One’s namesake is important, is it not? It can mean nothing, or absolutely everything, depending on the time, the place and the space in which it’s uttered. When we name our works, they are of course, given a title imbued with meaning and intent. There is no random selection of a moniker, unless that random selection is a deliberate exercise in irreverence or nihilism, which may be more your cup of tea than mine.
Here at Wristwatches and Radios, I’ve chosen to lean a little more to passion and purpose over blithe banality, hence the naming of the project says a little, that means a lot.
The beauty of both the wristwatch and the radio, is the seeming simplicity of presence, design and purpose. They fulfil their vocation without imposition and distraction. They do not tear us away from our works, occupying our hands more than our hearts. They accompany us, inform us, inspire us and keep us on track, on time.
One grants us the beauty of song and notion, as long as we tune in to what is truthful, eloquent and uttered or created with integrity. The other speaks of the discipline, order and precision that must accompany our passion and verve to give it a purpose and place in the world beyond our own gratification and satisfaction.
In celebrating Fatherhood, Fidelity, Culture and Creativity, I revel in the convergence of discipline and desire. As fathers we can be enlivened by passion, by song and tempered by time, responsibility and vocation. I see beauty in the things of this world that speak with simple, humble application and purpose; over sound, fury, distraction and disorder.
Both machine and media can drive us to endless dispersion across a thousand moments lost on all that lives without meaning, purpose, grace and charm. There is enough glorification of movement, light, colour and shape that says nothing of the dignity, purpose and poetry of our existence.
The distraction, the disorder, the banality and the noise will always be there. There will be a thousand flags, pages and posts that will seek to draw you away from the truth of all that our love, our art, our vocations can bring us. Here at Wristwatches and Radios, I simply hope to bring you back.
Back to what? Back to an expression and celebration of the beauty and truth of our vocations, our passions, our labours. Back to purpose. Back to intent. Back to fidelity. Back to fatherhood. With the passion, the design, the discipline to make it as beautiful as it is meaningful.
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