Great design in architecture on a grand scale must be difficult to pull off!  Just imagine for a second planning a building that will house 600 units within an urban site that can barely take deliveries as well as connected to two designated historic properties.  This is the Massey Tower that was recently completed by Gary Switzer and his team at MOD Developments. Its Seamless, modern design that lights up an already cluttered condo skyline all within a zig zag footprint that was seen as too...

What is Stereotomy or L’Art du Trait?  it can be defined as the art and science of cutting three-dimensional solids into particular shapes.  It starts off as a drawing, moves on to a conceptual model to work out all the detail and then the carpenter or mason scales it up to the real structure.  Sounds easy?  Not so   You have likely seen examples of this while scrolling through pictures that make you wonder how did stone or wood bend or stretch into those sensual and intricate shapes.  Its...

Tommy Smythe began his career as an interior Designer and is a Designer.  His firm TOM is a creative partnership with Lindsay Mens Craig and Kate Stuart.  I say that first as Tommy identifies with design before TV and is capable at both.  We witnessed this with his on-air partnership with Sarah Richardson as they carved a niche on their show and laughed along the way.  I think that might be the biggest takeaway from this era of television.  Things were not perfect and the ability to poke fun...

Hand Made Metal Spinning –    Metal spinning is considered to be one of the oldest methods of forming sheet metal.  This craft has its roots in ancient China where huge bells were made and other functional objects like cups and bowls.  Today, it is associated with custom or difficult pieces and an economic alternative to the mass production version that is metal stamping.  Automation and AI or high-volume technology will not make its way into this craft either.  The metal spinning process is...

Sandra Dunn A graduate from University of Waterloo, Sandra  established a full-time blacksmithing practice in 1993. Seven years later she founded Two Smiths, a design and prototyping studio that develops and builds sculptures, functional objects and architectural features in forged steel, hammered copper and bronze for both private and public spaces.   Sandra has lectured, taught and worked on projects across Canada, and internationally in Belgium, France, Australia and the United...

 Jim Patterson from Somerset, England has been making paper for over 50 years.  What’s more impressive is Jim has no intention of slowing down.  During the conversation you will hear the old pitt mill creak and moan as it churns power through a set of...

Alexandre Hupe of the Eastern Townships, just South of Montreal, was trained as a glass blower and is a glass artist and builder.  He found that the repetitive nature of production glass blowing  was grueling and decided it wasn’t for him.  Alex is a...

Jessica Steinhauser was in her early twenties and had a decision to make a tough decision… either stay in Germany and go to a prestigious Ceramics school or follow her inner guide and move to Canada to explore ceramics on her own terms.  And after 30...

Not many businesses can say they date back to 1912.  Sandkuhl Clayworks, out of Ohio, is a family business that has adapted over the decades and thankfully hasn’t had to use the word pivot in any way to describe their last year during these trying...

Its March 9th, 2021 and It's been just over a year now where this lockdown has forced many to be sidelined from the job they love.  Pivoting for some has come easy, but for others who rely on a packed concert venue or live theatre, it’s been well bad,...

The conservation of cultural objects is a complex.  It’s specialist area that requires a deep understanding of science and humanities, as well as craft and practice-based project management.  To work in this field, we have to continually learn from the...

The Door store in Toronto’s West end has maintained its unique presence over the years by creating a magical niche within an industry that cherishes its contents.  The Door store is part museum, architectural library, antique shop and vintage market. ...

Many of Canada’s Cultural landmarks are rooted in time and stories of those families and communities from centuries ago help serve as a reminder that with skills and knowledge there comes a responsibility.  During the 1800’s it was clear that they...

Welcome to The Art of Craft Podcast... Here is the Intro or Trailer.Enjoy

"This too shall pass," and we will be over this pandemic soon (I hope).  Covid has shown us that the people we interact with at work are meaningful and the relationships developed outside of home are worth nurturing. Over that years, I have had many...

Alex Fida from Prince Edward County and his sister Melanie grew up in Bloomfield - 10 minutes away from Picton.  Their deep connection to this area is seen in the way they care for the old and quirky buildings that Alex and his partner play a key role...

Miranda Fabricius is a mother of 3 girls under six and is incredibly busy as she juggles her time as mom and heritage restorer.  I get the impression from speaking with her she is able to handle this and functions well under stress.   Miranda’s version...

Excited to have Nicholas Thompson on the show...Trained in the European atelier tradition, Nicholas is a sculptor in stone and bronze who uses a traditional figurative idiom paired with a contemporary way of seeing. After completing his training at City...

A little bit about Eve and here work… Eve has been working in the industry since 1978 and has owned her business for 36 years. She is an Accredited Conservator Restorer, and holds an MA in conservation from the Architectural Association in London,...

On this Episode I speak with Leigh bamford.  Leigh is very skilled at stonework and also works in conservation masonry.  Leigh lives and works out of Toronto, Canada and has been honing her skills for over 25 years.  Leigh speaks about the art of her...

Excited to have Daniel Blenich on as the first guest of the show.  His family has a great story that is worth the listen.  Daniel grew up with his grandfather and father at work and is well immersed in the family business.  A and D woodturning is out of...

The Art of CraftFirst Episode hot off the tape reel!  Honoured to have Daniel Blenich as the first guest.  Daniel is a 3rd Generation Woodturner with a unique advantage of being immersed in the craft since he was a boy.  He not only gives you a glimpse...

An awesome show showcasing the Artist behind the Art and or Craft. Worth a listen!