I have been thinking today about the relationship of craft to culture. The crafts that I work in are fiber and earth. My first love is functional ware, linens, scarves, plates, cups. For me, the hand of the craftsman is always present when you wear or use a handmade object. The difference between handmade and machine made is not so much in the beauty of the object, but in the invisible relationship to the maker. Whenever I pick up a mug made by a potter, I can feel the workmanship and the craftsmanship. For me, that is the experience and why I continue to make pots and fabric. I am certain that it is the same with wood. Just running my hand over the work being done by the craftsmen at Banner Hill puts me in touch with the person, their intention and their love of the materials. In a society longing for connections and communication, could this be a step in that direction?
~Candace Christiansen, teacher
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