restoration versus crafts

Recently I saw an interesting reportage about the ASTRA Muzeum in Sibiu
TVR Cultural-academia-romana-prezentul-continuu
An impressive story about a successful project between Romania - Islanda, Lichtenstein and Norway.

In Sibiu it was created the biggest center of restoration and conservation of traditional objects in South-Eastern Europe.
With modern materials and techniques gifted people bring to life old ceramics or wooden items, textiles or religious icons and also complete houses.

It is a way of revealing our roots and finding our cultural identity.
It is a great step.

And I would go further and I would say
our culture should continue not only through restoring the remains,
we should still produce culture, authentic and characteristic.

And culture is not only about the books read and the operas seen
is also about a style of living,
it is also about our capacity of realizing beautiful objects and beautiful facts.

Before restoring a wooden tool I would show a child how he can build it and use it.
Who knows when he comes up with an improving idea.
And this will means evolution - but a healthy one, based on real knowledge and need.


So if you show to your sister/nephew/grandchild how to knit, or how to carve in wood, how to graft a tree or how to tolerate a bee, or even how to grow a tomato plant - (s)he will be richer with one good experience