Artisan An artisan External ID LAPONTE_PR_09 Place The town or city Soto de Rey, Ribera de Arriba, Asturias, Spain Area Relation native Area Reason Miguel is a native of Soto de Rey, a village in the municipality of Ribera de Arriba in Asturias. This area (Soto de Rey) has allowed him to be in contact with various natural areas, including the forests where he obtains the wood he uses for his work. Likewise, this village is home to the Ixuxu association, to which he has belonged for three years and which has enabled him to train in woodworking. Occupation woodwork Involvment part-time paid job Biographical Text Miguel Prieto Conde is a 21-year-old who is dedicated to traditional wood carving. He was born and raised in Soto de Rey, a rural Asturian village, which has allowed him to explore the natural areas and forests where he sources his wood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miguel began experimenting with wood carving on his own. His grandfather taught him and left him some tools with which he began his journey to learn the craft of woodworking. Over time, Miguel met and joined Ixuxu, a cultural and environmental association where he has continued his learning under the guidance of professionals. He is currently looking for ways to become a professional carpenter and get involved in projects and the production of larger pieces, such as wooden beams for construction. In the future, he wants to devote himself entirely to woodworking and believes it is important for more young people to get involved in the world of craftsmanship in order to keep the traditions and identity of Asturias alive. Email The email address of the museum. miguelprietoconde@gmail.com Phone The phone number 34 / 634 85 97 59 Social Media The social media links. instagram,https://www.instagram.com/tayu.artesania; knowledge1 Working with wood requires a variety of skills, not only technical knowledge but also knowledge of the forest. According to Miguel, artisans who work with wood must have a deep understanding of the forest and its needs: the times of year when wood can be obtained, which trees need pruning, which branches can be cut without damaging or causing disease in the tree, etc. Carpenters can be agents that help the forest, since they cut overgrown branches that could bring down the entire tree (as with chestnut trees, which need to be pruned). Fallen wood is also collected, and the forest is cleared of debris that can cause fires in the summer. Miguel mentions that it is also necessary to have a lot of patience and dedication, as it is difficult to navigate the forest, find wood, cut/process it, and transport it to the workshop. Once in the workshop, it must also be dried, cleaned, checked for cracks, fungi, or insects, cut, sanded, etc. All these tasks are done by hand and take a lot of time. It is important to note that in the production of wooden crafts, it is not only the time spent carving the piece and applying the final finishes that counts, but also the time and work involved in going to the forest to obtain the raw material. Knowledge Acquisition Miguel taught himself how to work with wood. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, he started picking up a knife and small pieces of wood to carve them. His grandfather taught him a little about wood carving, but nothing advanced or any particular technique, as his grandfather was not a carpenter. Over time, he continued his self-taught learning until he met and joined Ixuxu: Ixuxu is a cultural and environmental association founded in 1990 with the aim of preserving and promoting biological and cultural diversity. Ixuxu promotes a symbiotic relationship between humans and their natural environment: one that is mutually enriching and regenerative. This involves the responsible use of natural resources and ensures the creation of a cultural landscape that is unique and full of character. In this association, Miguel has received lessons from more professional carpenters on how to work with wood. Knowledge Transfer Yes, Miguel has occasionally taught basic woodcarving workshops. For example, he was invited by the La Ponte ecomuseum to give a workshop for beginners, emphasising the properties of wood, how to obtain and process this material, and the different types of tools. In addition, at the Ixuxu association, of which he is a member, Miguel has taught workshops to foreign volunteers who come for temporary stays. However, Miguel is not a professional teacher and does not make a living from formal teaching. material1 Miguel works with local woods and prefers “hardwoods” such as chestnut, oak, and ash. material2 The wood is obtained sustainably from local woods of Asturias; there are specific times of the year when this wood can be harvested, and only the parts that do not cause damage to the tree are cut, so that the tree can regenerate. Wood that has already fallen or been broken by natural causes (such as lightning, an animal breaking a branch, etc.) is also used. material3 Miguel works on a small scale using traditional methods. He does not use industrial production methods, so he does not produce large amounts of waste. Any leftover wood is always put to good use, for example, as firewood, in the vegetable garden, or in compost and compost toilets. production1 Traditional techniques for wood carving using hand tools, such as scrapers, knives, chisels, and gouges. production2 The main tools Miguel works with are: the “rasero” (a knife with two wooden handles), a pocket knife, an axe, chisels, and gouges. He also uses different types of sandpaper and, on some occasions, an electric sander, but Miguel tries to avoid using power tools because the finish is not the same. According to Miguel, traditional tools force you to work in the direction of the wood grain, while power tools can work in any direction and at a faster speed. Although the finish looks the same, the quality is not the same. Handcrafted work is always of better quality, and the pieces are more durable. production3 During the interview, Miguel mentioned that he “considers himself fortunate” in terms of obtaining tools, as they have been inherited from his grandfather or other people who want to support him in his learning. They are old tools, but of very good quality, and require constant maintenance. Miguel believes it is important to have a self-sufficient relationship with tools: you have to learn how to maintain them properly or even learn how to make them. This is part of the craft: understanding how tools work and appreciating the traditional tools that have been passed down, as this is part of passing down traditions from generation to generation. production4 It does not require any energy sources. All the work is done manually. Nor does it require fire, fuel, water, etc. Occasionally, an electric sander is used, but it is very rare and only for small jobs. production5 Miguel works on a small scale using traditional methods. He does not use industrial production methods, so he does not produce large amounts of waste. Any leftover wood is always put to good use, for example, as firewood, in the vegetable garden, or in compost and compost toilets. workshop Yes, he uses the workshop of Ixuxu, the association he belongs to. The workshop is a very simple space with stone walls, a wooden roof, and a ceramic floor. It is a type of temporary hut located outdoors that is still undergoing improvements. It contains all kinds of traditional tools, a workbench, and some spaces for storing wood. products1 At the moment, Miguel focuses on making small pieces such as spatulas, small paddles and spoons for domestic use, pendants for necklaces, key rings, pipes, and small stools. But now he is learning to make larger pieces for construction use, such as wooden beams. products2 Most of his pieces are intended for domestic use. However, in the future, he wants to focus on creating pieces specifically for construction. products3 He sometimes attends craft markets and also sells some pieces on Ixuxu. But he usually sells his pieces through his Instagram account (people contact him there), with friends or family in the local area. products4 At the moment, he does not provide any services. Occasionally, people approach him to repair things, but these are small, sporadic jobs, such as fixing the handles of agricultural tools. products5 Occasionally, people approach him to repair items such as smoking pipes or agricultural tools that need a new handle. However, Miguel does not specialise in restoration or repair services. products6 Most customers are local people, people who attend craft markets, friends, and family. products7 No. tourism1 No. Currently, the artisan does not work in any program focused on tourism. During the interview, he mentions that the Ixuxu association, of which he is a member, has a volunteer program that attracts foreigners. During their stay, they learn some things about the traditional uses of wood, but Miguel is not currently focused on launching a program specifically for tourists. tourism2 Bueno al día de hoy, no he tenido mucha relación con el turismo. Pero bueno en el programa de voluntariado de Ixuxu llegan algunos extranjeros que aprender sobre los usos tradicionales de la madera, pero el turismo no es algo que hemos trabajado. partnership Yes, 3 years ago, Miguel joined Ixuxu: a cultural and environmental association founded in 1990 with the aim of preserving and promoting biological and cultural diversity. Ixuxu promotes a symbiotic relationship between humans and their natural environment: one that is mutually enriching and regenerative. This involves the responsible use of natural resources and ensures the creation of a cultural landscape that is unique and full of character. Ixuxu has other lines of work, such as agriculture and landscape regeneration, among others, but it also has a small workshop where Miguel has become involved and collaborates on the project by doing woodwork. Ixuxu has provided Miguel with a space to work, tools, and knowledge from other people with experience in carpentry. In the interview, Miguel mentions that the small workshop was a little neglected, but that he is now looking to revitalise it. In the future, he wants to turn the workshop into an open space for co-creation, so that artisans from other disciplines can share their techniques and work on projects together, and so that other beginners can come and learn about woodworking. challenges1 Currently, Miguel's challenge is to become a certified professional artisan and make woodworking his full-time job. During the interview, Miguel comments that becoming a full-time artisan is a distant prospect, as the self-employed worker system does not provide the support and assistance he needs to take that step. He needs another job (another source of income) to cover his needs. He also questions whether it is worth registering in the self-employed system as a professional artisan, as the taxes to be paid are very high and are not in proportion to what an artisan can earn (which is generally a minimum income). challenges2 Para mí lo más difícil es dar el paso a profesionalisarse, y hacer todo en regla. Es algo que requiere tiempo, esfuerzo y estaría bien estar en contacto con organizaciones que ofrezcan ayudas a personas como nosotros que estamos iniciando proyectos. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Miguel Prieto Conde Type The nature or genre of the resource Artisan Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Sofía Gonzalez Sandoval Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2004? Language A language of the resource Spanish Spatial Coverage Spatial characteristics of the resource. current,43.3076249,-5.86046299000000; Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 937 Europeana Specific elements of the Europeana Semantic Elements. Country The name of the country of the data provider or “Europe” in the case of Europe-wide projects. Spain