hi my name is Chris Britton and in late 2014 I quit my job and hit the road
2014 I quit my job and hit the road
2014 I quit my job and hit the road sounds like the American dream right but
sounds like the American dream right but
sounds like the American dream right but it wasn’t all fun and games for the last
it wasn’t all fun and games for the last
it wasn’t all fun and games for the last three years I’ve been doing a project
three years I’ve been doing a project
three years I’ve been doing a project called the itinerant printer where I
called the itinerant printer where I
called the itinerant printer where I travel all around the u.s. and Canada
travel all around the u.s. and Canada
travel all around the u.s. and Canada visiting different letterpress print
visiting different letterpress print
visiting different letterpress print shops to date I’ve visited 138 shops and
shops to date I’ve visited 138 shops and
shops to date I’ve visited 138 shops and I’ve gone to 45 states four provinces
I’ve gone to 45 states four provinces
I’ve gone to 45 states four provinces one district I’ve racked up 50,000 miles
one district I’ve racked up 50,000 miles
one district I’ve racked up 50,000 miles and I’ve also gotten 11 parking tickets
and I’ve also gotten 11 parking tickets
and I’ve also gotten 11 parking tickets 6 miss toll tickets for speeding tickets
6 miss toll tickets for speeding tickets
6 miss toll tickets for speeding tickets and had the car towed twice still sound
and had the car towed twice still sound
and had the car towed twice still sound like the American dream now some of you
like the American dream now some of you
like the American dream now some of you guys are probably already thinking
guys are probably already thinking
guys are probably already thinking letterpress printing what is that so I’m
letterpress printing what is that so I’m
letterpress printing what is that so I’m gonna give you guys a crash course in
gonna give you guys a crash course in
gonna give you guys a crash course in letterpress printing all letterpress
letterpress printing all letterpress
letterpress printing all letterpress printing is relief printing meaning
printing is relief printing meaning
printing is relief printing meaning you’re printing the raised surface of a
you’re printing the raised surface of a
you’re printing the raised surface of a block as opposed to the recessed area
block as opposed to the recessed area
block as opposed to the recessed area it’s a lot like a stamp and I work with
it’s a lot like a stamp and I work with
it’s a lot like a stamp and I work with what’s called moveable type so on each
what’s called moveable type so on each
what’s called moveable type so on each block is an individual character like
block is an individual character like
block is an individual character like the letter A the letter B and type can
the letter A the letter B and type can
the letter A the letter B and type can be made of all kinds of different
be made of all kinds of different
be made of all kinds of different materials like wood type metal type and
materials like wood type metal type and
materials like wood type metal type and then printers also work with boarder
then printers also work with boarder
then printers also work with boarder material ornaments and what we call cuts
material ornaments and what we call cuts
material ornaments and what we call cuts and cuts your image blocks and they can
and cuts your image blocks and they can
and cuts your image blocks and they can be made of just about everything copper
be made of just about everything copper
be made of just about everything copper wood magnesium like tickle me Elvis back
wood magnesium like tickle me Elvis back
wood magnesium like tickle me Elvis back here or they can even be made by hand
here or they can even be made by hand
here or they can even be made by hand like this little bunny that’s going on
like this little bunny that’s going on
like this little bunny that’s going on an adventure now the objective of
an adventure now the objective of
an adventure now the objective of letterpress printing is to take all
letterpress printing is to take all
letterpress printing is to take all those different elements your wood type
those different elements your wood type
those different elements your wood type metal type border and ornament and pull
metal type border and ornament and pull
metal type border and ornament and pull them into a form for printing in a form
them into a form for printing in a form
them into a form for printing in a form just consists of all the printable
just consists of all the printable
just consists of all the printable elements and then all the spacing once
elements and then all the spacing once
elements and then all the spacing once you have your form you take it to a
you have your form you take it to a
you have your form you take it to a press like these antique platen presses
press like these antique platen presses
press like these antique platen presses here and if it’s a little bit bigger you
here and if it’s a little bit bigger you
here and if it’s a little bit bigger you take it to a proofing press and the
take it to a proofing press and the
take it to a proofing press and the proofing press works with poster size
proofing press works with poster size
proofing press works with poster size forms all the press does is helps
forms all the press does is helps
forms all the press does is helps facilitate inking the form and carrying
facilitate inking the form and carrying
facilitate inking the form and carrying a sheet of paper over top of it when the
a sheet of paper over top of it when the
a sheet of paper over top of it when the paper makes
paper makes
paper makes checked with the form you have a print
checked with the form you have a print
checked with the form you have a print one form at a time one print at a time
one form at a time one print at a time
one form at a time one print at a time sounds time-consuming right it is but it
sounds time-consuming right it is but it
sounds time-consuming right it is but it gets worse believe it or not you have to
gets worse believe it or not you have to
gets worse believe it or not you have to print one color at a time using one form
print one color at a time using one form
print one color at a time using one form at a time when you’re doing letterpress
at a time when you’re doing letterpress
at a time when you’re doing letterpress printing so if I’m doing a five color
printing so if I’m doing a five color
printing so if I’m doing a five color gig poster I actually have to print the
gig poster I actually have to print the
gig poster I actually have to print the yellow first and then the pink then the
yellow first and then the pink then the
yellow first and then the pink then the blue then the orange and then the black
blue then the orange and then the black
blue then the orange and then the black using separate forms for all of them you
using separate forms for all of them you
using separate forms for all of them you have to clean the press in between and
have to clean the press in between and
have to clean the press in between and usually you wait a day so if I’m doing a
usually you wait a day so if I’m doing a
usually you wait a day so if I’m doing a five color poster it might take me five
five color poster it might take me five
five color poster it might take me five days or more now what do I do with
days or more now what do I do with
days or more now what do I do with letterpress printing and make all kinds
letterpress printing and make all kinds
letterpress printing and make all kinds of artist books event posters I make a
of artist books event posters I make a
of artist books event posters I make a lot of gig posters or bands you might
lot of gig posters or bands you might
lot of gig posters or bands you might recognize some of these a lot of
recognize some of these a lot of
recognize some of these a lot of mid-level indie bands sleater-kinney of
mid-level indie bands sleater-kinney of
mid-level indie bands sleater-kinney of montreal for you punk rockers out there
montreal for you punk rockers out there
montreal for you punk rockers out there the Dead Kennedys I also make limited
the Dead Kennedys I also make limited
the Dead Kennedys I also make limited edition art prints and when I’m on the
edition art prints and when I’m on the
edition art prints and when I’m on the road I can’t bring any of this
road I can’t bring any of this
road I can’t bring any of this incredibly heavy equipment with me so no
incredibly heavy equipment with me so no
incredibly heavy equipment with me so no type no presses I work from the
type no presses I work from the
type no presses I work from the idiosyncratic collections of wood type
idiosyncratic collections of wood type
idiosyncratic collections of wood type metal type border and ornament that all
metal type border and ornament that all
metal type border and ornament that all of the shops have that way the things
of the shops have that way the things
of the shops have that way the things that I make there become an index of my
that I make there become an index of my
that I make there become an index of my time as well as an index of what they
time as well as an index of what they
time as well as an index of what they have in their collection so when I’m out
have in their collection so when I’m out
have in their collection so when I’m out there on the road just bringing paper
there on the road just bringing paper
there on the road just bringing paper and ink
and ink
and ink I do postcard sized pieces like this and
I do postcard sized pieces like this and
I do postcard sized pieces like this and poster sized pieces like this to date
poster sized pieces like this to date
poster sized pieces like this to date I’ve made over 20,000 prints on the road
I’ve made over 20,000 prints on the road
I’ve made over 20,000 prints on the road and because those prints are multiple
and because those prints are multiple
and because those prints are multiple colors like we just talked about it’s
colors like we just talked about it’s
colors like we just talked about it’s taken over 45,000 impressions or runs of
taken over 45,000 impressions or runs of
taken over 45,000 impressions or runs of the press to make it happen now this
the press to make it happen now this
the press to make it happen now this idea of a traveling printer is nothing
idea of a traveling printer is nothing
idea of a traveling printer is nothing new in fact my whole project is based on
new in fact my whole project is based on
new in fact my whole project is based on a historical notion of itinerant
a historical notion of itinerant
a historical notion of itinerant printers or tramp printers they call
printers or tramp printers they call
printers or tramp printers they call them hobo printers and the guys in the
them hobo printers and the guys in the
them hobo printers and the guys in the business just called them travelers just
business just called them travelers just
business just called them travelers just post the Civil War the 1860s they
post the Civil War the 1860s they
post the Civil War the 1860s they developed the International
developed the International
developed the International typographical Union and if you had a
typographical Union and if you had a
typographical Union and if you had a union card you could travel anywhere in
union card you could travel anywhere in
union card you could travel anywhere in America and pick up a job you could work
America and pick up a job you could work
America and pick up a job you could work in Chicago for two weeks quit move to
in Chicago for two weeks quit move to
in Chicago for two weeks quit move to Cincinnati work there for two weeks quit
Cincinnati work there for two weeks quit
Cincinnati work there for two weeks quit move on to Kansas
move on to Kansas
move on to Kansas the union was so strong that they
the union was so strong that they
the union was so strong that they actually had to post the hours that were
actually had to post the hours that were
actually had to post the hours that were to be worked and if you had a card you
to be worked and if you had a card you
to be worked and if you had a card you could show up at the union shop
could show up at the union shop
could show up at the union shop show them your card and you had a job
show them your card and you had a job
show them your card and you had a job I’ve read plenty of first-hand accounts
I’ve read plenty of first-hand accounts
I’ve read plenty of first-hand accounts of guys even picking up a job in the
of guys even picking up a job in the
of guys even picking up a job in the morning
morning
morning not liking it and at lunch leaving
not liking it and at lunch leaving
not liking it and at lunch leaving walking down the street and getting a
walking down the street and getting a
walking down the street and getting a job at another print shop now that’s a
job at another print shop now that’s a
job at another print shop now that’s a little extreme normally what they would
little extreme normally what they would
little extreme normally what they would do is just move on to the next town when
do is just move on to the next town when
do is just move on to the next town when things dried up there’s no longer an
things dried up there’s no longer an
things dried up there’s no longer an international typographical Union and
international typographical Union and
international typographical Union and when I was on my trip I couldn’t expect
when I was on my trip I couldn’t expect
when I was on my trip I couldn’t expect anyone to pay me a wage so what I do is
anyone to pay me a wage so what I do is
anyone to pay me a wage so what I do is a lot more like a mid-level touring band
a lot more like a mid-level touring band
a lot more like a mid-level touring band I had really envisioned this whole thing
I had really envisioned this whole thing
I had really envisioned this whole thing for modern times
for modern times
for modern times so I visit privately owned shops I visit
so I visit privately owned shops I visit
so I visit privately owned shops I visit what we call hobby shops that are just
what we call hobby shops that are just
what we call hobby shops that are just in people’s basements or garages I also
in people’s basements or garages I also
in people’s basements or garages I also visit community based letterpress shops
visit community based letterpress shops
visit community based letterpress shops that are usually nonprofits and I visit
that are usually nonprofits and I visit
that are usually nonprofits and I visit schools and universities that have
schools and universities that have
schools and universities that have letterpress printing programs now when I
letterpress printing programs now when I
letterpress printing programs now when I go to all those I teach workshops I give
go to all those I teach workshops I give
go to all those I teach workshops I give presentations in lectures and I’ll
presentations in lectures and I’ll
presentations in lectures and I’ll usually find the time to have some sort
usually find the time to have some sort
usually find the time to have some sort of pop-up shop or exhibition where I
of pop-up shop or exhibition where I
of pop-up shop or exhibition where I sell the prints that have been making
sell the prints that have been making
sell the prints that have been making along the way and just like a mid-level
along the way and just like a mid-level
along the way and just like a mid-level touring bands I make enough money to get
touring bands I make enough money to get
touring bands I make enough money to get from there to the next place now this
from there to the next place now this
from there to the next place now this whole trip though isn’t about just
whole trip though isn’t about just
whole trip though isn’t about just making and selling prints prior to my
making and selling prints prior to my
making and selling prints prior to my trip I had read plenty of first-hand
trip I had read plenty of first-hand
trip I had read plenty of first-hand accounts of itinerant printers from the
accounts of itinerant printers from the
accounts of itinerant printers from the 1850s all the way to the 1950s and I was
1850s all the way to the 1950s and I was
1850s all the way to the 1950s and I was fascinated with how these guys work
fascinated with how these guys work
fascinated with how these guys work their way around the country and got a
their way around the country and got a
their way around the country and got a paycheck but I was more fascinated with
paycheck but I was more fascinated with
paycheck but I was more fascinated with how they became analog conduits for
how they became analog conduits for
how they became analog conduits for information so as they traveled around
information so as they traveled around
information so as they traveled around the country they’d bring tips and tricks
the country they’d bring tips and tricks
the country they’d bring tips and tricks about printing but they’d also bring
about printing but they’d also bring
about printing but they’d also bring rumors did you hear this shop closed
rumors did you hear this shop closed
rumors did you hear this shop closed these two shops merged this guy died
these two shops merged this guy died
these two shops merged this guy died prior to radio and television that was
prior to radio and television that was
prior to radio and television that was one of the fastest ways for that
one of the fastest ways for that
one of the fastest ways for that information to travel so as the tramp
information to travel so as the tramp
information to travel so as the tramp printers came in bringing information
printers came in bringing information
printers came in bringing information about new technologies they also brought
about new technologies they also brought
about new technologies they also brought in information kind of like news they
in information kind of like news they
in information kind of like news they were like Johnny Appleseed’s of
were like Johnny Appleseed’s of
were like Johnny Appleseed’s of information now I wasn’t sure this was
information now I wasn’t sure this was
information now I wasn’t sure this was gonna be a part of my trip at all I
gonna be a part of my trip at all I
gonna be a part of my trip at all I started
started
started in January 2015 and I figured with
in January 2015 and I figured with
in January 2015 and I figured with social media in the internet all this
social media in the internet all this
social media in the internet all this information was ubiquitous especially in
information was ubiquitous especially in
information was ubiquitous especially in a small community like letterpress
a small community like letterpress
a small community like letterpress printers they’re probably only a few
printers they’re probably only a few
printers they’re probably only a few thousand of us in America and probably
thousand of us in America and probably
thousand of us in America and probably less than 10 thousand around the whole
less than 10 thousand around the whole
less than 10 thousand around the whole world so it stands to reason with that
world so it stands to reason with that
world so it stands to reason with that level of connectivity everybody knows
level of connectivity everybody knows
level of connectivity everybody knows what everybody else is up to I was
what everybody else is up to I was
what everybody else is up to I was completely wrong January 26 2015 I
completely wrong January 26 2015 I
completely wrong January 26 2015 I hopped on a plane in Buffalo and my very
hopped on a plane in Buffalo and my very
hopped on a plane in Buffalo and my very first stop Fort Lauderdale Florida not
first stop Fort Lauderdale Florida not
first stop Fort Lauderdale Florida not too bad right for January that’s all the
too bad right for January that’s all the
too bad right for January that’s all the touring bands do it too you go down
touring bands do it too you go down
touring bands do it too you go down south for the winter time you come back
south for the winter time you come back
south for the winter time you come back up for the north so I went as far
up for the north so I went as far
up for the north so I went as far southeast as I possibly could and my
southeast as I possibly could and my
southeast as I possibly could and my very first stop was at this place called
very first stop was at this place called
very first stop was at this place called is projects and is projects I wrapped up
is projects and is projects I wrapped up
is projects and is projects I wrapped up in two days and I headed right down the
in two days and I headed right down the
in two days and I headed right down the road to Boca Raton it’s only like 20
road to Boca Raton it’s only like 20
road to Boca Raton it’s only like 20 minutes away and when I got there I was
minutes away and when I got there I was
minutes away and when I got there I was like oh I was just hit is projects down
like oh I was just hit is projects down
like oh I was just hit is projects down this way and they were like what where
this way and they were like what where
this way and they were like what where and I was like wait a minute
and I was like wait a minute
and I was like wait a minute it’s Ingrid’s letterpress shop it’s
it’s Ingrid’s letterpress shop it’s
it’s Ingrid’s letterpress shop it’s right down the road from you guys and
right down the road from you guys and
right down the road from you guys and they were like we’ve never heard of it I
they were like we’ve never heard of it I
they were like we’ve never heard of it I realized that right away I was going to
realized that right away I was going to
realized that right away I was going to be that ligament or that connector
be that ligament or that connector
be that ligament or that connector between the studios and the shops just
between the studios and the shops just
between the studios and the shops just like the old tramp printers were and I
like the old tramp printers were and I
like the old tramp printers were and I also wondered whether or not bringing
also wondered whether or not bringing
also wondered whether or not bringing tips and tricks about printing was gonna
tips and tricks about printing was gonna
tips and tricks about printing was gonna be part of what I was doing I’d been
be part of what I was doing I’d been
be part of what I was doing I’d been printing for a long time and I felt like
printing for a long time and I felt like
printing for a long time and I felt like I had stuff to contribute but with the
I had stuff to contribute but with the
I had stuff to contribute but with the internet there’s tutorials I feel like
internet there’s tutorials I feel like
internet there’s tutorials I feel like all that information is accessible as I
all that information is accessible as I
all that information is accessible as I traveled around the country what I
traveled around the country what I
traveled around the country what I realized is that there’s plenty of
realized is that there’s plenty of
realized is that there’s plenty of regional differences too in how these
regional differences too in how these
regional differences too in how these people operate their print shops one of
people operate their print shops one of
people operate their print shops one of the things that I found when I was down
the things that I found when I was down
the things that I found when I was down south and it’s standard equipment and
south and it’s standard equipment and
south and it’s standard equipment and almost all the shops baby wipes it
almost all the shops baby wipes it
almost all the shops baby wipes it sounds weird right
sounds weird right
sounds weird right but there’s just enough baby oil on a
but there’s just enough baby oil on a
but there’s just enough baby oil on a baby wipe to act as solvent to clean
baby wipe to act as solvent to clean
baby wipe to act as solvent to clean oil-based ink off your hands so instead
oil-based ink off your hands so instead
oil-based ink off your hands so instead of run into the bathroom 30 or 40 times
of run into the bathroom 30 or 40 times
of run into the bathroom 30 or 40 times a day what you do is just wipe your hand
a day what you do is just wipe your hand
a day what you do is just wipe your hand off of the baby wipe and you can keep on
off of the baby wipe and you can keep on
off of the baby wipe and you can keep on printing it’s genius and I have
printing it’s genius and I have
printing it’s genius and I have absolutely no idea why I never caught on
absolutely no idea why I never caught on
absolutely no idea why I never caught on up north I had never seen it but
up north I had never seen it but
up north I had never seen it but something that we use up north all the
something that we use up north all the
something that we use up north all the time scotch tape we use it for what we
time scotch tape we use it for what we
time scotch tape we use it for what we call make ready making things ready to
call make ready making things ready to
call make ready making things ready to print
print so use it everyday all day and I’d get
so use it everyday all day and I’d get
so use it everyday all day and I’d get down south and I’d be like hey do you
down south and I’d be like hey do you
down south and I’d be like hey do you guys have scotch tape and they’d be like
guys have scotch tape and they’d be like
guys have scotch tape and they’d be like what and I’d be like clear tape you know
what and I’d be like clear tape you know
what and I’d be like clear tape you know you guys have some clear tape in here
you guys have some clear tape in here
you guys have some clear tape in here somewhere and they’d be like I feel like
somewhere and they’d be like I feel like
somewhere and they’d be like I feel like what do you guys wrap presents with
what do you guys wrap presents with
what do you guys wrap presents with that’s the tape I’m that’s the tape I’m
that’s the tape I’m that’s the tape I’m
that’s the tape I’m that’s the tape I’m looking for and I’m hoping that you have
looking for and I’m hoping that you have
looking for and I’m hoping that you have it in the shop and they’d be like oh no
it in the shop and they’d be like oh no
it in the shop and they’d be like oh no we don’t have that at all
we don’t have that at all
we don’t have that at all we have painters tape or masking tape
we have painters tape or masking tape
we have painters tape or masking tape and I’d be like well that’s not gonna do
and I’d be like well that’s not gonna do
and I’d be like well that’s not gonna do the job that’s way too thick that’s not
the job that’s way too thick that’s not
the job that’s way too thick that’s not that’s not what I need so what I started
that’s not what I need so what I started
that’s not what I need so what I started doing is everywhere down south I would
doing is everywhere down south I would
doing is everywhere down south I would buy scotch tape and I would use it while
buy scotch tape and I would use it while
buy scotch tape and I would use it while I was in the shop and then I would leave
I was in the shop and then I would leave
I was in the shop and then I would leave it behind and then when I got back up
it behind and then when I got back up
it behind and then when I got back up north I would buy baby wipes I’d use
north I would buy baby wipes I’d use
north I would buy baby wipes I’d use them I’d show them how to use them and
them I’d show them how to use them and
them I’d show them how to use them and then I would leave it behind so a little
then I would leave it behind so a little
then I would leave it behind so a little less glamorous than being the Johnny
less glamorous than being the Johnny
less glamorous than being the Johnny Appleseed of information I became the
Appleseed of information I became the
Appleseed of information I became the Johnny Appleseed of baby wipes and
Johnny Appleseed of baby wipes and
Johnny Appleseed of baby wipes and scotch tape but the idea is the same
scotch tape but the idea is the same
scotch tape but the idea is the same right being able to bring those
right being able to bring those
right being able to bring those technologies and bring those tips and
technologies and bring those tips and
technologies and bring those tips and tricks about printing now I’ve been
tricks about printing now I’ve been
tricks about printing now I’ve been talking a lot about printing but
talking a lot about printing but
talking a lot about printing but printing is done by printers and
printing is done by printers and
printing is done by printers and printers are people I thought that this
printers are people I thought that this
printers are people I thought that this trip is gonna be all about printing
trip is gonna be all about printing
trip is gonna be all about printing right out of the gate I realized that it
right out of the gate I realized that it
right out of the gate I realized that it was all about people what they had
was all about people what they had
was all about people what they had learned what I had learned how could
learned what I had learned how could
learned what I had learned how could share that information and it was also
share that information and it was also
share that information and it was also about being able to come together and
about being able to come together and
about being able to come together and navigate this new landscape of modern
navigate this new landscape of modern
navigate this new landscape of modern American craft by reviving a notion from
American craft by reviving a notion from
American craft by reviving a notion from the past and that notion is that you
the past and that notion is that you
the past and that notion is that you used to have a formal apprenticeship
used to have a formal apprenticeship
used to have a formal apprenticeship time where you would work under a master
time where you would work under a master
time where you would work under a master and then a formal journeyman time where
and then a formal journeyman time where
and then a formal journeyman time where you would go and learn other people and
you would go and learn other people and
you would go and learn other people and then eventually hopefully become a
then eventually hopefully become a
then eventually hopefully become a master of your own settle down and have
master of your own settle down and have
master of your own settle down and have an apprentice you see I’m what I
an apprentice you see I’m what I
an apprentice you see I’m what I consider part of a new generation of
consider part of a new generation of
consider part of a new generation of American craftspeople and for the most
American craftspeople and for the most
American craftspeople and for the most part we’re autodidactic are self-taught
part we’re autodidactic are self-taught
part we’re autodidactic are self-taught we don’t have the benefit of the
we don’t have the benefit of the
we don’t have the benefit of the infrastructure that the unions used to
infrastructure that the unions used to
infrastructure that the unions used to provide when you had that formal
provide when you had that formal
provide when you had that formal apprenticeship time and then the
apprenticeship time and then the
apprenticeship time and then the journeyman time and then eventually
journeyman time and then eventually
journeyman time and then eventually became a master so we’re out here
became a master so we’re out here
became a master so we’re out here floating around learning on our own and
floating around learning on our own and
floating around learning on our own and I really feel like that’s caused us to
I really feel like that’s caused us to
I really feel like that’s caused us to sort of lack this
sort of lack this
sort of lack this set that craftsman used to have I always
set that craftsman used to have I always
set that craftsman used to have I always use my friend John as an example
use my friend John as an example
use my friend John as an example John is one of these guys that started
John is one of these guys that started
John is one of these guys that started making furniture out of reclaimed wood
making furniture out of reclaimed wood
making furniture out of reclaimed wood right about the time that it got really
right about the time that it got really
right about the time that it got really trendy and really hot and he lived in
trendy and really hot and he lived in
trendy and really hot and he lived in Portland Oregon in Portland is like the
Portland Oregon in Portland is like the
Portland Oregon in Portland is like the epicenter of new American crafts this is
epicenter of new American crafts this is
epicenter of new American crafts this is the place where if you’re gonna do it
the place where if you’re gonna do it
the place where if you’re gonna do it that’s well you’re where you’ll be
that’s well you’re where you’ll be
that’s well you’re where you’ll be successful and he was his business
successful and he was his business
successful and he was his business exploded within just a couple of months
exploded within just a couple of months
exploded within just a couple of months he had more orders than he could handle
he had more orders than he could handle
he had more orders than he could handle he was on the cover of magazines there
he was on the cover of magazines there
he was on the cover of magazines there were articles being written about him
were articles being written about him
were articles being written about him and all those articles started the exact
and all those articles started the exact
and all those articles started the exact same way master woodworker John so and
same way master woodworker John so and
same way master woodworker John so and so and I was like master woodworker who
so and I was like master woodworker who
so and I was like master woodworker who he’s been doing this a couple of months
he’s been doing this a couple of months
he’s been doing this a couple of months and before this he was a Salesman
and before this he was a Salesman
and before this he was a Salesman so his stuff was of questionable quality
so his stuff was of questionable quality
so his stuff was of questionable quality and it wasn’t John’s fault but he had
and it wasn’t John’s fault but he had
and it wasn’t John’s fault but he had actually never had anyone to learn from
actually never had anyone to learn from
actually never had anyone to learn from and what it showed me in a lot of ways
and what it showed me in a lot of ways
and what it showed me in a lot of ways is that the economy that surrounds this
is that the economy that surrounds this
is that the economy that surrounds this sort of new American craftsman is one
sort of new American craftsman is one
sort of new American craftsman is one that privileges popularity of product in
that privileges popularity of product in
that privileges popularity of product in a cult of personality over quality of
a cult of personality over quality of
a cult of personality over quality of craft don’t get me wrong
craft don’t get me wrong
craft don’t get me wrong John’s charismatic and his eloquent and
John’s charismatic and his eloquent and
John’s charismatic and his eloquent and he’s easy on the eyes he’s the kind of
he’s easy on the eyes he’s the kind of
he’s easy on the eyes he’s the kind of guy that you want on the cover of your
guy that you want on the cover of your
guy that you want on the cover of your magazine but at the same time he’s not a
magazine but at the same time he’s not a
magazine but at the same time he’s not a master woodworker and he won’t be for a
master woodworker and he won’t be for a
master woodworker and he won’t be for a long time and I feel like one of the
long time and I feel like one of the
long time and I feel like one of the things that we’re lacking now that we’re
things that we’re lacking now that we’re
things that we’re lacking now that we’re lacking that infrastructure is someone
lacking that infrastructure is someone
lacking that infrastructure is someone pointing over our shoulder all the time
pointing over our shoulder all the time
pointing over our shoulder all the time saying this is how you should do it
saying this is how you should do it
saying this is how you should do it that’s what the master used to say and a
that’s what the master used to say and a
that’s what the master used to say and a lot of people would actually argue
lot of people would actually argue
lot of people would actually argue there’s a ton of creative freedom in
there’s a ton of creative freedom in
there’s a ton of creative freedom in this that if there’s no one pointing
this that if there’s no one pointing
this that if there’s no one pointing over your shoulder saying this is how
over your shoulder saying this is how
over your shoulder saying this is how you should do it then you can do it any
you should do it then you can do it any
you should do it then you can do it any way you want
way you want
way you want right total autonomy but I would
right total autonomy but I would
right total autonomy but I would actually argue that that’s the problem
actually argue that that’s the problem
actually argue that that’s the problem here the problem is that we don’t have
here the problem is that we don’t have
here the problem is that we don’t have someone pointing over our shoulder
someone pointing over our shoulder
someone pointing over our shoulder saying this is how you should do it and
saying this is how you should do it and
saying this is how you should do it and it means that you could actually spend
it means that you could actually spend
it means that you could actually spend your entire life doing it inefficiently
your entire life doing it inefficiently
your entire life doing it inefficiently ineffectively or just plain wrong now
ineffectively or just plain wrong now
ineffectively or just plain wrong now what that means and it’s been put far
what that means and it’s been put far
what that means and it’s been put far more eloquently by my friend Michael
more eloquently by my friend Michael
more eloquently by my friend Michael than me is that you need to learn the
than me is that you need to learn the
than me is that you need to learn the rules in order to break them with grace
rules in order to break them with grace
rules in order to break them with grace and I think that’s what this is about
and I think that’s what this is about
and I think that’s what this is about what I was able to do with the itinerant
what I was able to do with the itinerant
what I was able to do with the itinerant printer project is envision a system
printer project is envision a system
printer project is envision a system where I could fund my own journeyman
where I could fund my own journeyman
where I could fund my own journeyman time in my career and what I was able to
time in my career and what I was able to
time in my career and what I was able to do is go and work with other people and
do is go and work with other people and
do is go and work with other people and learn from them and when I learned those
learn from them and when I learned those
learn from them and when I learned those rules then I would be able to break them
rules then I would be able to break them
rules then I would be able to break them with grace that’s where real creativity
with grace that’s where real creativity
with grace that’s where real creativity lies that’s where real innovation lies
lies that’s where real innovation lies
lies that’s where real innovation lies and that’s what I’m advocating that’s
and that’s what I’m advocating that’s
and that’s what I’m advocating that’s what I’m encouraging people to do learn
what I’m encouraging people to do learn
what I’m encouraging people to do learn the rules of your craft learn as many as
the rules of your craft learn as many as
the rules of your craft learn as many as you can from as many people as you can
you can from as many people as you can
you can from as many people as you can proposition them to go work with them
proposition them to go work with them
proposition them to go work with them travel to be with them live with them if
travel to be with them live with them if
travel to be with them live with them if you can like I did when I was on the
you can like I did when I was on the
you can like I did when I was on the trip find a way to fund your own
trip find a way to fund your own
trip find a way to fund your own journeyman time because when you’re
journeyman time because when you’re
journeyman time because when you’re there you’ll be surprised by people’s
there you’ll be surprised by people’s
there you’ll be surprised by people’s generosity but you’ll also be surprised
generosity but you’ll also be surprised
generosity but you’ll also be surprised by something else because what you’ll
by something else because what you’ll
by something else because what you’ll learn is more than just a skillset
learn is more than just a skillset
learn is more than just a skillset it’s a context so many new American
it’s a context so many new American
it’s a context so many new American craftspeople stand astride two different
craftspeople stand astride two different
craftspeople stand astride two different worlds the worlds of Commerce in the
worlds the worlds of Commerce in the
worlds the worlds of Commerce in the worlds of craft and I can tell you that
worlds of craft and I can tell you that
worlds of craft and I can tell you that the infrastructure for one is way
the infrastructure for one is way
the infrastructure for one is way stronger than the infrastructure for the
stronger than the infrastructure for the
stronger than the infrastructure for the other which is why we have to build it
other which is why we have to build it
other which is why we have to build it back up by any means necessary I want to
back up by any means necessary I want to
back up by any means necessary I want to leave you guys with a print that I’ve
leave you guys with a print that I’ve
leave you guys with a print that I’ve made any number of times during the trip
made any number of times during the trip
made any number of times during the trip the universe is under no obligation to
the universe is under no obligation to
the universe is under no obligation to make sense to you this is a quote from
make sense to you this is a quote from
make sense to you this is a quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson and it’s completely
Neil deGrasse Tyson and it’s completely
Neil deGrasse Tyson and it’s completely true but if you take the time to go out
true but if you take the time to go out
true but if you take the time to go out into the universe and learn something
into the universe and learn something
into the universe and learn something from someone else truly learn it and
from someone else truly learn it and
from someone else truly learn it and maybe even take the time to pass it
maybe even take the time to pass it
maybe even take the time to pass it along to someone else it will make a
along to someone else it will make a
along to someone else it will make a tiny part of the universe make sense to
tiny part of the universe make sense to
tiny part of the universe make sense to you and if you’re lucky maybe just maybe
you and if you’re lucky maybe just maybe
you and if you’re lucky maybe just maybe it’ll tell you a little bit more about
it’ll tell you a little bit more about
it’ll tell you a little bit more about what you’re doing here and where you
what you’re doing here and where you
what you’re doing here and where you belong
belong
belong thank you
”
Be First to Comment