The Department of Small Works: Slowcoast: 'Conversations on the Coast'

 

I finally bought myself a copy of 'Conversations on the Coast'.
It arrived in a brown paper envelope.
Inside was a tissue paper wrapped rectangle with a hand printed logo on the front, behind it was sealed with the smallest strips of tape.
That's craftsmanship.
The book and it's presentation sum up the subject of the book and the accompanying website. 

In 2009 Nick Hand cycled the coast of England, Scotland and Wales interviewing craftspeople, artists and fellow travellers.  A year later he did the same in Ireland.

 

His website Slowcoast shares details of these rides and the results of the interviews in the form of 'soundslides'.  Each soundslide is a one or two minute photograph slideshow with accompanying edited interview. 

The subjects of the soundslides range from hat makers to weavers, bicycle mechanics and story tellers.  They all share their passion and skills for their craft, it's bound inspiration.  Great stuff.
Nick is currently working on the follow up project in which he interviewed the artisans he met whilst riding alongside the Hudson River in NY.

 

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