A Man with a Slow Hand

Thanks to those who posted thoughtful comments about gender imbalance in the textile and craft world. Funny, I almost immediately began seeing more art/craft blogs by men. DudeCraft does needlework as well as more traditionally manly crafts. The Dude says, "DudeCraft is an experiment in permission. The permission to learn and participate in crafts of all kinds. Building things from wood and steel is cool, to be sure, but so is knowing how to sew your own clothes, knit a scarf, and make something beautiful from an A4 sheet of paper. DudeCraft seeks to make it acceptable for men to participate in all crafts, not just the "manly" ones."

Dude seems more on the DIY side of the textile art/craft spectrum, and you'll see how his blog overcompensates a bit with a very forceful look, but who could blame him? He's out to reach his audience, so more power to him. Come on in, dude -- the water's warm and I'll stitch with you anytime.

There's also a lot of buzz about "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work," by Matthew B. Crawford, a fellow at the University of Virginia and a motorcycle mechanic. The New York Times has this excellent review here. I guess this is something like the male version of a slow cloth manifesto, with a focus on the things in his experience like woodworking and car repair, though I think he does include sewing as the kind of handwork from which we're too far removed. From the review, "He argues that there is something wrong with a global economy in which a Chinese worker sews together an Amish quilt with no direct connection with its final user, or understanding of its cultural meaning."

I look forward to reading this book; it looks as if Crawford articulates quite wonderfully the need to recognize that the things we do with our hands are estimable and meaningful. As so many people are seeing in this recession, not only are we lost in the practical world without basic skills when things get unpredictable, we lose something in ourselves by distancing ourselves from this work. And these skills give us the opportunity to be endlessly creative, to make beautiful and original things, and to heal something in ourselves.

And if men knew how much women like to see them make things, maybe they'd do more of it.

Comments

[sewsarah]

Your post reminds me of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: And Inquiry Into Values by Robert Pursig. The author speaks to the value of being totally present with the experience of maintaining a motorbike, which takes it to the level of meaningful art if you allow for it. It has been a while since I read this but the message rang true to me, whether I was working in a laboratory or at the sewing machine...this kind of focus and affection marries the rational with the artistic. I have found a deep relationship to nature with my hands, my passion for life, and the crafts I love.

[Cornelia]

You can listen to an interview with Matthew Crawford on the Diane Rheem show. It was last week. I happened to hear it when I was driving somewhere. I'm looking forward to reading the book after hearing the interview. Sometimes getting stuck in traffic has its benefits! :)
Hope the new job is going well!
http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/06/02.php#26556

[Paul Overton]

Thanks for the nice DudeCraft mention! Funny to think about the look of my site as "overcompensating". I just like red and black and helvetica, but it guess it does look kind of forceful, now that you mention it. The other funny thing is the "reaching my audience" quote. I'm finding that the majority of my readers are women. I guess your idea about women liking to see men make things is right on the money. Thanks again for the nice post.

Paul (DudeCraft)