Crafting and Science

Abstract

Crafting and studying traditional craft practices interest me. From my experience of observing crafts in India, it seemed to me that crafting and the scientific method shared commonalities. The crafting process is systematic, there is an intricate play of thought and action, it is based on knowledge and experience and is an iterative process. This made me curious to know which similarities exist between crafting and science. And Vicarte was the ideal place to investigate my curiosity as I see Vicarte as confluence of science, arts and crafts in glass and ceramics.My investigation includes an interesting experiment involving the borosilicate scientific equipment making process through which I attempt to find the similarities and differences between crafting and scientific method. For me this project was a vehicle to discover some essential aspects of crafting and to understand skill, tacit knowledge and how crafts, as opposed to popular belief, involve thinking. I have come to realize that understanding crafts and the commonalities between crafting and the scientific method of investigation, is a study for a lifetime and there is a great deal to discover before I can begin to understand the nature of crafting this document is a compilation of my learnings until now of essential aspects and the vocabulary used in crafting.