Punk at its heart is a blood-n-spit forged radical commitment to integrity. It’s a full-force head-butt to a mass-produced culture that degrades our humanity and a caste system sewn in niceties, innuendoes, and euphemism.
It’s not nice and it’s certainly not subtle. But true? Aye – it’s that. Always that.
— Stew Napalm, aka Stuart Daedalus
How was Handworks? Well – other than Narayan Nayar wussing out on a crowd-surfing opportunity – it was pure punk.
And for those of you who don’t know me – that’s about as high praise as I get. If I rotated on an axis, its poles would be Punk and Zen.
Handworks was chest-thumping, adrenaline-pumping Peace with a capital P.
Was it good for business? Probably. But – and you’ll have to trust me on this one – that’s not why I went, or why it was worth every second. I went because it was a chance to be immersed in craftsmanship with some of the most talented people I know.
And to me, the real value of this sort of event is not what I learn there, what I buy there, or what I sell there. The real value for me is what I bring home with me. Pure, unbridled enthusiasm. I came home from handworks exhausted, spent, and positively on fire with the urge to make mind-blowing stuff, to get better at it and to see if I can impress myself. I got home and couldn’t wait to dive into my shop and create something.
Radical dharma in a bottle. As a verb. Present tense.
Thanks to Jameel, Fr. John, and (because no one ever does anything alone in their family – or in this world) the entire Abraham clan. Now get to work on 2015.
Ben says
First time I’ve ever seen Frank Black referenced in a ww’ing blog. Or in any blog for that matter. Nice. And glad you had such a good time–wish I could’ve been there.
Narayan says
Ha! I guess Ansel don’t surf.
Was good to see you, Raney, and even better that we got to close out New Bohemia over a goulash sampler.
raney says
Nothing punker than after-hours goulash in Cedar Rapids.
Ben – Gold star. I wasn’t thinking anyone would catch that one. Those Catholics albums are in danger of fading into the ether… Nice.
Kent says
I’m guessing from this post that you were the one wearing the Joy Division t-shirt in a photo of Handworks over on the Benchcrafted Blog?
If so you’d love this 3d printed version of it:
http://design-milk.com/3d-printed-version-of-joy-divisions-unknown-pleasures-cover/
raney says
Kent – that is awesome. Thank you. Spent 30 min i don’t really have in a rabbit hole from that link, but loved every minute…
thekiltedwoodworker says
Raney,
Was good to put a face and voice to the words you write.
Pleasure meeting you and, hopefully, working with you in the future.
Cheers,
Ethan
raney says
@thekiltedwoodworker
Ethan – good to meet you too… now shouldn’t you be writing?