Portland artisan urges youth to become skilled craftsmen

STEVE TAYLOR is one of the last remaining craftsmen in the rural Portland community of Mill Bank.

What distinguishes him from the others is his utilisation of bamboo stalks to make craft items.

Taylor was found hard at work on Tuesday afternoon, adding the final touches to some of his latest work, when The Gleaner made the rugged journey to his home, which also doubles as a workshop where he creates an array of products to be sold in the tourist regions of Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay.

But he finds it unsettling that he is one of the few artisans located in the area and, therefore, wishes that more young people will become interested in woodworking and crafting.

He explained that today’s youth were grossly unaware of the full potential of having a skill and that they were too preoccupied with their smartphones and games.

“If you have a skill, is the best thing that you can ever have, so learn a skill from you’re young,” he urged.

To avoid the trade dying with him, Taylor, who wishes for it to remain in the community, would like to take on a few apprentices to pass on his knowledge.

“If anybody out there and wah come learn trade, them can come learn trade with me,” he appealed.

The bamboo stalk, he said, was a “difficult” kind of material to work with because no matter how experienced you were, you would always cut yourself attempting to manipulate it to make products. “You coulda skill like Bruce Lee, you gonna get a scar,” he said.

He mixes the bamboo with local woods such as the blue mahoe and cedar to make items such as wine glasses, mugs, pencil holders, ash trays, ships, jewellery boxes, salt and pepper shakers, and he also accepts personalised orders.

He told The Gleaner that a man named Vincent Dacres, who resided in Kingston and began teaching the trade to the residents of Mill Bank, was the one who taught him the trade.

LIMITED EDUCATION

The artisan further revealed that the only school he ever attended was Comfort Castle All-Age. He stated that because he came from a humble background – his parents had 12 children of whom he is the eighth – he had to find something productive to do to earn money.

“While me and my brother was going to school, every evening we came back ... we go inna di workshop, and a so we learn the trade because is about eight, nine men used to do this work, and right now, is only me and my brother leave a do the work right now,” Taylor said.

The others have immigrated and are still using their trade to make a living, he told The Gleaner.

He recalled the days when he and his brother started out as they shared one tin of polish for their craft.

“The two a we work together and start so ‘til we went out and sell and split the money. Him buy polish, me buy polish,” he said.

Taylor continued that from the sales, he was able to purchase a car, which he used to transport his craft items to other parishes for sale.

This trade has also been able to fund his 15-year-old daughter’s schooling.

“Anything a man can do him can make something out of it if him put him head to it,” he said, further cautioning craftsmen to save up their profits for ‘Mr Rainy Day’ – a future time of need.

Taylor is a versatile man who also uses his hands to plough the land to plant ground provisions and will even undertake the task of repairing bicycles.

To connect with Steve Taylor, interested persons can contact him at 876-379-0435.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com