Good Morning all y'all.. Welcome to KosKraft, Issue 12.
This Group is for all those creative kossack artisans, plying away at their benches. If you make things, please join, and maybe give us a look at your work.
After the Flying Spaghetti Monster..
Theme: The Politics of Making things
Artists, craftsmen, fabricators, all reflect their inner selves. They are mirrors to their souls, and their times. Whether there is some inner "thing" that needs to get out, a neccessity to be made, or a "happy accident" that grows viral, I'ld wager, few actually stop and think about where it really comes from. If you are struggling "to get known", or earn a few sheckels, you're only guessing at what might sell, or wondering why no one understands how great this thing is that you are making. If you are lucky enough to actually start making a living at it, you either become a slave to the product, or worry when the sky is going to fall. Everything is an extreme, because the life of craftsman is rarely an even road. Buck up. You asked for it.
Some makers are really all about the things they make. For instance, some motorcyclists take to leather work, and begin to produce bags, chaps, etc. There are those that live the outlaw road, and make things for it. That means the Iron Cross, skulls, and naked women. Reflections of the lifestyle is more important than the actual work. But there are some who make beautiful things, even if an "uglier" theme. If you are in a hard core MC, more than likely, you tend to the right of things; anti immigrant, anti minority.
If you are in a social riding club, you probably have a nice bike, a little spare change for the extras, and the group may be more varied in its politics. Now you're talking a more refined work on the bags, seats and accessories. It's more "hipster" than gangster.
A big part of Bikers is the religious side. Bikes for Jesus. Yep, it's huge. If you are a member of this side of things, crosses, biblical quotes, and fishes become part of your work.
You will rarely find an outlaw biker craftsman making things for social or religious bikers, and all the vicey versis. This is the politics of things.
This line of thought can apply to any craft. Jewelers can make skull rings for bikers, or fanciful earrings for the posh, that cost more than a mortgage. Potters can make Zen bowls, or bongs. Stained glass makers can do Sistine Chapel windows, or Yosemite Sam. There are makers that care only about the craft, and attempt to achieve its higher standards, or even to the next level. Politics be damned.
It would be an interesting poll to find out what craft represents what politic. Are jewelers more left than right? Do sculpturists tend to the right? More than likely, if you go on any artisan related forum, you will find as much variety as in real life. You'll find leatherworkers who don't give a damn where the leather comes from, or how the animals were raised, and then, you'll find a hard core group trying to make things from recycled sofas.
It's human nature to support those that side with your way of thinking. But sometimes, things are just beautiful in themselves.
This is a recent guitar strap. Based on a horse bridle, with a padded backing.
This is one type of mandolin strap I have made.
Another guitar strap
Well, that's all for now..
All Kossack Artisans are welcome to join the group, just send me a PM.
In the meantime, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the
KosKatalog. They do yeoman's work in there, and it's about at businesss close to supporting "local" as you can get on the inter tubes.
Another crafty place to hang around...
WAYWO
my links:
Rocky River Leather Co.
Facebook