CRAFTSMAN'S LEGACY, A


#101 "The Woodworker"
Host Eric Gorges visits John Wilson, a writer, a teacher and a woodworker, at his home shop and learns how to make a shoulder plane. Eric learns the history of shop-made tools, how to home temper tool-steel and the importance of salt in the woodshop.

#102 "The Glassblower"
Host Eric Gorges visits a friend, April Wagner, a glassblower working in abstract art. Eric and April discuss the connection between making a sacrifice when starting up a business and the give-and-take that successful craft people must make and the rewards that eventually come. Eric learns how hot a glass studio can get and how to make a glass cup.

#103 "The Guitar Maker"
Brian Galloup builds guitars and runs a school to teach others the craft of guitar making. Host Eric Gorges visits the school and learns what it takes to build a guitar from scratch. They discuss the tonal properties of wood, steam bending and key steps of guitar building.

#104 "The Stone Carver"
Host Eric Gorges visits with Walter Arnold, an accomplished stone carver. Eric learns what it takes to carve limestone and marble. He also hears about the history of stone carving and early days of Walter’s apprenticeship in Italy, including kicking around the same quarry where Michelangelo shopped for his marble.

#105 "The Goldsmith"
Host Eric Gorges visits goldsmith Susan McDonough, who works in a small studio on her family’s farm in the mountains. Eric makes a silver ring using a 3,000-year-old technique. The conversation turns to the paths that craftspeople take in their journey. Susan describes working in kitchens and bakeries, as a school bus driver, EMT, firefighter and librarian, on her long journey to becoming a goldsmith.

#106 "The Potter"
Host Eric Gorges visits potter and musician Akira Satake, who discovered his love of pottery later in life. Eric makes a ceramic teapot. Eric and Akira discuss the serendipity that leads craftsmen to their craft. Akira started his career as an accomplished photographer in Japan, then found another successful career in New York as a recording studio owner and a session banjo player before finding his true passion in pottery.

#107 "The Saddle Maker"
Charon and Tom Caldwell changed the horse saddle industry. Host Eric Gorges visits the Caldwell ranch in Georgia and learns about making saddles. Charon and Tom Caldwell embody the craftsperson who knows when it’s time to strike out on their own. After years of successfully working for a top saddle maker, they charted their own paths and created a revolution in the way saddles are fitted to the horse.

#108 "The Gun Maker"
Mike Brooks builds long rifles based on designs over 100 years old. Host Eric Gorges discovers the history of a long rifle and along the way learns that the old ways of the gunsmith are alive and well.

#109 "The Blacksmith"
Host Eric Gorges visits with Lorelei Sims, a talented blacksmith working in a mostly male-dominated trade and learns how to make a dagger. Their conversation reveals the blacksmith's way of life — communal, family-oriented and often, an extension of home life.

#110 "The Blade Maker"
Knife-maker Tim Zowada's creations start from sand collected from Lake Michigan. Host Eric Gorges visits with Tim and makes a knife.  

#111 "The Book Maker"
Chad Pastonik makes fine art books. Host Eric Gorges visits Chad's studio to learn about 400-year-old printing and binding techniques.

#112 "The Boat Maker"
John Yothers builds beautiful and very functional wooden boats. Host Eric Gorges learns the proper way to blueprint a boat and also what goes into building a boat from scratch.

#113 "The Basket Weaver"
Host Eric Gorges visits with Ron Paquin, a Native American who teaches others the fine craft of bark basket weaving. Eric and Ron both build baskets together.