The beauty that hands make
I was daydreaming yesterday. Laying in bed before a morning cup of coffee. It began with me thinking about my current commission progress. What I would tackle today. How much time I would have before switching jobs to my next project. Then my mind meandered. Thoughts of the journal I am working on, the music on my playlist I put together for today, the diner I was thinking about having this evening. Then for some random subconscious train of thought reason, I started thinking about my very first art museum experience. It was at The Crocker Art Museum. I don’t really remember what I actually saw. I was a preteen. But I definitely remember what it felt like. I feel it every time I create. This led me to ponder upon every human craft that has ever been embraced.
The facets of the human experience are vast. I am sure this concept is not at a loss to most people. And from just one of these vibrant facets is the purpose “to create”. Each and every individual that has fallen in love with a craft profession throughout our existence on this rock. Be it just a hobby or a way of sustaining life. Even through sheer sanity’s sake, fame, or simple curiosity. Those people, those humans that had and have fallen head over heels for a craft, in my perception, give our species a reason to move forward. It really can be quite anything. Medicine, architecture, mathematics, agriculture, engineering,… the list goes on. And I point out the big ones first; because in our current society these tend to be the most popularized. What we see on tv, and in movies. What we are in a way, groomed for in schools throughout our childhood. I myself have puzzle pieced into a lower rung sector of this human facet to create. The sector of visual hand crafting. And there are so very many professions of hand craft. The visual aspect only being one of them. Ever hear about a US public school that promotes the profession of cobbling? Or better still, of monumental masonry? Think for a moment on this. How many hand crafting professions can you think of, that are in not some way, invisible in comparison to the popular professions? You have your carpenters, sewists, masons, painters, mixologists, papermakers, machinists, weavers, etc… Each and every craft adding to the complicated tapestry that is incorporated into the human life experience. The products we acquire and consume on a daily basis in our modern time is completely filled with the creations stemmed from the hands of our distant ancestors. Yes, these days most of us have shoes made from machines. The profession of the cobbler has become a niche spoke of hobbyists and specialty high end artisans. Few and far between inside of the US anyway. Well, in comparison to the giant companies that flood our society markets. But they are out there. You can say that the majority of skilled hand crafts, can all be replicated by a machine in some fashion. If not (by individual opinion) better in quality. But is it really? Yes, a machine can cut stone much faster and efficiently. But can all aspects of this production be better? Carpenters use machines to create their “hand crafted masterpieces”. But what can’t a machine do that a craftsmen’s hands can? Is it merely knowing that something was created by hand that makes it better? That the effort was put forth by someone. Using only the effort of muscle, sweat, blood, and emotions?
Since I am an artist, this is a huge difference. Computers have come so far these days that even painters are being replaced by so called “Artificial Intelligence Art”. Yet, we are still working. Like the stone mason that works five blocks away from me. He makes heads stones for the cemetery. He also carves sculptures in his spare time. The metal smith that works in the next town over that builds medieval armor for movie companies in Europe. He also builds apocalypse vehicles in his backyard. The leather worker with a shop downtown that makes saddles for the ranchers all over our state. She also makes purses as a side hobby for her Etsy shop. These are real people. Making a living and loving what they do with a passion.
A beauty of creative expression in a useful craft with purpose and function. If you have ever felt that humanity is a s#!+show of horrible deeds and corrupt intentions. You would be right, on one facet of its existence. But there is so much more.
Side note: Unless the world comes to an end and zombies become the new normal. There isn’t much use for an apocalypse vehicle. That being said. Seeing one being driven “off-road” down the street, does put a smile on my face.
