The Radical Act of Making Things
On being a maker of things in the age of AI, summer updates and recent makings
Hello there! It has been hot and sunny here for a few days, most of our time has been spent swimming and lazing by the water’s edge. We’ve also both been busy making things; real physical, tangible things. Would you like to see them? I’ve also been thinking a lot about what it means to be a maker of things in the age of AI.
Process
With a slow, steady shhhck, shhhck, the drawknife shaves thick curls from a freshly split length of oak. Fragrant and spicy scented, cool and fresh to the touch; working with fresh oak is a feast for the senses. Piles of shavings build up around my feet as they push forwards on the shave horse, clamping the workpiece tightly. I pause every now and then to listen to the chiff chaff and the blackcap warbling amongst the brambles nearby and notice the increasing warmth from the mid-morning sun.
The muscles in my hands are a little sore and my forearms are pumped, my left index finger still throbs from the splinter of wood that jammed under my fingernail while sorting through the woodpile - the whole experience is visceral and real. Earth, body and mind are all connected. The thing I am crafting is a physical manifestation of an idea; it’s taking shape before my eyes but I’m constantly tweaking, adapting and re-thinking the process as I work.
It is a joy to bring an idea to life. Sure, there is frustration at times. It doesn’t always go to plan: A piece of wood splits unexpectedly; you measure twice, cut once but still get it wrong. The small struggles along the way make the end result all the sweeter - they are an essential part of the process in fact, and the process is where the joy lurks.
A Radical Act
In this dystopian age, where tech lords push upon us advances that seek to do away with process - without asking by the way - leaning into craft, making things with our hands, creating work using our minds and imaginations feels like a radical act.
So readily people seem willing to surrender their sense of agency in exchange for quick fixes, using AI to think or create or edit on their behalf. It aches my heart to see creativity given such short shrift, as folks churn out imagery, words and music built on stolen ideas, heedless of the implications, regardless of the ethics. In exchange for a funny image, they give up a little piece of who they are, their individuality, their voice and slowly erode the beauty of the human experience for all of us. I wonder, what is the end goal? To not have to think? To not have to create? To not do the work? What then? It’s a genuine question: what is all this for?
I for one am not willing to give up my own voice so readily. It’s the thing I hold most dear. It’s all any of us really have after all.
To be creative has always meant to be on the fringes. To resist. Perhaps now we will be pushed even further as we struggle to hold onto that which brings so much joy, anguish, and fullness to life. The process. The radical act of making things.
Wooden Things
Carving spoons from green wood with just an axe and knife has to be one of the simplest, accessible and pleasurable ways of working with wood. It should be done outside, in the woods, I think, for the fullest experience and connection to the material. These recent ones are made from limbs of windblown trees - bird cherry, silver birch, rowan and wild cherry. Also, an oak stool, made of cleft (or riven or split pieces) of oak. A new handle, carved from ash for my favourite hewing axe. And, a cleft oak garden gate which turned out rather nicely.
Sacred Stones Shirt
If you’re a long time follower of our creative work, you’ll know Emma is something of a genius when it comes to fabric, particularly embroidered typography and graphic design. There’s a lot of projects underway, but this is her latest - an embroidered shirt depicting the stone circles of Eskdale. The stones encircle the shirt placing the wearer right in the centre of this mysterious ancient monument. We had fun taking the shirt up to the stone circles to photograph it. The local landscape, flora and fauna are constant sources of intrigue and inspiration and Emma has some other new pieces that will hopefully be finished soon…
Summer Updates
It’s been a bountiful summer so far with lots going on and lots coming up. This September we’re teaming up with our friends at Fjällräven again to take part in the UK Classic. You might remember we took part last year and had an amazing time. Last year we hosted a couple of talks on the local flora and fauna at the event, but this year we’re going one step further and will be acting as official Nature Guides for the hike; we’ll be hosting more talks and helping to point out interesting connections along the trail. The summer holidays have just started and we have a lot of hikes and overnight adventures planned to get ready - Benji will be joining us for the whole 3 day hike this time which we’re really excited about.
Well, that’s all for this week! We hope summer is treating you well so far? We’ll be back next with tales of connection in the woods…
Until then, with warm wishes,
Andrew, Emma and Benji
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I love this so much! All of those wood pieces are gorgeous. Excellent work Andrew!
I also like working with wood and being in nature when carving definately enhances the experience!
I do most of my carving with just a pocket knife.