National Innovation Centre for Ageing: Skills in Us
Fishing; lace-making; metalwork: these are not skills always considered vital or relevant in the digital age of today. Yet the preservation of these skills, and the transferring of them between generations, will always carry an importance.
We were commissioned by the National Innovation Centre Ageing to create five documentaries, telling the stories of people who have spent their lives honing these skills.
Blacksmith
‘My grandfather was taught as a blacksmith and he taught my father, and my father taught me and now I’m teaching my daughter.’
Stephen’s workshop is an incredible treasure trove of sculpture, installation and raw material, waiting to be converted into something intricate and beautiful. We documented him and his daughter, Ashlee, at work to create a snapshot of their lives as blacksmiths.
Fishing
‘We still get excited when we catch a fish. And that’s like 50 years.’
Fishing is seemingly not just about a line and bait. In Sunderland, a community of men who fish rely on each other for socialising, support and pure fun. We spent a day documenting the group and learning of the benefits of this hobby.
Textiles
‘These things should be part of our upbringing and also part of our culture.’
Louise’s studio in Lime Street, Ouseburn, is awash with patchwork, embroidery, and proggymatting – a tradition, she tells us, local to Newcastle. We documented Louise practicing her craft and interviewed her in the space.
