Santa’s Elves Are Local Artisans
Posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009
Black Friday, two for one, free shipping — it’s all about buying these days and will be till Dec 24th and 7/8ths. On your way to the next shopping spree, take a second and look at your list to see if you can buy something made locally. Over the past few years I’ve been photographing local artisans here in New Hampshire, and it’s been an eye-opening project. With a little effort I can purchase baskets, coffee mugs, rugs, shoes, honey, jam, jelly, glass platters, vases, sculptures, and a great many other interesting objects. The best part of shopping for this stuff is that you most likely can go hang out with the artist or craftsperson in their studio maybe even while they’re making whatever it is you’re going to buy.
Sure, that #1 Dad coffee mug from a big box store is a special gift, but imagine getting a mug made by hand and fired right in town; now that’s worth giving to someone. There are tons of other reasons to buy locally, avoid the middle man (I hate that guy). You also avoid all the waste that’s involved in packing and shipping 400,000 mugs from some smog-choked city in China across the ocean to your town. Not to mention, the paint used in China might just contain something that nobody wants in their morning cup of joe.
Not only will you be helping your local economy but our nation’s economy as well, because 98 percent of the firms in the United States are smaller than 15 people. So instead of massive bailouts to banks and car companies, let’s jump-start our economy and spend a few dollars purchasing local arts, crafts and products made around the corner instead of around the globe.
Joe Klementovich is an Inspired Mountain Ambassador and photographer who lives in North Conway, N.H. Check out KlementovichPhoto.com to see more of his work.
