The Oxford English Dictionary tells me that "to make" is a transitive verb with Germanic roots:
The word is associated with creation and the outcome of creative labor, especially labor done with the hands. Other definitions include artistic representation and composition, raising a crop to maturity, and mating.
In order to think about making, I have organized a series of workshops that explore a variety of creative endeavors and handmade crafts. I began by teaching a workshop on container gardening in which we got our hands deep into the dirt of making as a life-creating, life-sustaining activity. Like summer camp for adults, these workshops are fun social events, and force us out of our daily habits. I have loved being in the presence of open minds as a group of participants stumble their way through a new skill. Having to adopt the beginner's mind has been humbling for me, but also thrilling as I have been able to observe and participate in the making process. And like Ringo Starr, I get by with a little help from my friends who have taught workshops on bookbinding, home brewing, and crochet:
Journals made in Ashley Maher's coptic stitch bookbinding workshop
Ben Trumbo adds malt extract to the home brew; Dennis Hoppe pours the wort into
a glass carboy for fermentation; labels for the Make It Weird workshop beer designed by Ben.
Happy people, about to learn how to crochet at Cate Williamson's workshop.
Bookbinding and crochet required particularly intense levels of concentration, while container gardening and home brewing were more lighthearted, conversational affairs. (The crochet workshop has made a crochet addict of me, but more on that in a future post.) If you would like to explore making during the summer that remains, please join us for workshops on poker, beading, and electronic music. Sorry, workshops are not currently open to the public, but if you are a friend of mine (or a friend of a friend), check out the remaining workshops here.
