Lore Americana quietly documents artisans and disappearing trades as they actually work—preserving skill, place, and lived knowledge. The project focuses on observation rather than instruction, allowing work to unfold without staging, narration, or performance.
How the Work is Approached
Filming begins with arrival. Tools, spaces, light, and sound are allowed to settle before recording begins. There is no music over active work, no reenactment, and no direction given once work is underway.
Words are invited but not required. When they appear, they reflect memory, repetition, and meaning rather than explanation.
Field Notes
Field Notes are written observations recorded alongside the work. They reflect conditions in the field—sound, pace, light, and repetition—and are added only when something warrants being written down.
Nominate an Artisan
Lore Americana accepts occasional nominations from individuals who wish to recommend an artisan or trade practitioner. Nominations are reviewed slowly and without obligation, and not all submissions result in filming.
Lore Americana operates as an archive-in-progress.