This is dedicated to all those of us who are makers. The wood and metal workers, the potters, the leathercrafters, the jewelers, the stitchers and seamstresses, to name a handful of the wonderful talent we are so busy losing.
Why do I say that? Ask an artist. It is so easy these days to buy cheap from overseas that the local artists are becoming an unwanted resource. The world is so biased towards the disposable society we no longer look for craftsmanship, we just want something cheap and right now.
It has took me years to learn my skills. To understand the materials I use, how they react to different techniques and methods, how to use them the best way, how to get what I want from them. It's not an overnight thing. Except, it can be. There's companies overseas that specialise in deconstructing your work and making it in large quantities at a fraction of the cost I could offer and selling it through online sites. Many even steal the pictures from your site to promote their knockoff, linking you to their poorly made versions, as people will recognise the pictures and assume it's a licensed copy or even that you yourself are responsible.
That however, is a rare occurrence. The usual response to seeing a craftspersons work is along the likes of, "Oh, how lovely, it's perfect! I wish I could afford that," followed by them walking away. I am often asked about my prices. Can I do this item at that price? Why is it so expensive? Well, that's because getting quality materials is not cheap. I'll drop anywhere from $300 to $700 each trip to the leather shop, and that does not include tools, stamps, hardware, thread, dyes and finishes. Add the same again for all that and you have my minimum costs for materials for a month or so. Then add my time, and you'll see it's not going to be cheap.
So what happens? People see the lovely handmade goods, exclaim over them, see the price, and walk away. The artisan then has the choice of trying to cover costs by lowering the price, or making enough to get by. Often it's a double edged sword as if you price low you still can't beat the imports but you will end up being accused of importing since 'all the good stuff is really expensive so it must be from a sweatshop!'
What this world has forgotten is that we depend on the skills of the artisan. We have done for thousands of years. It's the only backup there is to the global marketplace, and it's essential to keep those skills current. The more we lose, the more difficult it is for the next generation to learn those skills, and without them it's a very precarious, not to say dull, existence.
Support your local talent - the artists, the craftspeople, the makers and the bodgers. They are the heart of the community, and the heartbeat is fading...
I completely agree with what you are saying. I think in these times the general public have little if any respect for Art & Craftsmanship. There are many reasons for this & one that could bring the most lasting changes would be to teach appreciation for hand crafted work, both within the education system & on TV/Media. The Art that makes it to TV comes in two categories The Shock Art that people love to challenge as nonsense " anyone can do that " or the type of " Art" made on home improvement shows where they take a canvas , felt pens & string assemble something in ten minutes & say " Home made Art that anyone can make to add something special to your wall " Both ends of these wide spectrums generate disrespect for TRUE Craftsmanship, whether that's someone who may take weeks or months to complete A Painting, Carve, Engrave, Stitch ,Sculpt, Embroider in any medium. I think it's important to emphasise that real craftsmanship is NOT something dashed out in ten minutes by just anyone. Skill & talent is something a person commits to, a lifetime of learning after years of failures whilst learning one's chosen craft.So much emphasis is placed on quick, easy options, in our modern society, that craftsmanship is robbed of respect.
ReplyDeleteLess & less people are learning the old skills, & as technology based techniques provide alternative faster methods of producing a form of Art many opt to learn these machine generated methods instead. Many years ago when I was at Art College, a sign went up on a wall, advertising a computer art course. A few of us put our names down more out of curiosity, more than thoughts it would be really useful. It was actually cancelled before it could take place because there were not enough people interested. As opposed to now where so much art we see everyday online is digital in origin.
Why is it so wrong for a Artist/Craftsperson to be considered Skilled in a way worthy of being taken seriously. In other times in history skilled Artisans were venerated ,the best EARNING a reputation of Master craftsperson. that is so rare in our society of machine generated art, printed images, factory made goods.
There is too much emphasis on instant gratification & cheap price. One would think these products would place genuine hand crafted item as something set above the norm, because not just anyone can produce it. the item aught to be special for it's uniqueness but no.
Art of the truly skilled worker is treated as a hobby level activity, not a worthy skilled trade that takes just as much training as a Lawyer, Architect, or Engineer . The world would be a much poorer place without the beauty created by our Artists, we Craftspersons are fighting a battle when we try to make a living from what we have trained to do. We have Skills that aught to be admired & taken seriously as a specialised trade, not dismissed as a frivolous pastime, easily replaced by factory mass production & computer generated electric "Art".
If we don't value Talent & Skill it becomes lost to history & The genuine craftsperson becomes a thing of legend. A thing that existed in times past, because we have machines to do that now. The humanity shouldn't be robbed from what we produce & respect should be given to the Talented. Everybody hasn't been taught to expect to be capable of being a surgeon, so why has everyone been taught to devalue the real skills that take years to perfect. It's fine to have a hobby but for the rare few Art is our profession, we also have bills to pay just like any other person, Our profession is just a valid as anyone else's & we deserve fair pay for fair work.
I can only agree. The artist is only seen as 'worthy' if their pieces go for millions, but for each that hit that level there are thousands just as good or better who struggle to make a few dollars. We have been taught that art is something you see in a museum, and crafts are something to pass the time and make some knickknacks. Everything is disposable and they would rather buy 6 belts at $30 each than one that would outlast all 6 mass produced belts for $120.
DeleteFor all the good that has come from the Industrial Revolution, this is perhaps the most damning - we have lost touch with our communities, we have lost faith in the craftsperson and we have lost the desire for better. The improvements which have so damaged our environment did not spare the people. Most are content to be nothing more than consumers, working to live and settling for what they are given.