Mike dodd video
Mike Dodd makes beautiful ceramics.
Goldmark have produced an uplifting video of Mike talking about his work and life.
Mike Dodd makes beautiful ceramics.
Goldmark have produced an uplifting video of Mike talking about his work and life.
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
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.
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?
I have linked to this video showing the making of a beautiful guitar before, but its so good its worth another run.
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.
There is an extensive collection of videos of showcasing makers and their work, at Those Who Make.
Here’s one I particularly enjoyed
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.
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.
Made by Hand is a project creating beautiful videos that celebrate the resurgent maker scene in Brooklyn
“…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 below 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..”.
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.