The Bear, the Burrito & the Chronic Disease

This is definitely not the way to learn chairmaking in our shop.

I would sooner fight a bear than get into a conversation about the difference between craft and art. Honestly, it’s one of the dumbest topics. Right up there with: Could God make a burrito so hot, not even she could eat it?

But the difference between craft and labor? That is the whole point of this apprenticeship with Kale.

The topic came up because the owner of one of our favorite local pizza restaurants is trying to explain craft to his employees, and we got into a little conversation about it last week.

Here’s how I explained craft. You might have a different way to think of it. And if you want to debate me, I’m just going to send you to talk to the pissed-off bear in the first paragraph.

Craft is deep knowledge. Not the stuff in books, but the stuff that guides your hands and your gut. Craft has three important components to me: It’s a gift, a responsibility and a debt.

The gift: You are given, for free, everything you need to know about the craft by others.

The responsibility: You must practice it, continue to grow and become the best you can.

The debt: You must give your knowledge away freely and attempt to replace yourself in the craft.