300 works of arts, including paintings, Noh costumes, Noh masks,among which are Important Cultural Properties and Important Art Objects." Welcome to Kyoto

When we visited a selection of tea bowls from the collection was on display. Including my personal favourite whose name is Fierce Tiger (below)

Tea Bowl - Fierce Tiger

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Raku Museum

The exhibits on display were definitely worth a look, be sure to also watch the video in the entrance room. In it, the current master, Raku Kichizaemon XV discusses his work and the history of the family. Includes interesting footage of the firing process.

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Where are these places ?

See below for a Google Map for the these destinations (The Kyoto Ceramics Centre does not list a precise address and is not shown accurately. It is quite close to Kawai’s house).

View Kyoto Ceramics Tour in a larger map

The Japan National Tourism Organisation has also produced a valuable Travel Guide to Ceramic Arts and Crafts.

The redoubtable Robert Yellin² has also produced a valuable list of Kyoto ceramics museums and shops

In November we travelled down to Kirby's Flat for John Dermer's annual major exhibition.

Planning to be there early we stayed overnight in Beechworth and arrived at Johns pottery at 10 past nine, assuming we would be the first car in the car park. What a surprise to find about a dozen cars already parked up, even more of a shock was waiting for us when we entered the gallery to find half of the exhibits already proudly bearing their red stickers indicating they were sold.

There were still many beautiful pieces left and we purchased an exquisite salt glazed bowl.

The most popular post on Slowlane has been Ceramics Destinations in Kyoto , this post seeks to provide the same information for a Tokyo visitor.

Mingeikan

Also known as the Japan Folk Crafts Museum. Soetsu Yanagi ¹ created this museum to display his collection of mingei items (daily necessities made by common people using local materials)It displays a collection of mingei pottery, textiles and lacquer ware. Feature exhibitions are also held regularly. During our visit the main gallery was showing “KANTHA and SASHIKO - Needle Works from Bengal and Tohoku”.

It’s not obvious that the gallery is open, you need to check the opening hours and then open the wooden sliding doors to enter the beautiful open entrance area. It’s well worth going on a day when you can also visit Yanagi’s house (in 2014 this is open every second & third Wednesday and Saturdays).

Toguri Museum of Art

A private collection housed in building designed by Toguri, we were privileged to see an extensive selection of Inari ware, featuring a theme designs with water themes “COOLNESS….Ko-Inari ware with Design of Water”.

After making your way from Shibuya station (a 10 minute walk once you have your bearings), take seat inthe lounge to observe the garden before making your way through the upstairs galleries.

Here is another beautiful video celebrating craftsmanship.

It features Tom Ellis who started building mandolins from his rural workshop in late 1970's. Tom has recently relaunched his instrument line in collaboration with Pava one his co-workers.

The video was produced by the Fretboard Journal a very high quality magazine that features stories and photo's about guitars, players and makers.

There are some excellent galleries in Sydney that focus on displaying the work of local artists and providing exhibition space.

I am sure its a labour of love for most of the gallery owners as the market is not large and the work required to mount a successful exhibition is signifcant.

• Chinaclay
• Kerrie Lowe
• Sabbia

If in the mood to travel further afield, the galley at the Sturt College in Mittagong always has an eclectic mix of work in particular furniture and ceramics.

Following a link from Fine Woodworking I came across an inspiring collection of videos featuring a group of traditional craftspeople who live in the US state of Arkansas. The state has sponsored the production of a movie series featuring each craftsman talking about their work and practising in their studios.

Something that stands out is the advanced age of some of the artists who are still practising. Chair maker Dallas Bump is 94 and fiddle maker Violet Hensley was still making well into her 90’s.

Other artists that particularly interested me were

• Potters - Jim Larkin, Winston Taylor & Peter Lippincott
• Woodworkers - Doug Stowe, Larry Williams & Robyn Horn

The award of “Living Treasure” echos the Japanese tradition of designating important figures in the crafts and arts as Living National Treasures). Several other countries have also adopted the nomination including Australia, although the Aus list is short on crafts people, favouring sports people, politicians, actors, writers and business magnates. Craft Australia has created its own Living Treasures list, adding one person each year since 2005.

A recent reminder of the strong Australian links with Japanese ceramics occurred with the visit of Euan Craig to give a very successful workshop at the National Arts Centre in Sydney. In the 90’s Euan was an apprentice of the Japanese National Living Treasure Tatsuzo Shimaoka.

There is an extensive collection of videos of showcasing makers and their work, at Those Who Make .

Here's one I particularly enjoyed

I have linked to this video showing the making of a beautiful guitar before, but its so good its worth another run.