Glad for the globe
This morning I became increasingly more aware of just how large the globe of woodworkers is and how small our globe has become with regards to woodworkers connecting with one another. Some months ago I blogged pretty extensively on something I call the Real Woodworking Campaign and many if you signed up insupport of my efforts to repatriate people to the craft of working wood. This was the perspective of working real wood using skilled methods that weren’t so much hard but required self discipline and a working knowledge derived at through the actual working of wood itself. For two decades people have become awareoaf a need to work with their hands regardless of their profession. Plumbers and politicians, priests and personal trainers discover the art of hand tool woodworking atryst art building stuff from scraps of wood, drag tools out of boxes and revamp abandoned equipment to see bright steel instead of rust. Few creative crafts have the same level of appeal and that is amazing to me too.
Tell me what the answer is to this phenomenon we call simply woodworking. How or what can we do to to enhance what we do and be more inclusive of others. I highly regard American woodworkers who form guilds and clubs large and small to pass on skills, share knowledge and generally get together regularly to drink coffee and enjoy working wood together. Can this happen more globally? I think that it can. You men in sheds in Australia are doing your bit too. That’s quite wonderful.
In the ancient world, the world was flat. In terms of technology, they were correct. For that, we can be grateful because through the medium from anywhere at anytime, you play a key role in returing old world craftsmanship and technique that many of us thought lost. I for one would not have imagined that I could develop the skills that you foster. However, due to your dillegence, product and tenacity, a whole new breed of woodworking is taking hold. For that, I’m grateful as to your great contribution to the craft.
JIm Toplin said (I’m paraphrasing) “If your stuff looks like everyone elses stuff, it’s because you have the same machines”.
That cannot be said with “real woodworking” and I’m proud to be counted among them now.
Don
It’s all about working together and helping one another. I have had a lifetime of working with my hands and with machines as my secondary support I am able to work effectively on producing what the machine cannot give me. That all happened because I pursued methods that demanded self discipline. One day, you are working there in the shop, suddenly the perfect dovetail comes and you have got it. In a sense it feels almost magical, but that’s not the exact word.Perhaps “Voila”?
It can and does happen. In Japan they have kesurokai (planing together) the UK pole lathe turners get 500 to their annual meeting and the timber framers also run “frame”, this year will see the first gathering of spooncarvers for SPOONFEST. Physical meetups offer a lot but I try not to encourage too much carbon burning travel. Global connections can be and are made over the web.
Haven’t seen any other S. Africans posting? The concept is working on your blogs alone Paul. Your videos are complete lessons in themseves. Your explanations are detailed and make sense. Real WW is a reality. Thank you very much.