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MADE Journal | Artist Stories

@madejournal_

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Documenting Artists Who Still Make Things By Hand
📷 Films • Stills • Words
📍 Kotor, Montenegro (Currently)
💌 [email protected]

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✹ THE CURATOR ✹

If you’re new here, let me to introduce myself. I’m a journalist, photographer and documentary filmmaker. I spend a lot of time in artists’ studios, asking questions, taking photographs and generally trying not to get in the way.

For years, I’ve been drawn to people who make things because they care about the process. Not necessarily for recognition, money or an audience, but because they have something they want to make.

That’s really where MADE Journal came from.

I was looking for something with a little more substance; a return to the people, places and processes behind the things we admire. The artists working quietly in their studios, the craftspeople keeping old skills alive and the people making things with their hands simply because they believe it’s worth doing.

MADE is my attempt to document some of those stories.

There’ll be studio diaries, disappearing crafts, conversations with artists and plenty of things I don’t fully understand yet. Which, in my experience, is usually a good place to start.

✹ Want to see more? ✹

Join The Dispatch, my free newsletter, for studio stories, behind-the-scenes looks at what I’m working on and occasional dispatches from the road.

Link in Bio → The Dispatch

#artistsupportartists #creativecommunity #artists #contemporary MADE Journal founder Nicholas Hall, artists, art documentary, creativity, makers, handmade, craftsman taken in Sydney by @madejournal_

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13 days ago

✹ THE MISSION ✹

MADE Journal is a celebration of creativity, in all its wondrous, powerful, destructive beauty. It’s a publication for artists, makers, craftspeople and anyone who still believes there is value in making something by hand. You don’t have to be a maker yourself. You just have to be curious.

Through interviews, features and profiles of artists and makers, alongside short films, documentaries and photographic essays, MADE takes you inside the studios, workshops and creative spaces where the work happens. I started this publication because I wanted to get closer to the people, processes and places behind the things we make.

I wanted something raw and real; a reminder that creativity, craft and human connection still matter.

Because when people are given the freedom to experiment, make mistakes and explore what they’re capable of, they often learn something about themselves.

I know I have.

✹ MADE: For the Love of the Craft ✹

Join The Dispatch, my free newsletter, for studio stories, behind-the-scenes looks at what I’m working on and occasional dispatches from the road.

Link in Bio → The Dispatch

#artist #creativecommunity #contemporanyart MADE Journal artist stories mission taken in Sydney by @madejournal_

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8 days ago

I thought walking the Camino de Santiago would help me figure it all out, but the whole time, I just kept thinking I was missing something. I didn’t have that big realisation I was hoping for.

But in a lot of ways, I think that was necessary. It showed me that the journey is definitely not over, it’s only just beginning.

So, here goes.

This is MADE in, a year-long journey to recapture that feeling of exploration and creativity. Over the next 12 months, I’m heading out to meet the artists, makers and craftspeople keeping centuries-old traditions alive, who make things with their hands and minds, and who dream of a more connected world.

If you are new here, then start here.

Much love,
Nick xx

#caminodesantiago #traveldiary #travelphotography taken in Santiago De Compostela, Galicia, Espana by @madejournal_

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3 months ago

Creative Books for Artists Who Feel Stuck

Creative books for artists aren’t always about learning how to make better art.

Some of the best books for artists are really about overcoming self-doubt, finding inspiration, developing your craft and reconnecting with the reason you started making things in the first place. From The Artist’s Way and The Craftsman to Ways of Seeing and The Creative Act: A Way of Being, these eight books offer different perspectives on creativity, artistic practice and the value of making things by hand.

If you’re looking for an art book for learning, a creativity program to help you find your feet again or simply something to read when you feel creatively stuck, start here. Whether it’s the artists way book you’ve been meaning to pick up or The Creative Act: A Way of Being book by Rick Rubin, there’s something on this list worth your time.

Save this list for the next time you need a creative reset, then send it to an artist who could use a little inspiration. Follow MADE for more books for artists, stories, images and profiles from inside the artist’s studio.

#artist #artinspiration #creativecommunity #theartistsway Best Creative books for artists by @madejournal_

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a day ago

What can religious art teach us about creativity today?

For centuries, churches and cathedrals have helped artistic people find inspiration. For me, the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia, Bulgaria was a pretty apt reminder that instant gratification is not everything. Some of the greatest works of art history were built on patience and a belief in something bigger than ourselves.

From Byzantine mosaics to intricate paintings and traditional art, every detail reflects the skill of the artistic people who helped bring this extraordinary cathedral to life. In a world obsessed with virality and quick wins, places like this help us to rediscover the value of making things that last.

MADE In Episode 8 — Sofia, Bulgaria

#sofiabulgaria🇧🇬❤️ #architecture #creativecommunity #artist taken in Sofia, Bulgaria by @madejournal_

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4 days ago

Three modern artists that bring art into the physical. In this edition of Modern Artists You Should Know, we take a look at the work of illustrator, curator and part-time cult (of Create) leader Tabby Booth, whose work with wood, textured paint and wax evokes haunting images of traditional folk art.

We also highlight the work of Halifax/Kjipuktuk craftsperson Sam Shoemaker, the artist behind Draw Closer Studio and Portuguese contemporary painter Margarida Nobre, whose vibrant palettes and organic forms create a unique sense of creative spontaneity.

Discover the work, ideas and perspectives behind the artists shaping contemporary art today. Follow MADE Journal for more stories from inside the artist’s studio.

All images credit to the respective artists. #contemporaryartist #creativecommunity #artists by @madejournal_

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6 days ago

Movies about art aren’t always about artists.

Some of the best movies for artists are really about obsession, ambition, taste, failure and the uncomfortable relationship between a person and the work they make. These five films for creatives offer very different perspectives on making things; from Amadeus and Tár to Mulholland Drive, Whiplash and Birdman.

If you’re wondering what to watch when you want something more stimulating than another film you’ll forget tomorrow, start here.

Save this list for the next time you need something to watch, then send it to someone who takes their creative work a little too seriously. Follow MADE for more films, books, artists, ideas and intellectually stimulating culture worth your attention.

#WhattoWatch #MoviesForArtists #Artist #Creativecommunity #filmlists Movies about art that artists and creatives should watch taken in Sydney by @madejournal_

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7 days ago

Some of the most interesting art comes from the most boring things.

From Edward Hopper’s urban scenes to Saul Leiter’s street photography and Marcel Duchamp’s ready-mades, a number lf the most influential artists have found ways to turn everyday objects and moments into memorable scenes.

If you are struggling for creative inspiration, you don’t always need to travel further or look for something new. Sometimes, the best ideas come from slowing down and paying attention to what’s already around you.

Follow MADE for more stories from inside the artist’s studio.

#artist #creativecommunity #contemporanyart #saulleiter taken in New York City by @madejournal_

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9 days ago

“Today, everything moves very quickly, while weaving is very slow. Sometimes people see only the finished rug and do not realise the weeks or months of work behind it. But I think more people are beginning to appreciate handmade work again.” – Latifa Ait Berkhi.

I spent a few hours with Latifa and her colleagues at the Maison Culturelle du Tapis in Marrakech, watching them work, talking about their craft and getting a small glimpse into the time and patience that goes into each rug.

There was something really special about sitting alongside them and watching the process unfold. The pace is slow and it feels monotonous at times, but through it all, you can hear the craftspeople laughing and talking. It’s really heartwarming.

It was also a reminder of how much you can learn simply by spending time with people who have dedicated their lives to a craft. Thank you to Latifa and her colleagues for welcoming me in and sharing a little of their world.

Tap the link in bio to read the full story on MADE Journal 🎬

📍 Marrakech, Morocco

🧵 Maison Culturelle du Tapis

#TraditionalArtist #CreativeCommunity #Artists #morocco taken in Marrakech, Morocco by @madejournal_

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10 days ago

Three contemporary artists with three unique styles. In this edition of Modern Artists You Should Know, we take a look at the work of hand-drawn animator Margherita Premuroso, New England-based fine art painter Cate Joyce and emerging Guanajuato artist César Sánchez.

Discover the work, ideas and perspectives behind the artists shaping contemporary art today. Follow MADE Journal for more stories from inside the artist’s studio.

All images credit to the respective artists. #contemporaryartist #creativecommunity #artists taken in Sydney by @madejournal_

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13 days ago

“Sometimes when I weave, I think about my mother, and the women who came before us. I’m repeating gestures that have existed for generations, and that makes me feel very connected to them.” – Latifa Ait Berkhi.

In the heart of Marrakech’s bustling network of souks, Moroccan rug artist Latifa Ait Berkhi is weaving a rich family tapestry. The proud local craftsperson is carrying on a tradition that has been passed down through the generations, transforming wool and colour into stories of culture and identity.

I spent the afternoon alongside Latifa at the Maison Culturelle du Tapis in Marrakech, where I watched as she created these beautiful textiles by hand, in the exact same way her mother did when she was young.

There is an extraordinary privilege in being welcomed into the world of artists and craftspeople. Being able to sit beside them, ask questions and watch their masterful hands at work can completely change the way you see art and culture.

This is why craftspeople matter. What they make might seem small and at times superfluous, but objects like rugs, jewellery or clothing can often be the thread that links generations. They work as a visual history that spans many generations.

And that’s important. Traditional crafts like rug weaving and handmade textile manufacture are inherently vulnerable. When a weaver puts down their tools without a successor ready to take their place, the rich vocabulary of techniques, patterns, stories and memories can vanish along with them. But there is hope.

Tap the link in bio to read the full story with the artist on MADE Journal 🎬⁠

📍 Marrakech, Morocco
🧵 Maison Culturelle du Tapis

#Traditionalartist #Creativecommunity #Artists #morocco taken in Marrakech, Morocco by @madejournal_

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15 days ago

Three contemporary artists with three very different voices. In this edition of Modern Artists You Should Know, we take a look at the work of Sydney-based portrait painter Phil Meatchem, South African born Australian contemporary mixed media visual artist Werner Bronkhorst and London multidisciplinary painter and creative Alvaro Barrington.

Discover the work, ideas and perspectives behind the artists shaping contemporary art today.

All images credit to the respective artists. #contemporaryartist #creativecommunity #artists taken in Sydney by @madejournal_

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17 days ago