CraftCalling

Crafts. Tradition. Future. Change. Transformation. A design craft project by Alexander Taralezhkov and everyone else involved in the process. window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en-GB'}; (function() { var po = document.createElement('script'); po.type = 'text/javascript'; po.async = true; po.src = 'https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })(); var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-28425352-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();

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Current Project: Kaleidoscope Pop Up Restaurant

In November 2013, we are running a three day pop up restaurant in Hackney, East London. The inspiration came from last year's winter trip to Bulgaria and a conversation with chef Petko over a couple of beers, whilst talking about the merits of eating winter food at home in Bulgaria from traditional clay pots. 

The menu is simple yet delicious, an appreciation of Balkan food and home comforts. We chose the word 'Kaleidoscope' to evoke the idea of the food being from all different areas within the Balkans, since tribes have been continually moving around the area for centuries. At the moment we're travelling from Sofia to the sea, stopping along the way collecting inspiration. You can follow our food research here:

http://kaleidoscopepopup.tumblr.com/

Below is a photo of Sirene Po Shopski , a traditional meal served in a pot, and Moussaka before being cooked, in traditional Bulgarian pots.

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Pot Designs

To complement the menu and the overall concept, we are now in the process of designing the interior of the restaurant. Since the pot is integral to the whole idea, we have teamed up with designer makers based in Bulgaria who are making our designs a reality. Below that are some examples of their work, and underneath that, pictures of ceramics we saw today at the Archaeological Museum in Viliko Tarnovo, from between the 13th and 14th centuries which were found in the local area. 

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Nicky... craft dealer, smoker and cat lover.

In the freezing cold of her shop I found out a lot about craft, craftsmen and... well the decline of it all.

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Artisan altar 5 of 5 - Weaver

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Artisan altar 4 of 5 - Carriage maker

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Artisan altar 3 of 5 - Sweet maker

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Artisan altar 2 of 5 - Coppersmith

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Artisan altar 1 of 5 - Potter

'Artisan altar' shows the manifestation of the artisan's self and belief in this semi-private arrangement. Items of pray and pride co-inhabit in these spaces.

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It is one of these flea markets in Eastern Europe that see beliefs, understandings and values collide and then  implode into the most vibrant, nostalgic and unconsciously creative combinations. It is a place where the marginal characters of Kusturica roam free relentlessly spreading their raw wisdom(its there for whoever wants to see it).

gradation<=>degradation

Check out this blog for more

And visit 'Bitaka' every weekend @ Malashevtsi, Sofia, Bulgaria (it's somewhere here; ask for directions).