Caring for oneself through craftsmanship

Why craftsmanship cares for the maker

Those who practice craftsmanship know, often without words, that the work they make is affecting them as much as they are affecting it. That there is a wondrous dance that takes place between the maker and what is being made, prior to sharing it with others. A special period that if compromised on, would cease to make the work meaningful.

When Rick Kelly, the brilliant guitar maker responsible for handcrafting guitars for Bob Dylan and Patti Smith, cried during an interview speaking about his love for the old oak trees that lived nearby, which provide him with wood and inspiration for his guitars, any onlooker would glimpse the depth of this relationship. How one reacts to his tear filled eyes tells us a story about modern craftsmanship. That there are those who practice craftsmanship and know, instantaneously why he’s moved in this way. For they feel the same way about the fabric of a jacket, the paper in a notebook and the paint on a vase. Then there are those who are confused. “It’s just wood. He could source it far cheaper elsewhere and make a killing.” A misunderstanding of the dimension of one’s work beyond material gain.

We are witnessing a period of time where workers and their experience with their work is neglected. Consumer culture’s attention is on the inexpensive, the fast and the replaceable. But what is this doing to the individuals who practice the values that make this possible? Rather than being taught patience, precision, integrity or how the love one pours into their work replies in equal measure, they are taught the opposite. In not caring about their work they cannot receive the love it has to give.

Craftsmanship cares for our human spirit and is the answer to any work devoid of it