Dear Editor,
Laura: “What’s in a face?”
Justina: “Surface; this world judge by surface.” (From the play Justina’s calypso by Earl Lovelace)
Many moons ago my father had a long-sleeved, striped blue and white shirt (more of blue than white) that could have been worn on either side, inside out. If he wanted to wear it all blue he could have done so, but never all white. The cuffs were blue on one side and white on the other, were detachable, and were held to the sleeves by studs. The collar was also blue on one side and white on the other, and that too was also attached to the shirt by three studs. The front had buttons and also studs, the choice was his; the sides were cut in a V with triangular pieces sewn in, and it tailed off in a kind of flare. This shirt was a winner, unique in style, representing craftsmanship at its very best. It was one of the finest sewn garments I have ever seen, neat and smooth. Till today I can still see that shirt in my mind’s eye.
Mr Editor, what a pity that today the art, quality and pride that tradesmen once possessed have all been lost – ‘gone fuh channa.’ Few are there who battle to maintain their skills, who see their work as their signature and are meticulous about the finished product. There are many renowned big businesses selling furniture built in slipshod manner, very rough and absolutely substandard, yet the cost is staggeringly high. At a glance they all look very pretty, real cute, but this is exactly what is intended – an impressive appearance at first glance. But after the purchase is made and upon closer examination, one has all the time to sit with regrets and moan. What you saw is just what you got; the beauty is all surface, the thing is substandard. The material used is the worst kind, poor quality pieces of plyboard with raw edges put together against the grain to form one piece, instead of a single spread; a kind of cardboard pasted on the inside, with most of the inside work crude and distasteful.
The back which you don’t see is the worst! − done any old how. It is not hard to discern that only one coat of spray paint has been unevenly put on, since you can almost see through it. It is all a deception, a costly rip-off, and you have got to be extremely careful, since you do not always get the one that you identified, which is the quality showpiece that is being advertised. Yours comes from among those in the storeroom which have been mass produced without care. This sloppiness has now become the hallmark of almost every other trade, especially in the construction arena, where men have learned the tricks and not the trade.
It is unfortunate that this sort of unscrupulousness has saturated many trades and businesses to the point where it is all about quick and plenty money, and it is the low income workers struggling to make a nice home who are the most vulnerable. But as I mentioned above, we still have a sprinkling of craftsmen who are the exception and strive to maintain quality and pride, and not just price. To them I say, much respect. I would personally like to single out Ken Haynes from the community of Linden whose work is definitely of a high standard and exhibits durability par excellence.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
