Kale Vogt
August 30, 2024
Some weeks at Lost Art are so eventful I struggle to capture it all.
“This week started off here, then I made this, then we went there…”
It’s easy to record moments from the week like a grocery list. Bullet points of people met and places went and things built.
However, nowadays I try to avoid documenting the weekly happenings so literally. I strive to find a common thread to piece everything together in a tight little bow. I’ll go ahead and give away last week’s common thread.
“And this weeks common thread is: humbled” (said in the voice of Alex Trebek).
Most recently I felt it mid-week. I was having conversation over lunch with Chris and Jögge Sundqvist in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Chris had invited me to join him and Jögge on a trip to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill during one of Jögge’s days off from teaching at Lost Art Press.
It was while listening to Chris and Jögge chat about cultural customs and stories of furniture making and whatnot when a dose of reality hit me.
I zoned out for a moment. “I’m having lunch with Chris Schwarz and Jögge Sundqvist. I’m having lunch with Chris Schwarz and Jögge Sundqvist. I’m having luNCH WITH CH- ’’
And so on.
How many people would have killed to be sitting at that table? Humbled.
There’s more. A few days prior as I was leaving work for home, I received a text from Chris.
“Don’t leave yet.”
I stepped out to see Chris and Megan walking towards me with a package. I turned off my car and waited.
On the hood of my car Chris opened the package while sharing this back story:
“I meant to have this for you the day we signed your Apprenticeship Agreement…”
He continued on to explain the history of “guild tokens” and their significance within the trade. He pulled out a brass token from the box. On it was an engraving that reads “K. Vogt Apprentice 2024.” I nearly shed a tear.
How many people would kill to have their name on this token? Humbled.
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