The door to ideas about Craftwork

I’m unable to fully articulate or speak concisely about my fascination with handwork and the making of things. I’m enjoying creating a learning and discovery path made up of short courses, workshops, learning and doing to help crystallise my thoughts.

Here are some ideas, questions and hypotheses I have about craftwork:

Making is one of the ways to live fully in our bodies and environment.

There is joy in mastering a craft.

And so, what is the journey to mastery?

We have an affinity for being surrounded by beautiful things.

It is fascinating to visually and materially explore the world through hand-made objects

To explore through seeing, touching and feeling - colours, fabrics, yarns, clay, wood, metal, paper…

We want things made well and things made with purpose.

We are curious about how people make things.

We want to learn how to make things.

What are objects made for?

And what is the meaning we assign to these objects?

We want a return to slow-making.

There is meaning in making things meaningfully and sustainably.

It is time for repurposing and restoration.

What are the stories, places and contexts behind the making of things?

How has making changed over time?

Who are the people who make things?

How do makers make money?

What is the relationship between a maker and their tools?

Who holds the power in the making economy?

Manufacturing vs hand-making and why?

Last month I completed an Anthropology of Skills and Craftwork course (Royal Anthropological Institute) expertly and exceptionally taught by Professor Trevor H.J. Marchand .?

The course gave me a great pedagogical structure and introduced me to frameworks, insights and knowledge around human skills, ways of learning and making. It has given me a foundation to build on, writers to explore and new things to wonder about.

I think I may have been the only student on the course without a PhD, I was honoured to have an enhanced crash course learning from fellow attendees too - academics, authors, educators and practitioners. Thanks to my comrades in curiosity Steve Smith Lydia Maria Arantes Martin John Bonney Rowan Glass and others.

Finally, I’m excited to hold this brand-new publication in my hands! The Pursuit of Pleasurable Work by Professor Marchand and I can’t wait to delve in. Check it out if the topics are of interest!