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Woodworking being done in a workshop

Shoes are repaired by a skilled shoemaker, here he evaluates a pair of shoes with a customer watching

A craft is a profession that requires some particular kind of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly as pertinent to the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small-scale production of goods. The traditional terms craftsman and craftswoman are nowadays often replaced by artisan and rarely by craftsperson (craftspeople).

Development from the past until today[link]

Historically, craftsmen tended to concentrate in urban centers and formed guilds. The skill required by their professions and the need to be permanently involved in the exchange of goods also demanded a generally higher level of education, and craftsmen were usually in a more privileged position than the peasantry in societal hierarchy. The households of craftsmen were not as self-sufficient as those of people engaged in agricultural work and therefore had to rely on the exchange of goods.

Once an apprentice of a craft had finished his apprenticeship, he would become a journeyman searching for a place to set up his own shop and make a living. After he set up his own shop, he could then call himself a master of his craft.

This system of a stepwise approach to mastery of a craft, which includes the obtainment of a certain amount of education and the learning of skills, has survived in some countries of the world until today. But crafts have undergone deep structural changes during and since the era of the Industrial Revolution. The mass production of goods by large-scale industry has limited crafts to market segments in which industry's modes of functioning or its mass-produced goods would not or cannot satisfy the preferences of potential buyers. Moreover, as an outcome of these changes, craftspeople today increasingly make use of semi-finished components or materials and adapt these to their customers' requirements or demands and, if necessary, to the environments of their customers. They thus participate in a certain division of labour between industry and craft.

Classification[link]

In English, to describe something as a craft is to describe it as lying somewhere between an art (which relies on talent and technique) and a science (which relies on knowledge). In this sense, the English word craft is roughly equivalent to the ancient Greek term techne. Folk art follows craft traditions, in contrast to fine art or "high art".

Street handicraft: here a skilled metalsmith in Agra, India sits between scooters in a commercial area making careful observations in the practice of his trade

Handicraft[link]

Handicraft is the "traditional" main sector of the crafts, it is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. Usually the term is applied to traditional means of making goods. The individual artisanship of the items is a paramount criterion, such items often have cultural and/or religious significance. Items made by mass production or machines are not handicraft goods.

The Arts and Crafts Movement[link]

A product of handicraft: a relief of a simple house façade made as a decorative item

The term crafts is often used to describe the family of artistic practices within the family decorative arts that traditionally are defined by their relationship to functional or utilitarian products (such as sculptural forms in the vessel tradition) or by their use of such natural media as wood, clay, ceramics, glass, textiles, and metal.

The Market Inclusion Movement for Indigenous Crafts[link]

The term Market Inclusion of Indigenous Craft Producers is often used to describe the family of artistic practices within the family and dont have a main stream market. Craft Mandi is the first direct market inclusion initiative by an organization Mansha Global. This initiative covers nearly Two million indigenous Artisans. to see some craft range - visit at www.craftmandi.com

Studio crafts[link]

Crafts practiced by independent artists working alone or in small groups are often referred to as studio craft. Studio craft includes studio pottery, metal work, weaving, wood turning, paper and other forms of wood working, glass blowing, and glass art.

Craft fairs[link]

A craft fair is an organized event to display crafts by a number of exhibitors. There are craft shops where such goods are sold and craft communities, such as Craftster, where expertise is shared.

Tradesman[link]

A tradesman is a skilled manual worker in a particular trade or craft. Economically and socially, a tradesman's status is considered between a laborer and a professional, with a high degree of both practical and theoretical knowledge of their trade. In cultures where professional careers are highly prized there can be a shortage of skilled manual workers, leading to lucrative niche markets in the trades.

See also[link]

Look up craft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Apprentice Craft Mandi Apprenticeship Artisan Arts and crafts Arts and Crafts Movement Decorative art Guild Journeyman Master craftsman Otium Profession Semiprofession Vocation

Communities[link] Craft Mandi.com Chamber of Commerce General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York American Craft Council

External links[link]

• Craft Market Inclusion
• Crafters Community
• American Craft Council
• Website of German craft chambers
• The Guild of Master Craftsmen
• The Woodworkers Institute
• Business models for DIY Craft
• Craft Interactive Agency
• Craft Fairs and Crafters in the UK
• Goring Craft Fair

Robert William Maddison
Robbie Maddison at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Challenge
Born	(1981-07-14) 14 July 1981 (age 30)
Nationality	Australian
Other names	Robbie Maddison, Maddo
Occupation	Motorbike rider
Known for	World record length motorcycle jump
Website
http://www.robbiemaddison.com

Robert William Maddison, commonly known as Robbie Maddison and "Maddo" (born 14 July 1981) in Caringbah, Australia is an Australian motorbike stunt rider from the town of Kiama, New South Wales.

Growing up in Kiama Downs he developed his passion for riding by competing in national motocross events.

He finished school at Kiama High and took up an electrician apprenticeship, after getting viral meningitis and viral encephalitis, which left him paralyzed and blind in one eye. After recovering for numerous years with this virus he returned to the bike riding to further follow his passion.

In May 2005, the Crusty Demons gave Robbie the opportunity to break two world records on his motorbike. 125cc distance Guinness world record- 221feet 250cc distance world record with a trick- 246 feet (75 m) superman seat grab.

After this he went on to win numerous international FMX events around the world and get recognized as one of the best FMX riders in the world.

On 31 December 2007, (on the 40th anniversary of Evel Knievel jumping the fountains at Caesars Palace), Live on ESPN, Maddison broke the world motorcycle jumping record,^[1] traveling 98.34m on a motorbike. He repeated the event immediately afterward, successfully landing the jump, as his fiancee Amy looked on. His second attempt, however, did not go as far as the first jump; he was not injured in either jump.

On 29 March 2008, he broke his own world record twice during the Crusty Demons Night Of World Records show in Melbourne, Australia. During his first jump he traveled 316 feet (96.32 m) and landed on the safety zone nearly hitting the front of the landing ramp. On his second attempt he broke the world record by traveling 342 feet 7 inches (104.42 m) this time he landed hard on his back tire and was not satisfied by the jump, so he decided to jump once more. On his third jump he again broke the world record, this time with 106.98m (350.98 feet) into a perfect landing.

On 1 January 2009, Live on ESPN in front of the world, Maddison successfully jumped 96 feet (29 m) up onto a replica of the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas and then descended a 80-foot (24 m) drop off the monument to return safely to ground level. Robbie said after the jump that he may have broken his hand and had a gash to the bone in the webbing of his left hand.

On 30 May 2009, Maddison proved himself more than just a stuntman by defeating some of the world's best freestyle riders at the Calgary, AB Canada stop of the Red Bull X-Fighters competition. His victory in the Head-to-Head competition meant he had to progress through three rounds, defeating multiple X Games medallist Nate Adams (USA) in the first, defending series champion Mat Rebeaud (SUI) in the semi-final round and then 30 year old series veteran Eigo Sato (JPN) in the final.

On 13 July 2009, Maddison jumped Tower Bridge with a backflip, whilst the drawbridge was open by 25 feet.^[2]

The following weekend Maddison went onto the Red Bull xfighters championship in Madrid, winning the best trick contest with a brand new trick. Under flip one hander to side saddle lander.

In March 2010, Robbie Maddison become the first person to jump the start gantry at the Formula One in melbourne, Australia.

On 7 April 2010, the daredevil performed an amazing moto-x jump over the Corinth Canal in Greece.^[3] That made him the first fmx rider who accomplished to cross over the canal on his motorbike. He took off with a speed of 120 km/h and jumped over more than 80m. About the heroic deed Maddison said: "Jumping across the Corinth Canal became a challenge I just could not resist. This Jump involved the highest consequences I have faced so far. I believe that sometimes you have to take risks in life to become wiser and facing a challenge like this will help get me ready for the next aim I will face in the future. I am thrilled about managing to pull it off, as you know there is only one opportunity to get it right!"

On 31 December 2011 Maddison attempted to jump 400 feet across San Diego Bay as part of Red Bull New Year No Limits, in a tandem jump with American snowmobile racer Levi LaVallee. Maddison landed shy of the 400 feet goal, landing 378 ft, 9 inches.

Sponsors[link]

Swatch, Dragon Alliance, Dunlop Sport, Red Bull, DC Shoe Company Thor, KMC, Yamaha, Parts Unlimited, Crusty.com, Stomp grip, Cernics, FMF Racing, VP racing fuels, Amerigas, Acerbis, Works Connection, Hammerhead, Pro Taper,

References[link]

External links[link]

• Robbie Maddison's Official Site