The Need For Crafts
By Eileen
In this world of mass production, the public at large is developing a stronger appreciation for things hand made and unique. Tired of malls filled to the brim with look-alike products, craftsmen are becoming more popular than ever.
Most of what we consider to be today began as a necessities of life. When this country was formed, you couldn’t go down to the local hardware store for nails or to the local furniture store for chairs. Only the very wealthy could afford to import goods from Europe.
Therefore people either made things themselves, like quilts or clothing, or specialized craftsmen like iron smiths set up shop to make things like horse shoes and nails.
Most of modern crafting is carrying on these traditions today. Iron smiths make furniture and decorative railings. Quilts are a art form recognized around the world and given museum shows. Glass blowers create truly unusual and unique pieces of art.
The good news for crafters is a predicted increase in demand for unique handmade items. According to Robyn Waters, founder of trend watching company, RWTrend, in an interview for the January 2005 issue of The Report, today’s world of cell phones, wireless Internet and other high tech gadgets keep people on call 24/7. She says, “Psychologists are very concerned that we’re losing our ability to focus and that it’s affecting our creativity.”
Buying and enjoying art is a way for people to escape virtual reality for a time and get back in touch with all their senses. Seeing and touching something that human hands have made satisfies the highest needs of humankind.
Abraham Maslow created the “Needs Hierarchy”. Human beings will satisfy their needs starting with the most basic and progressing up the pyramid as far as they are able.
From Body Needs to Security Needs to Social Needs to Ego Needs to Self-Actualization Needs, humankind has been evolving to its highest possible state. If the need for self-actualization can no longer be met, modern civilization runs the risk of
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