It's All About the Craft

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Last Sunday, while my boyfriend’s parents visited Washington for the weekend, I had the pleasure of spending the day with them while he was at work.  We met for morning coffee in the hustle of Dupont Circle, and headed out towards the Smithsonian American Art Museum with the intention of viewing the WPA exhibit, featuring many artists who, though talented and part of this significant cultural movement, never received worldwide recognition.  Along the way, we ended up finding so, so, so many other fascinating alleyways to get lost in -- we stayed in this museum for several hours and I probably could have stayed longer. I discovered a new artist - new to me, anyway - William T. Wiley. His work is exquisitely detailed and political, philosophical, and he makes great use of wordplay, and is just all around wow. After lingering for most of the afternoon, we realized that time was limited, and we headed toward the Textile Museum on the other side of town.

At the Textile Museum, I got an interesting lesson in ikat, an Indonesian warp- or weft-resist dying process, or a fabric made using this process. There were many fine examples of ikat here, all in the Recent Aquisitions collection.  Walking through this tiny museum, it occurred to me that so much of what happens in the creation of fine textiles such as these is taken for granted. With the industrialization and mass-production of any sort of clothing or fabric we could ever need, we no longer appreciate the intricacies that once distinguished fine pieces of material from the common, utilitarian pieces. The Museum has some very beautiful selections on display right now, and an upcoming exhibit on Japanese Fashion that looks like it’s going to be very cool.


Later that evening, we all went to dinner at Equinox, here in DC, and where we also happen to know the Sous Chef, Phil Blane. Dinner was amazing. Phil, an old friend of my boyfriend, came out to chat with us and brought some special creations for us to try. Our meal was delectable, and the company couldn't have been better. Knowing that I love all things beer, Phil said that there was a particular dessert that I had to try. My arm can be twisted when it comes to dessert, after all…


He was right on the money. The dessert was amazing.  And once again that day, I was reminded how it’s all about the craft.


The artists who were part of the Works Progress Administration, a government funded arts program back in 1934, were able to create emotive works of art and sustain themselves in a time of extreme widespread depression. Despite the miserable state of the economy, their craft survived.

Then, there’s the textile craft. Pieces of ikat, handcrafted in a way where the artist can visualize where each small thread will become a piece of the larger body of fabric, so detailed and intricate. Tiny knots here and weaves there, all culminating in one beautiful piece of clothing or rug.

And the food. Every dish had ingredients that worked in concert with the others. An amuse bouche of warm leek soup and tiny hot fritters. Pan seared scallops with lentil ragout. Muscovy duck with Indian rice and champagne grape gastrique. My favorite kind of artistry.

My dessert was a brown butter ice cream sandwich with a stout foam.  The intersection between beer and food seems to be gaining more and more appreciation with every passing day, and I couldn’t be more pleased. (Not to mention, this dessert was absolutely mouth-watering delicious.)


People in all parts of our country are becoming more aware of the craft involved in brewing. More craft beers are readily available in grocery stores, neighborhood pubs, and microbreweries and small regional brewers are now found in every state in the Union. Long gone are the days when your beer choices were limited to Miller, Budweiser, and whatever other tasteless fizzy drink was mass produced in the middle of the country.


So thank you, craftsmen and craftswomen of the world.  You insert a personal touch and bring beauty to the things that we otherwise take for granted in the humdrum paths of our everyday lives.  Carpenters, bike tinkerers, musicians, chefs, sidewalk performers, opera singers, bartenders, farmers, brewers, and so many more.  Your art and your dedication is inspirational. And I will be very happy to admire your paintings, listen to your music, admire your handiwork, and yes, eat and drink your delicious food and beers. Craft on.