Story of Carpentry !
I recently met a gentleman, my schoolmate's father, who is a retired public sector employee and is fairly well-settled in life. But as far as his passion for carpentry is concerned, he is till a die-hard addict, continuously in a mental state of creating and improvising, the moment his eyes spots a block of wood, a piece of furniture or an artifact, enthusiastically making a mental note of his observations to be put to use in an upcoming carpentry-venture. Though I have never been associated with carpentry at anytime in my life, the gentleman's devotion, commitment and passion for carpentry did rub off on me to the extent of making my own self feel like a thorough carpenter, enjoying his pride and delight whenever he described his work-peice or when sharing a client-compliment. He plain-heartedly admits that at his present age, he is able to make a wooden stool in a span of a week's time, which he earlier used to make it in a span of just 2-3 days, nevertheless wearing an expression of immense satisfaction to continue to be engaged with his favorite hobby.
I also enjoyed his nostalgia of how he was denied to take up carpentry by the elders of the house and how he hid and secretly did his first piece of carpentry without the knowledge of his elders. Even today, when I visit my friend's house, who is a niece to the said gentleman, I notice the dining table and the other furniture that he made for them way back in 1975, which still stands sturdy and seems eternally durable.
Can't say for sure, but it did make me observe that carpentry has never been encouraged to take up as a mainstream hobby of skills, especially in the current times. Don't know if it would have really made a significant difference, but I sure wish that as a growing youngster, I was exposed to the historical side of native, traditional and prevailing Carpentry. Nevertheless, I am glad and thankful that I can atleast enjoy and appreciate whatever I come across and cherish what appeals to me as an art and an excellence of human skill.
As a tribute to the above, sharing a couple of videos below ...
1. One is a video from a TED talk by Reuben Margolin, who presents his creation of kinetic wood-sculpting. This video is a sheer tribute to the height a human skill which can excel in presenting what appears to be the most ethereal form of wood art, incorporated with mechanical and motorized base work.
2. (Watch between 1.39 - 4.09) Another video is a clip from the movie 'While you were sleeping'. As a part of the story, the hero hails from a family of furniture-sellers, but wants to break off from the protective traditional family banner and strike out on his own.Just that the topic of carpentry being shared in the above writing, drove me to instantly make a connection with this part of the story in the movie that somewhat strikes a resemblance to the above writing. It struck a chord with my own latent interest and appreciation for carpentry, existing since childhood, but which I must have unconsciously or subconsciously talked myself out of it due to the default common perception that carpentry was just not meant for girls, besides being absolutely clueless about how to even acknowledge with my own self, of the fact that I liked carpentry at an age, even before knowing what the word carpentry stood for.
I also enjoyed his nostalgia of how he was denied to take up carpentry by the elders of the house and how he hid and secretly did his first piece of carpentry without the knowledge of his elders. Even today, when I visit my friend's house, who is a niece to the said gentleman, I notice the dining table and the other furniture that he made for them way back in 1975, which still stands sturdy and seems eternally durable.
Can't say for sure, but it did make me observe that carpentry has never been encouraged to take up as a mainstream hobby of skills, especially in the current times. Don't know if it would have really made a significant difference, but I sure wish that as a growing youngster, I was exposed to the historical side of native, traditional and prevailing Carpentry. Nevertheless, I am glad and thankful that I can atleast enjoy and appreciate whatever I come across and cherish what appeals to me as an art and an excellence of human skill.
As a tribute to the above, sharing a couple of videos below ...
1. One is a video from a TED talk by Reuben Margolin, who presents his creation of kinetic wood-sculpting. This video is a sheer tribute to the height a human skill which can excel in presenting what appears to be the most ethereal form of wood art, incorporated with mechanical and motorized base work.
2. (Watch between 1.39 - 4.09) Another video is a clip from the movie 'While you were sleeping'. As a part of the story, the hero hails from a family of furniture-sellers, but wants to break off from the protective traditional family banner and strike out on his own.Just that the topic of carpentry being shared in the above writing, drove me to instantly make a connection with this part of the story in the movie that somewhat strikes a resemblance to the above writing. It struck a chord with my own latent interest and appreciation for carpentry, existing since childhood, but which I must have unconsciously or subconsciously talked myself out of it due to the default common perception that carpentry was just not meant for girls, besides being absolutely clueless about how to even acknowledge with my own self, of the fact that I liked carpentry at an age, even before knowing what the word carpentry stood for.
