Andreas Borutta wrote:
>
> Thomas Theisinger wrote:
>
> > Basteln has no negative meaning at all.
>
> Veto!
> Well, I could only speak for myself.
> For me the word "basteln" has the connotation "follow an instruction".
>
> It sounds like reproducing things without own thoughts, investigation
> and accumulation of knowledge.
> May be I am strongly influenced by all these boring and stupid
> instructions one could find in magazines called "do it yourself".
> Or in Christmas time these "bastel"pages in many magazines.
>
> Frankly speaking I hate them, because they do not teach anything.
> They are the dead of creativity.
but many times these things require knowledge of materials and tools in
order to produce the object. They can also act as a pseudo-
apprenticeship for someone without the experience of design and
production serving to illuminate on methods.
BTW, is there any such thing as a pure 'creativity' out there?
Everything that we make has to follow some rules- a dining table has to
be a certain height to fit with a chair, needs to accomplish a certain
amount of seating, have a certain 'look' to fit into an environment. Is
this any more than following the do-it-yourself magazine article? The
time I take when I design a piece is only a small part of the actual
making of the piece.
When you build a Lute, there are also many time tried methods and
requirements so you optimize tone and the correct intervals with
fretting. Is this any more than a sophisticated do-it-yourself project?
When you build a kayak, is there a truly creative approach to
speed/length, rocker/turning, etc.?
When you make a sculpture, is it devoid of the 'rules' inherent of the
materials, intent, historical dialogue of the discipline?
We question the notion of creativity in contemporary dialogue, as we see
most of what we do as a result of 'standing on the shoulders of giants',
even to those making things from the do it yourself xmas magazines.
>
> So I prefer simple phrasings like "to build something".
And when asked, I say I 'make stuff' which is just about the same.
>
> In my opinion you do not need two words for activies - one for "done
> by proffessionals", who make a living with it, and another for "done
> by non-proffessional".
> The only point to distinguish, is the know-how (of head and hand) and
> the passion.
And yet, in my experience, craftsperson is quite a good term. I have
seen this from the person who makes a living from what she does and from
the amateur making the steam engine in her basement with a small hobby
lathe. Both who critically evaluates what comes out of the studio and
rejects anything that does not conform to a very high standard.
>
> And let me add a short quote of James Krenov[1], an american
> woodworker which I highly esteem:
James originally came from Siberia to Seattle (USA), moved to Sweden in
1947 to work in a fluorescent factory, eventually studied and taught in
Sweden (Malmsten school for woodworking) until he was invited by Wendall
Castle to teach here in the States where he has remained. We have had
quite the history of importing European trained craftsmen because of the
drought here.
Interestingly, I do all the image work for the Furniture Society of
North America and his slides are sitting on my table after scanning last
night.
> | The basic change in the last, let us say, ten years is that a large
> | part of craftwork has evolved from being a profession - that is, a
> | way of /making/ a living - to /being/ a way of living. More and more
> | people are taking up crafts because they feel a need for intimate
> | contact with a material; it provides certain inner satisfactions.
>
> Greetings from snowcovered Berlin, Andreas
>
> [1] of the book "The impractical cabinetmaker", 1993, Sterling
> Publishing, p. 9
Andrea, I am not trying to be argumentative, but I think that we should
hesitate to disparage anybody who is willing to make stuff from anything
these days- even do-it-yourself as you define it. It is a great
opportunity to learn the requirements of a material and really not much
different as design-make. I built a wood boat recently from plans
(do-it-yourself) as I don't know much about hydrodynamics. It was a
phenomenal lesson in working marine ply and bent wood lamination- some
of this ended up in my furniture.
To many out there are perfectly willing to burn hydrocarbons to go to
the store whenever they need anything.
Here in the schools they have eliminated the art and shop classes, the
only hand-eye things being chemistry lab work. A very sad state of
affairs.
Germany historically has a great reputation of an apprenticeship
program, especially in precision work. I have no idea if this is true
today, but I know that the USA has ignored it. Quite a shame.
I am sorry for venturing a bit off topic, but I find it a fascinating
conversation.
Especially from the interesting people talking about it.
I also wish I could write in German to respond as well as you all are
doing in English- I have great admiration for you'all.
thanks, gabriel
(who still hasn't started on a folder but will as soon as my show is
over...)
--
Gabriel L
Romeu
http://studiofurniture.com ©©©©© furniture from the
workshop
http://studiofurniture.com/diary ©©©©© life as a tourist, daily
journal
http://studiofurniture.com/paint ©©©©© paintings, photographs,
etchings, objects
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