The Fall Fair that I curated took place on Sunday. It was not as Fall-en as I’d hoped, more like just barely tetering toward cooler at 101 degrees. I wore soft green in an attempt to chivvy the season along. It did not work. Never mind the heat though, even that could not distract from the real stars of the show. To think that all of those people made all of those beautiful and inventive things– that every thing about them was chosen and considered…that’s why I’m always happy to gather handmade things for showcasing.
I’ve been thinking about why I love hand-making things so much. I think that for me, I love investing my time in things that will outlast me. Things that only I could make, in this moment, with the resources I have available. Hand-making things is like capturing and bottling those slippery transcendents of identity and inspiration and ephemerality.
I like to think of the things that will be left hanging around after I am dead. In the future, someone might teleport into someone else’s house and see a papercut I made on the wall and look at it and like it. And I will be bones. And it came from now and went all the way to then.
You can’t say that about a bloody admin job. (I have issues with administrative jobs. My very own unresolved issues; I mean no offense to people who have pursued this career path.)
Hannah Stoney is a British artist and writer.
Hannah, It was a fabulous Fair and that is exactly why I like making things too! Knowing I could be creating a piece of stationery that will one day reunite two people, or let someone express how much they truly love another… it’s humbling and yes, these tangible hand crafted from the sweat of our brow items will outlast us, and us, in them.
much love and thank you for all of your hard work! you’re incredible, Hannah!
carli