“To be an artist or a writer is to be this weird thing — a hand worker in an era of mass production.”
Susan Sontag
I was sitting somewhere the other day and thinking just this - how good it feels to be a maker; a person who does things by hand; who digs in the earth; who cooks up produce into food; who sometimes can make clothes; and who sits quietly and makes art by hand. Stitch by stitch. Letter by letter. Line by line. Print by print.
I didn't stop to think of it as weird or out of kilter with the mainstream of life; I just thought how wonderful it was to be able to do it.
The satisfaction I get out of making by hand is enormous. It's so funny; whenever I think I'll try to simplify things by mass-producing a booklet or doing some production process, I sit down and try to work out layout and where to put things and centre things and all the rest, knowing that in the end I would much rather have simply sat down and cut the paper and placed the image and written the words by hand.
I trust my hands, my eye and my thoughts.
Although maybe in the end its all about control and where you feel it rests. Despite my many mistakes and mis-steps along the way as I make, I feel my best control rests with me and my hands, rather than with a computer.
I'm sure most of you are very happy makers too - whether it's a weird thing to be or not!
Susan Sontag
I was sitting somewhere the other day and thinking just this - how good it feels to be a maker; a person who does things by hand; who digs in the earth; who cooks up produce into food; who sometimes can make clothes; and who sits quietly and makes art by hand. Stitch by stitch. Letter by letter. Line by line. Print by print.
I didn't stop to think of it as weird or out of kilter with the mainstream of life; I just thought how wonderful it was to be able to do it.
The satisfaction I get out of making by hand is enormous. It's so funny; whenever I think I'll try to simplify things by mass-producing a booklet or doing some production process, I sit down and try to work out layout and where to put things and centre things and all the rest, knowing that in the end I would much rather have simply sat down and cut the paper and placed the image and written the words by hand.
I trust my hands, my eye and my thoughts.
Although maybe in the end its all about control and where you feel it rests. Despite my many mistakes and mis-steps along the way as I make, I feel my best control rests with me and my hands, rather than with a computer.
I'm sure most of you are very happy makers too - whether it's a weird thing to be or not!
One's own hands are the best instruments for self-expression.
ReplyDeleteThanks Olga - they certainly are for me! Go well.
DeleteHere in Austin, Texas we celebrate "keeping it weird" ... a wonderful state of mind and being.
ReplyDeleteI love that notion Liz, I think!
DeleteI don't think it's weird at all! I think it's wonderful to be a creative maker, whether it's dress making,
ReplyDeletechutneys and jams, curtains, print making, book making, quilts, knitting - all these give me and others great pleasure. I'm lucky to share my love of print making in workshops, which are always a learning, sharing experience for all, with lovely people.
I am a happy maker for sure and don't think of myself as weird : ) I guess its just seems that in a mechanised and technical and motorised world we are happy anomalies? We shall continue to enjoy!
DeleteThis quote brought a chuckle. I suppose hand workers are a bit odd in this age of mass production via technology. Still, aren't hands and imagination the original technology?
ReplyDeleteI also chuckled and then thought - me? weird? Never! Laugh. Hands and imagination are absolutely the originals and I'll be keeping on using them as long as I can. Enjoy!
DeleteLove your brand of weird, Fiona! Making, growing, cooking, sewing - it doesn't get much better than that.
ReplyDeleteI am happy weird if this is weird Carol - it's a great way to be isn't it? Making and creating and being close to things that matter. Go well.
DeleteIt's true...using your hands to create something may seem "weird" if it's not something you normally do, yet I think it's the most natural things in the world to those who've had the joy of making something with their own hands. I love your quartet of handmade items (especially the sewn creation - it's stunning!)...a testament to the joys of being "weird" if I ever saw one!
ReplyDeleteSo true Lisa - it feels perfectly natural and sensible and then you realise, oh maybe it is a bit different to how others make their way thru the world...glad you like the quartet - the sewing has been immense fun! Go well.
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