I've shared the same sense of grief about these dying ways, and an unbearable sense that there are more of them than I even know, ones that might not be "trendy" enough to be rediscovered and broadcasted, like crochet and sourdough baking; ones that might slip into oblivion with the passing of older generations. But I've also noticed, more recently, an incredible itch amongst the people to return to many more of these ways than I thought - weaving, darning, hand-dying, embroidery, to name a few. The problem is that those itching to rediscover these things don't always have a human avenue to do so, and in the absence of a mentor, resort to books or youtube tutorials. These are valuable repositories of instruction, no doubt, but I always feel there's something lost when the transmission of skill lacks direct human interface. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Great thoughts Penelope. The lack of a human mentor is a real challenge, most pertinently I think is the lack of gentle but firm critique. A master will always guide and critique his or her apprentice, it is how the apprentice will improve and one day become a master themselves. The book or video lacks this personal interaction and lacks the relationship where critique and encouragement can be received, where accountability is fostered and where style can be passed on.
I too have noticed a renaissance of sorts in some of the lesser known crafts. One day I would like to learn how to dye fabrics with natural foraged dyes to support my wife with her quilting.
You're right about firm critique. So many of us have lost the appetite for that kind of mentorship, maybe because we've never experienced it. Definitely creates a kind of fragility antithetical to mastering a craft.
I've shared the same sense of grief about these dying ways, and an unbearable sense that there are more of them than I even know, ones that might not be "trendy" enough to be rediscovered and broadcasted, like crochet and sourdough baking; ones that might slip into oblivion with the passing of older generations. But I've also noticed, more recently, an incredible itch amongst the people to return to many more of these ways than I thought - weaving, darning, hand-dying, embroidery, to name a few. The problem is that those itching to rediscover these things don't always have a human avenue to do so, and in the absence of a mentor, resort to books or youtube tutorials. These are valuable repositories of instruction, no doubt, but I always feel there's something lost when the transmission of skill lacks direct human interface. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Great thoughts Penelope. The lack of a human mentor is a real challenge, most pertinently I think is the lack of gentle but firm critique. A master will always guide and critique his or her apprentice, it is how the apprentice will improve and one day become a master themselves. The book or video lacks this personal interaction and lacks the relationship where critique and encouragement can be received, where accountability is fostered and where style can be passed on.
I too have noticed a renaissance of sorts in some of the lesser known crafts. One day I would like to learn how to dye fabrics with natural foraged dyes to support my wife with her quilting.
You're right about firm critique. So many of us have lost the appetite for that kind of mentorship, maybe because we've never experienced it. Definitely creates a kind of fragility antithetical to mastering a craft.