Hands-On Projects
Making things and fixing things.
Classic Truck Revival
Decades ago things were made differently. Slower processes allowed for more time to think about aesthetic choices. Raymond Loewy was pushing automotive design in new directions and the big three were taking notice. Material limitations meant that nearly every part of a product was built with a sense of permanence. This early 60's Ford F100 spent its first life as a real, working farm truck. Today, it's on a long path back to useful life, but with a few additions like seat belts and brakes that actually work.
Aesthetics and Utility
I've been making beer for years now. I find it's fantastic lens for cultural exploration, and the process itself is a fun combination of art and science. It's also a fun excuse to tinker with processes and equipment. When we moved and the goal was for beer to no longer be relegated to a closet, so I needed to find a way to make it fit the aesthetics of the new house. The veneer is paldao, a sustainably harvested hardwood from the tropics of Southeast Asia. Next up, I'm growing my collection of tap handles turned from wood species found in my neighborhood as I make progress on the wood lathe.
Homebrewing
Beginning in the 1970's, American homebrewers have brought the craft of beermaking back from pale, cheap ubiquity to high art. Following those pioneers and their more ancient forebears has been a fun and rewarding journey. Homebrewing is an opportunity to learn how different cultures, their climates, geography, and geology shaped their beer culture and has been a rewarding intellectual exercise.