Short film: "The Future is Handmade"
A Dutch archaeologist (turned filmmaker) finds artisans and thought leaders who are redefining craft, skill and, ultimately, the real meaning of a modern knowledge economy.
Dear Friends,
After a long, wet winter here in California, we’re excited to welcome in spring at last — and to welcome all of you to our new Spring issue, which will focus on how and where the artisans of the future are learning their crafts and trades.
For our first feature of this issue, we’re republishing a favorite piece that will be new to many of you: a short film we first released in 2019. In it, you’ll meet Dr. Maikel Kuijpers, a Dutch archaeologist who believes that if we can redefine craftsmanship and skill in a form that’s built for the future, instead of being simply a nostalgic eulogy to the past, we can create a new culture of excellence. Running just over 12 minutes, this wonderful mini-documentary features interviews with several of the world’s leading experts on craftsmanship, played over scenes of various master artisans at work. The cast includes a tailor, a violin maker, a ceramicist, a winemaker, and a barber. Brief as it is, it hits all the right notes, both intellectually and emotionally, to set the stage for our theme.
I hope you’ll enjoy watching “The Future is Handmade,” produced in collaboration with Dr. Kuijpers and The Centre for Global Heritage and Development (along with a brief introductory article, written by yours truly.)
Our new Spring issue, which will continue through the end of May, is all about “The Future of Craftsmanship.” Each Friday, we’ll release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission — to “create a world built to last.” Along with stories that speak to each issue’s theme, we always have works on other topics, so please, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Be well,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Spring 2023: The Future of Craftsmanship
Look at almost anything you own of real quality, and you immediately see its maker's commitment to beauty, functionality, and longevity. Those values, which in our mind define works of craftsmanship, are being aggressively tested these days, as more and more material goods exhibit shoddy workmanship, and are not made to last. The trash this creates not only damages our environment, it also erodes the principles of excellence that advance us, both individually and collectively. In this issue, we introduce you to some brave souls and organizations that are fighting to preserve, and expand, the intelligence in our hands.