While I'm always wondering about the state of manufacturing in the good ole US of A, it seems there are still plenty of bright spots out there. The above photo comes from a recent post at the Lovely Bicycle blog. The blog post is a tour through the facilities of Seven Cycles. You get a chance to see real craftsmen* at work and the post makes some comments about the importance of local business and industry. Coincidentally, The Handverker blog posted up the American Craftsman Project on the same day.
The American Craftsman Project is a photo essay of talented people making things with skilled hands. Pretty simple premise and I think it is most handsomely done. Hand made boots, skis, banjos, baseball gloves - all kinds of things. All made with care and pride and right here in America.
If you've got a little time to waste, and you must if you're reading this, I suggest you check both of them out. As a shop teacher, the hope is always that the students will turn out to be skilled craftsmen. Even if that were to come to pass, there would be no place locally to employ them all but the skills would be there. Skills, and the thinking process that comes along with the skill acquisition. And of course the pride that all skilled craftsmen take in doing their jobs.
I urge all of you to support these types of businesses. Whether it's a bicycle or a baseball glove, banjo or boots, do yourself and these talented people justice by getting a real hand made item that will last and can be used with pride.
* I use the term craftsmen in a non-gender specific way. Craftspeople, in my book at least, always indicates people who make craft items. Nothing wrong with that, just not the same thing. Craftswomen? Just sounds wrong. Craftsman? - high order skill set regardless of gender.
No comments:
Post a Comment